Nitric Oxide and the Heart Autonomic Nervous System

BUCHHOLZ B; FRANCO RIVEROS V; MÉNDEZ DIODATI N; GELPI RJ

Nitric oxide: From Research to Therapeutics

Springer-Nature

Año: 2023;

Nitric oxide (NO) is important inphysiological cardiovascular regulation and is involved in the pathophysiologyof cardiac disorders. This chapter describes the role of NO in the structureand function of the cardiac nervous system, with special focus on the intrinsicganglia and nerves of the heart. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is theNOS isoform expressed in somata and intracardiac nerve fibers, mainlyassociated with the postganglionic parasympathetic nervous system. Intrinsiccardiac ganglia contain parasympathetic postganglionic neurons that are nNOSpositive or co-localize nNOS with choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Scarcepostganglionic sympathetic nitrergic fibers and parasympathetic afferent fibersare also observed. NO is a strong modulator of parasympathetic/sympatheticinteraction and autonomic action on myocardial function, and of the cardiacconduction system and coronary circulation. Loss of endogenous NO modulationpredisposes to dysautonomia and impaired cardiac function.