Synaptic Plasticity in Cardiac Innervation and Its Potential Role in Atrial Fibrillation
Synaptic plasticity is defined as the ability of synapses to change their strength of transmission. Plasticity of synaptic connections in the brain is a major focus of neuroscience research, as it is the primary mechanism underpinning learning and memory. Beyond the brain however, plasticity in peri...
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doaj-38f7513a3d304b6887134693c619c2002020-11-24T22:58:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2018-03-01910.3389/fphys.2018.00240319123Synaptic Plasticity in Cardiac Innervation and Its Potential Role in Atrial FibrillationJesse L. Ashton0Rebecca A. B. Burton1Gil Bub2Bruce H. Smaill3Bruce H. Smaill4Johanna M. Montgomery5Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Oxford, United KingdomDepartment of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaDepartment of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandAuckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandSynaptic plasticity is defined as the ability of synapses to change their strength of transmission. Plasticity of synaptic connections in the brain is a major focus of neuroscience research, as it is the primary mechanism underpinning learning and memory. Beyond the brain however, plasticity in peripheral neurons is less well understood, particularly in the neurons innervating the heart. The atria receive rich innervation from the autonomic branch of the peripheral nervous system. Sympathetic neurons are clustered in stellate and cervical ganglia alongside the spinal cord and extend fibers to the heart directly innervating the myocardium. These neurons are major drivers of hyperactive sympathetic activity observed in heart disease, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Both pre- and postsynaptic changes have been observed to occur at synapses formed by sympathetic ganglion neurons, suggesting that plasticity at sympathetic neuro-cardiac synapses is a major contributor to arrhythmias. Less is known about the plasticity in parasympathetic neurons located in clusters on the heart surface. These neuronal clusters, termed ganglionated plexi, or “little brains,” can independently modulate neural control of the heart and stimulation that enhances their excitability can induce arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. The ability of these neurons to alter parasympathetic activity suggests that plasticity may indeed occur at the synapses formed on and by ganglionated plexi neurons. Such changes may not only fine-tune autonomic innervation of the heart, but could also be a source of maladaptive plasticity during atrial fibrillation.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2018.00240/fullatriainnervationganglionated plexisynapse plasticityatrial fibrillationLTP |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jesse L. Ashton Rebecca A. B. Burton Gil Bub Bruce H. Smaill Bruce H. Smaill Johanna M. Montgomery |
spellingShingle |
Jesse L. Ashton Rebecca A. B. Burton Gil Bub Bruce H. Smaill Bruce H. Smaill Johanna M. Montgomery Synaptic Plasticity in Cardiac Innervation and Its Potential Role in Atrial Fibrillation Frontiers in Physiology atria innervation ganglionated plexi synapse plasticity atrial fibrillation LTP |
author_facet |
Jesse L. Ashton Rebecca A. B. Burton Gil Bub Bruce H. Smaill Bruce H. Smaill Johanna M. Montgomery |
author_sort |
Jesse L. Ashton |
title |
Synaptic Plasticity in Cardiac Innervation and Its Potential Role in Atrial Fibrillation |
title_short |
Synaptic Plasticity in Cardiac Innervation and Its Potential Role in Atrial Fibrillation |
title_full |
Synaptic Plasticity in Cardiac Innervation and Its Potential Role in Atrial Fibrillation |
title_fullStr |
Synaptic Plasticity in Cardiac Innervation and Its Potential Role in Atrial Fibrillation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Synaptic Plasticity in Cardiac Innervation and Its Potential Role in Atrial Fibrillation |
title_sort |
synaptic plasticity in cardiac innervation and its potential role in atrial fibrillation |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Physiology |
issn |
1664-042X |
publishDate |
2018-03-01 |
description |
Synaptic plasticity is defined as the ability of synapses to change their strength of transmission. Plasticity of synaptic connections in the brain is a major focus of neuroscience research, as it is the primary mechanism underpinning learning and memory. Beyond the brain however, plasticity in peripheral neurons is less well understood, particularly in the neurons innervating the heart. The atria receive rich innervation from the autonomic branch of the peripheral nervous system. Sympathetic neurons are clustered in stellate and cervical ganglia alongside the spinal cord and extend fibers to the heart directly innervating the myocardium. These neurons are major drivers of hyperactive sympathetic activity observed in heart disease, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Both pre- and postsynaptic changes have been observed to occur at synapses formed by sympathetic ganglion neurons, suggesting that plasticity at sympathetic neuro-cardiac synapses is a major contributor to arrhythmias. Less is known about the plasticity in parasympathetic neurons located in clusters on the heart surface. These neuronal clusters, termed ganglionated plexi, or “little brains,” can independently modulate neural control of the heart and stimulation that enhances their excitability can induce arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. The ability of these neurons to alter parasympathetic activity suggests that plasticity may indeed occur at the synapses formed on and by ganglionated plexi neurons. Such changes may not only fine-tune autonomic innervation of the heart, but could also be a source of maladaptive plasticity during atrial fibrillation. |
topic |
atria innervation ganglionated plexi synapse plasticity atrial fibrillation LTP |
url |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2018.00240/full |
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