Role of peripheral autonomic neurones in maintaining adequate cardiac function.

This review has focused on the putative effects that peripheral autonomic neurones exert on cardiac myocytes. Through data obtained by the use of in situ and in vitro models, the unique synaptology and chemical sensitivities of the various types of neurones in intrinsic cardiac and extracardiac intrathoracic ganglia are becoming evident. The intrathoracic nervous system acts as a distributive network, processing in a complex fashion information that arises not only from cardiac, vascular and pulmonary tissues but also from extrathoracic tissues, to maintain adequate cardiac function. In challenging the current understanding of cardiac regulation, this view provides novel opportunities to develop pharmacological and surgical strategies to manipulate cardiac function in disease states.