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New research from the Karolinska Institute and Columbia University has revealed that the heart has its own independent nervous system, called a mini-brain, that plays a critical role in regulating its rhythm, independent of the brain.
This system turns out to be much more complex and diverse than previously understood.
A deeper understanding of this system could pave the way for innovative treatments for heart disease. The study, conducted using zebrafish as a model, is published in Nature Communications.
A mini-brain for heart rate control
It has long been thought that the heart was controlled only by the autonomic nervous system, which transmits signals from the brain.
The neural network of the heart, which is located in the superficial layers of the heart wall, is considered a simple structure that conveys signals from the brain. However, recent research suggests that this network has much more advanced functions.
The role of the nervous system of the heart
Scientists have discovered that the heart has a complex nervous system, which is essential to control its rhythm.
This mini-brain has a key role in maintaining and controlling the heartbeat, similar to how the brain regulates rhythmic functions such as breathing or movement, explains Konstantinos Ampatzis, principal investigator and assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet , Sweden, who led this study.
The researchers identified several types of neurons in the heart that have different functions, including a small group of neurons with pacemaker properties.
This finding challenges current views on how heart rhythm is controlled and may have clinical implications.
Similarities to the human heart
We were surprised to see how complex the nervous system inside the heart is, says Konstantinos Ampatzis. A better understanding of this system could lead to new insights into heart disease and help develop new treatments for diseases such as arrhythmias.
The study was conducted in the zebrafish, an animal model that shows strong similarities to the human heart rhythm and its general cardiac functions.
The researchers were able to map the composition, organization, and functions of neurons within the heart using a variety of methods, such as single-cell RNA sequencing, anatomical studies, and electrophysiological techniques.
New therapeutic targets
We will now continue to investigate how the 'brain' of the heart interacts with the actual brain to regulate the heart's functions under different conditions such as exercise, stress or disease, says Konstantinos Ampatzis.
We aim to identify new therapeutic targets by examining how disruptions in the cardiac neural network contribute to various heart disorders.
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