Cytisine induces autonomic cardiovascular responses via activations of different nicotinic receptors.

Nicotinic cholinergic receptors mediate autonomic transmission at ganglia. However, whether different subtypes of nicotinic cholinergic receptors expressed in autonomic ganglia elicit distinct roles in mediating sympathetic and parasympathetic regulations remain to be defined. In this study, we observed that different subtypes of nicotinic receptors were responsible for the sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiovascular responses.

Specific subtypes of nicotinic cholinergic receptors involved in sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiovascular responses.

Various subtypes of nicotinic cholinergic receptors are expressed in autonomic ganglia. The distinct functional roles of these receptors in autonomic ganglionic transmission to different target organs remain to be elucidated. In this study, we tested the sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiovascular responses to nicotinic agonist and antagonists in urethane-anesthetized mice.

Deficiency of M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors increases susceptibility of ventricular function to chronic adrenergic stress.

Suppressed parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) function has been found in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, heart failure, and diabetes. However, whether impaired PSNS function plays a significant role in ventricular dysfunction remains to be investigated. Cardiac regulation by the PSNS is primarily mediated by the M(2) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M(2)-AChR).

Neostigmine and pilocarpine attenuated tumour necrosis factor alpha expression and cardiac hypertrophy in the heart with pressure overload.

The inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) is known to be a major factor contributing to cardiac remodelling and dysfunction. Parasympathetic nervous system cholinergic function can inhibit TNF alpha expression during systemic infection. In the present study, we tested the effects of a cholinesterase inhibitor, neostigmine, and a muscarinic cholinergic agonist, pilocarpine, on cardiac hypertrophy and TNF alpha levels during pressure overload.