Myocardial infarction causes sex-dependent dysfunction in vagal sensory glutamatergic neurotransmission that is mitigated by 17β-estradiol.

ABSTRACT: Parasympathetic dysfunction after chronic myocardial infarction (MI) is known to predispose ventricular tachyarrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation [VT/VF]). VT/VF after MI is more common in males than females. The mechanisms underlying the decreased vagal tone and the associated sex difference in the occurrence of VT/VF after MI remain elusive. In this study, using optogenetic approaches, we found that responses of glutamatergic vagal afferent neurons were impaired following chronic MI in male mice, leading to reduced reflex efferent parasympathetic function. Molecular analyses of vagal ganglia demonstrated reduced glutamate levels, accompanied by decreased mitochondrial function and impaired redox status in infarcted males versus sham animals. Interestingly, infarc

SUBMITTER: Devarajan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11383359 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature