Aging is associated with cardiac autonomic nerve fiber depletion and reduced cardiac and circulating BDNF levels.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Aging is a multifactorial process associated with an impairment of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. Progressive ANS remodeling includes upregulation of expression of circulating catecholamines and depletion of cardiac autonomic nerve fibers, and it is responsible, in part, for the increased susceptibility to cardiac diseases observed in elderly subjects. Neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF), are involved in synaptogenesis and neurite outgrowth processes, supporting neuronal cell differentiation and maturation. However, whether and how these factors and their downstream signaling are involved in cardiac aging remains unclear. Here, we tested whether, in the aged heart, the overall extent of autonomic

SUBMITTER: Elia A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8352776 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature