ChAT Neuron Activation in Rat Heart Reduces Heart Failure-induced Dysfunction, Death

Article title: Chemogenetic activation of intracardiac cholinergic neurons improves cardiac function in pressure overload-induced heart failure

Authors: Jhansi Dyavanapalli, Aloysius James Hora, Joan B. Escobar, John Schloen, Mary Kate Dwyer, Jeannette Rodriguez, Christopher F. Spurney, Matthew W. Kay

From the authors: “The findings from this study confirm that selective activation of intracardiac cholinergic neurons lessens cardiac dysfunction and mortality seen in heart failure, identifying a novel downstream cardiac-selective target for increasing cardioprotective parasympathetic activity in heart failure.” 

This study is highlighted as one of July’s "best of the best" as part of the American Physiological Society's APSselect program.