Tonic arterial chemoreceptor activity contributes to cardiac sympathetic activation in mild ovine heart failure

Abstract

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? What is the role of the peripheral chemoreflex in driving the increased levels of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in heart failure? What is the main finding and its importance? We show that chemoreceptor deactivation by hyperoxia significantly decreased the elevated levels of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate in mild ovine heart failure. Our findings suggest that interventional strategies that reduce chemoreceptor afferent activity in heart failure will reduce the elevated level of cardiac sympathetic drive and its associated detrimental effects. Heart failure (HF) is associated with a large increase in cardiac symp..