Scientists talked about the effect of training on the nervous system of the heart

Regular physical activity not only strengthens the heart, but also changes the nerve cells that control its work. Researchers from the University of Bristol have found that moderate aerobic exercise changes the nerve nodes on the right and left sides of the body in different ways. The experiment was conducted on rats, so it is not yet known whether the same changes occur in humans. Scientists have found out about the changes in the nervous system of the heart in the Izvestia article.

Physical activity changes the management system of the heart

The study also involved scientists from University College London, the University of Sao Paulo and the Federal University of Sao Paulo. A new study has shown that regular physical activity changes the structure of nerve nodes. The work was published in the journal of Autonomous Neuroscience.

The work of the heart is partially controlled by the autonomic nervous system, a network of nerves that automatically regulates the body's most important functions, including heartbeat, respiration, and digestion. One of its parts helps the heart beat faster when the body needs more oxygen, such as during physical exertion or stress.

Stellate ganglia, small clusters of nerve cells located on both sides of the lower neck and upper chest, play an important role in this process. These nerve nodes transmit signals that affect heart rate and other aspects of heart function.

What has changed in 10 weeks

To study the effects of physical activity on the stellate ganglia, the researchers observed rats that had been doing moderate aerobic training for 10 weeks. This type of activity includes exercises that increase your heart rate and breathing, such as brisk walking, swimming, and cycling.

To study nerve cells, the team used stereology, a three—dimensional analysis method that allows estimating the number, size, and distribution of cells in tissues. The results revealed an unusual difference between the two sides of the body. In rats undergoing training, there were about four times as many neurons in the right nerve node associated with the work of the cardiovascular system as in the left. No such pattern was observed in animals without training.

The size of the nerve cells also changed, and in opposite directions: the neurons in the left node almost doubled, and in the right became slightly smaller. According to the researchers, these results show that physical activity does not equally affect all the nerves that control the heart. Instead, they cause various structural changes on each side of the body.

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Why study the nerve nodes of the heart

The results obtained may have implications for the study of diseases associated with impaired nervous activity around the heart.

Arrhythmias occur when the heart beats too fast, too slowly, or irregularly. Angina pectoris is accompanied by pain or discomfort in the chest, usually associated with insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle. Another condition, takotsubo syndrome, sometimes called broken heart syndrome, is characterized by a sudden weakening of the heart muscle and often occurs after severe emotional or physical stress.

In some of these conditions, it is necessary to reduce excessive nerve signals to the heart. The researchers suggest that understanding the differences between the right and left nerve nodes in the future may help determine more precisely which side should be affected to achieve the best result.

At the same time, the researcher emphasized that the work is at an early stage and was carried out on rats. Further research will be required to apply the results in clinical practice.

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Scientists plan to test the results in humans.

Despite significant structural changes, researchers have yet to establish exactly how they affect heart function. The team plans to find out whether the differences between the right and left nerve nodes are related to the functioning of the heart at rest and during physical activity. The scientists also intend to check whether similar patterns are observed in other animals and humans.

For human studies, it is planned to use non-invasive markers that will allow obtaining information about nervous activity without surgical intervention and tissue sampling.