Key result
Brainstem NPY2R neurons project to cardiac ganglia to control heart rate and diving reflex.
Why the study?
A specific neuronal subtype in the brainstem nucleus ambiguus that controls heart rate and the diving reflex was not previously identified.
Design
Neuroanatomical and functional study identifying neuronal subtype
No immediate clinical implications; leaves open selective neuromodulation of brainstem cardiac circuits for future study.
A distinct neuropeptide Y2 receptor-expressing neuronal subtype is identified in the brainstem nucleus ambiguus that selectively projects to cardiac ganglia and regulates heart rate and the mammalian diving reflex.
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Sian Lewis (2026) studied this question. Neuropeptide Y2 receptor-expressing neurons in the brainstem nucleus ambiguus selectively project to cardiac ganglia to regulate heart rate and the mammalian diving reflex.
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