Mechanisms Underlying Increased Cardiac And Renal Noradrenaline Spillover During Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$492,681.00
Summary
Heart failure is associated with increased release of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline from sympathetic nerves to the heart and the kidney. The raised levels of this neurotransmitter in the heart and the kidney are harmful and lead to reduced survival in heart failure patients. This project will increase our understanding of the mechanisms that control noradrenaline release and may lead to better treatment paradigms to target the detrimental increase in release in heart failure.
Role Of The Medial Amygdala In Developing Neurogenic Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
We aim to investigate the underlying mechanisms and pathways that regulate the activity of neurons located in the medial amgydala during stress that contribute long term to the development of hypertension. This study is highly relevant to people who inappropriately respond to typical daily stressors and we aim to provide direction for developing specific therapies to interrupt the adverse cardiovascular consequences of chronic stress.
Network Interactions Between Cardiovascular Control Neurons In The Brainstem Underlie Sympathetic Tone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$268,328.00
Summary
High blood pressure is a very significant risk factor for many common cardiovascular diseases. Blood pressure is normally tightly regulated by groups of neurons in the brainstem; although we know that this part of the brain becomes dysfunctional in patients with high blood pressure, we do not understand why. We have recently discovered that cardiovascular control neurons can influence each other. The project will determine the effect of such communication in the control of blood pressure.
Mechanisms Behind The Activation Of Cardiac And Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity In Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,670.00
Summary
Heart failure is associated with an increase in messages from the brain that control how fast the heart beats but the factors involved remain poorly understood. This project will enable a better understanding ot the mechanisms controlling this increase in the activity of the nerves. This understanding will provide a new avenue for therapy and for the development of new treatments.
Heart failure is a severely debilitating condition with a poor prognosis. It is characterized by retention of fluid and high nervous activity especially to the kidneys and the heart. Even with the best current treatment available, patients with heart failure still suffer from abnormally high nerve activity to the further detriment of this condition. The successful completion of this project will provide considerable insight into the role of the brain in the elevated nerve activity in heart failu ....Heart failure is a severely debilitating condition with a poor prognosis. It is characterized by retention of fluid and high nervous activity especially to the kidneys and the heart. Even with the best current treatment available, patients with heart failure still suffer from abnormally high nerve activity to the further detriment of this condition. The successful completion of this project will provide considerable insight into the role of the brain in the elevated nerve activity in heart failure. It will also provide us with a significant understanding of the role in reflex sympathetic nerve regulation of an important brain region known as the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Our findings will help us understand the nature of the neurotransmitters contributing to the reflex nerve regulation and the specific neurons within the PVN involved. This knowledge could help us to identify novel potential therapeutic targets within the brain to alleviate the problems observed in heart failure.Read moreRead less