A key element of the nervous system that keeps the heart young has been discovered

Researchers discovered the key to "eternal youth" of the heart in the right vagus nerve

Scientists from the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa made an important discovery: the right cardiac vagus nerve turned out to be a true guardian of the heart's "youth." The specialists found that this nerve provides protection for cardiomyocytes and maintains their normal functioning regardless of heart rate. The research proves that preserving this innervation significantly slows down cellular aging processes and reduces the likelihood of developing cardiac dysfunction.

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to Science Translational Medicine, the vagus nerve acts as the main conductor of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's recovery and economical functioning of organs. In the heart, this nerve reduces the load on muscle cells, protecting tissues from early wear. The problem is that during thoracic operations and heart transplantation, the right vagus nerve is often damaged, leading to impaired autonomic control and accelerated development of heart failure.

During experiments on adult minipigs, the researchers demonstrated that timely restoration of the right vagus nerve allows the preservation of the mechanical function of the heart. To solve this problem, the scientists applied an innovative biodegradable implantable nerve conduit in the form of a cuff made from chitosan (a substance derived from chitin in crustacean shells) and ε-caprolactone polymer. This device effectively guided the growth of nerve fibers and stimulated their natural regeneration.

Animals with restored innervation showed significant improvements in heart muscle contraction indicators, reduced inconsistency in its relaxation, as well as decreased signs of oxidative stress and cellular aging. Histological analysis confirmed partial restoration of the vagus nerve, return of parasympathetic fibers to the myocardium, and prevention of fibrosis development—a dangerous process of replacing muscle tissue with connective tissue.

The researchers note that preserving bilateral vagal innervation of the heart may become a crucial factor in combating cardiac aging. In the future, the developed nerve conduit has every chance of becoming a revolutionary approach to preventing heart failure in patients who have undergone chest surgery and cardiothoracic transplantation.