The concept of the heart as an endocrine organ, which produces hormones, arises from the observation that the cardiac muscle cells, known as myocytes, in the mammalian heart display a phenotype that is partly that of endocrine cells. This was discovered during investigations carried out between 1971 and 1983. The heart produces two major hormones, A- and B-type natriuretic peptides, which can be notated as ANP and BNP, which are synthesized and secreted in response to increased workload of the heart. Their main function is to alleviate cardiac load by decreasing the amount of extracellular fluid and lowering the blood pressure. They also limit the development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, severe consequences of prolonged volume overloading of the heart. ANP and especially BNP can even be used as drugs in the treatment of acute heart failure. This discovery of the “endocrine heart” provided a shift from the classical functional paradigm of the heart that regarded this organ solely as a blood pump, to one that regards this organ as self-regulating its workload humorally and that also influences the function of several other organs that control cardiovascular function. With this knowledge in our minds, let us make the intentions to mirror our hearts multifaceted nature this week by being open to new self-discoveries!
Written by: Navpreet Singh Badesha
© 04/23/2018 All Rights Reserved.
Inspired by: @drheartchat
This research was published in the National Library of Medicine
“In knowing that our heart is beating for us right now, we can come to understand that we are indeed a part of something greater than ourselves!”
