Direct vagal input to the gastrointestinal tract and other viscera: Re-definition of autonomic neuroscience or experimental artifacts?

Berthoud HR, Fox EA, Münzberg H, Yu S, Kim A, Lowell BB, Neuhuber W (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Autonomic Neuroscience-Basic & Clinical Elsevier

Book Volume: 260

Article Number: 103310

DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2025.103310

Abstract

The canonical autonomic nervous system pathway to peripheral targets consists of two neurons in series, i.e., preganglionic and postganglionic. However, several recent reports claim a direct innervation of some sub-diaphragmatic organs by neurons of the vagal dorsal motor nucleus without intercalated postganglionic neurons. The aim of this minireview is to summarize these studies e.g. on direct vagal preganglionic innervation of Brunner's glands, liver and spleen and to critically discuss their unorthodox findings and discrepancies with previous literature. We conclude that rigorous re-evaluation by complementary state-of-the-art strategies is obligatory.

Authors with CRIS profile

Winfried Neuhuber Medizinische Fakultät

Involved external institutions

Louisiana State University US United States (USA) (US) Purdue University US United States (USA) (US) Harvard University US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Berthoud, H.R., Fox, E.A., Münzberg, H., Yu, S., Kim, A., Lowell, B.B., & Neuhuber, W. (2025). Direct vagal input to the gastrointestinal tract and other viscera: Re-definition of autonomic neuroscience or experimental artifacts? Autonomic Neuroscience-Basic & Clinical, 260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2025.103310

MLA:

Berthoud, Hans Rudolf, et al. "Direct vagal input to the gastrointestinal tract and other viscera: Re-definition of autonomic neuroscience or experimental artifacts?" Autonomic Neuroscience-Basic & Clinical 260 (2025).

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