Arterial Baroreceptors Sense Blood Pressure through Decorated Aortic Claws

Abstract

Mechanosensory neurons across physiological systems sense force using diverse terminal morphologies. Arterial baroreceptors are sensory neurons that monitor blood pressure for real-time stabilization of cardiovascular output. Various aortic sensory terminals have been described, but those that sense blood pressure are unclear because of a lack of selective genetic tools. Here, we find that all baroreceptor neurons are marked in Piezo2-ires-Cre mice and then use genetic approaches to visualize the architecture of mechanosensory endings. Cre-guided ablation of vagal and glossopharyngeal PIEZO2 neurons eliminates the baroreceptor reflex and aortic depressor nerve effects on blood pressure and heart rate. Genetic mapping reveals that PIEZO2 neurons form a distinctive mechanosensory structure: macroscopic claws that surround the aortic arch and exude fine end-net endings. Other arterial sensory neurons that form flower-spray terminals are dispensable for baroreception. Together, these findings provide structural insights into how blood pressure is sensed in the aortic vessel wall.

Control of feeding by Piezo-mediated gut mechanosensation in Drosophila

“…Drosophila Piezo was previously shown to confer mechanically activated currents when expressed in human cells and to mediate mechanical nociception ( Coste et al, 2012 ; Kim et al, 2012 ). Furthermore, vertebrate Piezo homologs play diverse mechanosensory roles, including in internal sensation of airway volume and blood pressure ( Min et al, 2019 ; Nonomura et al, 2017 ; Zeng et al, 2018 ). We hypothesized that Drosophila enteric neurons that express Piezo and innervate the anterior gut might mediate volumetric control of appetite.…”

A multidimensional coding architecture of the vagal interoceptive system

“…Stimuli that differ in these features represent different body changes. For example, stretching the arterial wall implicates an increase in blood pressure, whereas stretching the stomach wall signals food ingestion 15 , 20 . Similarly, the same bioactive signal (such as serotonin) released from different tissue layers within the intestine communicates different organ information to the brain 21 .…”

Tentonin 3/TMEM150C senses blood pressure changes in the aortic arch

“…mCherry: "end-net" endings that showed thin and long "free" nerve endings and "discoid or club" endings, where terminals stopped abruptly with an enlargement ( Figure 2D). These specialized nerve terminals have been described as baroreceptors in the aortic arch in rats and mice (36)(37)(38)(39). Ensemble images of the cross section of the whole aorta showed that TTN3 + fibers encircled the entire aorta ( Figure 2E).…”