Mechanisms of Heart Rate Adaptability

Our team investigates the mechanisms that regulate heart rate adaptability. From its formation in the embryo to the end of life, the heart beats continuously, driven by the spontaneous electrical activity of a specialized tissue known as the cardiac pacemaker. The cardiac pacemaker is conserved among vertebrates and constitutes the most robust oscillator in the body. Heart rate is governed, then, by both intrinsic properties of the pacemaker and external modulatory mechanisms. 

 Our lab studies pacemaker adaptability on three different timescales: 

– Short-term adaptability involves heart rate changes over seconds, minutes, or hours. We study how the pacemaker adapts quickly to immediate stimuli, such as stress, activity changes, or circadian rhythms. 

 – Middle-term adaptability pertains to heart rate changes across an individual’s lifespan. All mammals experience a gradual heart rate slowdown with age. We aim to understand the mechanisms behind age-related pacemaker dysfunction and its link to cardiac disease. 

– Long-term adaptability encompasses evolutionary adaptations. We are interested in understanding how animals have evolved to maintain diverse heart rates across species. 

Our ultimate goal is to uncover new mechanisms of heart rate control that could be used to prevent and treat heart rhythm disorders.