Non-technical summaryRecent work has demonstrated differences in the firing pattern of sympathetic nerves in a variety of patient groups. The significance or consequences of this firing pattern remain unknown. We examined whether the nerve firing pattern was associated with increased noradrenaline release from the heart. The activity and pattern of the nerve firing was recorded in the peroneal nerve and subjects were divided into two groups according to the firing pattern as ‘low firing rate’ or ‘high firing rate’. In those with a high firing rate, the noradrenaline released by the heart was two times higher than that of subjects with a low firing rate. This study indicates that the nerve firing pattern may dictate the amount of noradrenaline released by the heart.
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