The vagal origin of preganglionic fibers containing nitric oxide synthase in the guinea-pig heart. 1998

K Tanaka, and T Chiba
The Third Department of Anatomy, Chiba University School of Medicine, Cyuoku, Japan. tanaka@med.m.chibau.ac.jp

The origin of nerve fibers projecting to the guinea pig heart that contain nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were studied by unilateral cervical vagotomy. Three kinds of NOS-immunoreactive (NOS-ir) nerve fibers are distributed in the control guinea pig heart: the sparse network covering the right atrium, the basket-like endings around intracardiac neuronal cell bodies in the small ganglia located in the left atrium and the interatrial septum, and the axons situated in the septal region. The sparse network in the right atrium did not change after vagotomy of right or left side. In the whole mount preparations of right atrium, we often traced labeled axons from the somata to join the network covering the right atrium. Therefore, most of this network of labeled fibers must be of intrinsic origin. Because the basket-like endings around neuronal cell bodies in the ganglia in the left atrium and the septum disappeared completely after vagotomy of left side, we conclude that they are parasympathetic preganglionic fibers originating from the left vagus nerve. NOS-ir cell bodies and the positive fibers in the atrioventricular nodal region survived after vagotomy. All of such nerve fibers were unmyelinated axons. Therefore, they seem to be the postganglionic fibers arising from the ganglia located in the left atrium or the septum.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009206 Myocardium The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow. Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D009252 NADPH Dehydrogenase A flavoprotein that reversibly oxidizes NADPH to NADP and a reduced acceptor. EC 1.6.99.1. NADP Dehydrogenase,NADP Diaphorase,NADPH Diaphorase,Old Yellow Enzyme,TPN Diaphorase,Dehydrogenase, NADP,Dehydrogenase, NADPH,Diaphorase, NADP,Diaphorase, NADPH,Diaphorase, TPN,Enzyme, Old Yellow
D009412 Nerve Fibers Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D010275 Parasympathetic Nervous System The craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system. The cell bodies of the parasympathetic preganglionic fibers are in brain stem nuclei and in the sacral spinal cord. They synapse in cranial autonomic ganglia or in terminal ganglia near target organs. The parasympathetic nervous system generally acts to conserve resources and restore homeostasis, often with effects reciprocal to the sympathetic nervous system. Nervous System, Parasympathetic,Nervous Systems, Parasympathetic,Parasympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Parasympathetic Nervous,Systems, Parasympathetic Nervous
D006168 Guinea Pigs A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research. Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D006325 Heart Atria The chambers of the heart, to which the BLOOD returns from the circulation. Heart Atrium,Left Atrium,Right Atrium,Atria, Heart,Atrium, Heart,Atrium, Left,Atrium, Right
D006346 Heart Septum This structure includes the thin muscular atrial septum between the two HEART ATRIA, and the thick muscular ventricular septum between the two HEART VENTRICLES. Cardiac Septum,Heart Septa,Septa, Heart,Septum, Cardiac,Septum, Heart
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014628 Vagotomy The interruption or removal of any part of the vagus (10th cranial) nerve. Vagotomy may be performed for research or for therapeutic purposes. Vagotomies
D014630 Vagus Nerve The 10th cranial nerve. The vagus is a mixed nerve which contains somatic afferents (from skin in back of the ear and the external auditory meatus), visceral afferents (from the pharynx, larynx, thorax, and abdomen), parasympathetic efferents (to the thorax and abdomen), and efferents to striated muscle (of the larynx and pharynx). Cranial Nerve X,Pneumogastric Nerve,Tenth Cranial Nerve,Nerve X,Nervus Vagus,Cranial Nerve, Tenth,Cranial Nerves, Tenth,Nerve X, Cranial,Nerve Xs,Nerve, Pneumogastric,Nerve, Tenth Cranial,Nerve, Vagus,Nerves, Pneumogastric,Nerves, Tenth Cranial,Nerves, Vagus,Pneumogastric Nerves,Tenth Cranial Nerves,Vagus Nerves,Vagus, Nervus

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