Cholinergic Innervation of Coronary Arteries and Myocardium

Original article

English

K.N. Bhargava 1 , S. Ghosh 1, R.K. Bhargava 2 , Mahdi Hassan 3

1-Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Garyounis, Benghazi, S.P.L.A.J. 2-Senior Registrar in Pediatric Surgery, Al-Jala Hospital, Benghazi. S.P.L.A.J. 3-Visiting Professor in Anatomy, University of Garyounis.

Garyounis Medical Journal Vol 5, No.2. July 1982: 5-9

Abstract

To clarify the existing controversy in literature regarding the parasympathetic innervation of the coronary arteries and the ventricular myocardium it has been reinvestigated by using a more reliable and specific histochemical technique for localization of cholinergic nerves. Contrary to the findings of Mitchell (1953), Hirsch (1962/1963 a, b;) and Warwick & Williams (1973), we have shown conclusively that even larger branches of coronary arteries in both cat and man have not only a rich cholinergic innervation but cholinesterase positive parasympathetic ganglia were also present in their close proximity. Also, the ventricular myocardium has a rich cholinergic innervation in both the cat and man. Within the myocardium, cholinesterase positive fibres were seen to form a terminal neural plexus. No ganglia were seen within the ventricular myocardium, but they were seen in close proximity to the ventricular myocardiun, but they were seen in close proximity to the ventricular wall and post-ganglionic parasympathetic fibres from these supplied by the ventricular myocardium.

Keywords: Cholinergic Innervation of Coronary Arteries and Myocardium

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