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1 Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131; and 2 Institüt für Angewandte Physiologie, Universität Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
The present
experiments were performed to examine the capability of the intrinsic
cardiac nerves (ICN) to modify cardiac performance in the resting
chronic, conscious dog. Control and cardiac-denervated dogs were
instrumented for recording of left atrial (LA) and ventricular (LV)
contractility, heart rate, and atrioventricular (AV) conduction time.
Acetylcholine (ACh) and nicotine (Nic) were administered via an
indwelling coronary artery catheter. Limited distribution from the
injection site only allowed access to the LA, LV, and AV node. Both
-blockade with timolol and cardiac denervation were used to separate
direct effects of ICN stimulation from indirect (e.g., reflex) effects.
ACh produced the expected negative inotropic and dromotropic changes.
ICN stimulation with Nic caused large decreases in LA contractility
along with depression of AV conduction but only trivial effects on the
LV. We concluded that the ICN has limited effects on cardiac
performance in the resting animal under minimal sympathetic drive. It
is likely, however, that the ICN is capable of significantly depressing
cardiac function under conditions of elevated sympathetic tone as would
be encountered in exercise.
intrinsic cardiac nerves; parasympathetic nervous system; nicotine; cardiac innervation; cardiac ganglia
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