Sympathetic cardiac stimulating fibers in the vagi

Abstract

The cardiac effects obtained by the stimulation of the vagus nerve were studied in the isolated heart preparation of cats, perfused with Tyrode's solution according to Langendorff's technique. High cervical stimulation of the vagus produced slight or no positive inotropic and chronotropic effects in the atropinized heart. Excitation of the thoracic portion produced intense cardiac stimulation. The cardiac stimulating effect is not influenced by supra- or infranodose vagotomy. Complete cervical and upper thoracic sympathectomy abolished vagal cardiac stimulation. It is concluded that sympathetic fibers that join the vagal trunk at the lower cervical and, perhaps, upper thoracic level, are responsible for the positive chrono and inotropic effects obtained when stimulating the intact or degenerated vagus nerve.

Interaction between parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves in prevertebral ganglia: Morphological evidence for vagal efferent innervation of ganglion cells in the rat

“…Many of these possibly dopamine-producing neurons also reacted positively for acetylcholine esterase, indicating their potential to simultaneously utilize acetylcholine as a transmitter. Second, the fact that sympathetic (i.e., noradrenergic) preganglionic fibers travel in the thoracic and possibly subdiaphragmatic vagal trunks has long been recognized (Benitez et al, 1959;Iwama, 1925;Kamosinska et al, 1991;Liedberg et al, 1973;Lundberg et al, 1976;Muryobayashi et al, 1968;Szulczyk and Szulczyk, 1987). Third, as we reported recently (Berthoud and Powley, 1993) and will review in detail in this chapter, vagal efferent fibers innervate at least some of the abdominal prevertebral ganglia (see also Boekelaar, 1985;Hammar, 1935).…”

Central Control of the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems and Their Interactions in Vertebrates

“…Consequently, it was argued that they supply a single cardiac effector. It was assumed that the most likely effector was the conducting tissue, because stimulation of the sympathetic fibers in the thoracic vagus is most effective at producing increases in heart rate in dogs (520), cats (56,341), and sheep (635).…”

Systematic and comparative morphologies of the extrinsic cardiac nervous system in lemurs (Primates: Strepsirrhini: Infraorder Lemuriformes, Gray, 1821) with evolutionary morphological implications

“…Experimental and developmental studies of the autonomic cardiac nervous system have also been conducted in animals such as the mouse, rat, rabbit, chick, and dog (Armour et al, 1972;Benítez et al, 1959;Brack et al, 2011;Gomez, 1958;Haws and Burgess, 1978;Hildreth et al, 2008Hildreth et al, , 2009Kirby et al, 1980;Kuratani et al, 1991;Kuratani and Tanaka, 1990;Levy et al, 1966;Mabe and Hoover, 2011;Meyer et al, 2010;Mizeres, 1955Mizeres, , 1957Mizeres, , 1958Mizuno et al, 2010;Oliveira et al, 2010;Roberts, 1991;Schwartz, 2010;Scherlag et al, 2011;Shaner, 1930;Shoba and Tay, 2000;Uchida et al, 2010;Verberne et al, 1998). However, huge differences in the cardiac nervous system between humans and the experimental animals have been recognized (Batulevicius et al, 2003;Brugnaro et al, 2003;Kawashima, 2011;McKibben and Getty, 1968;Rysevaite et al, 2011;Pauza et al, 2002a,b).…”