Nitric oxide synthase in cardiac nerve fibers and neurons of rat and guinea pig heart.
Participation of nitric oxide (NO) in the autonomic innervation of rat and guinea pig hearts was investigated by applying the NADPH diaphorase technique and immunohistochemistry with NO synthase antiserum. We present evidence that NO synthase is localized in cardiac ganglion cells and nerve fibers innervating the sinuatrial and atrioventricular nodes, the myocardium, local neurons, coronary arteries, and pulmonary vessels, suggesting an involvement of NO in neurogenic heart rate regulation, myocardial cell function, neuronal transmission in cardiac ganglia, and coronary as well as pulmonary vasodilation.
Klimaschewski
L
L
Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, FRG.
Kummer
W
W
Mayer
B
B
Couraud
J Y
JY
Preissler
U
U
Philippin
B
B
Heym
C
C
D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology*; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D051381:Rats; D014664:Vasodilation
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase