Cholinergic innervation of the human pulmonary circulation.
The cholinergic innervation of the pulmonary circulation was studied in man. Both extra- and intrapulmonary branches of the pulmonary artery and vein are provided with a cholinergic of the vein. In the main branches of the pulmonary vessels, the existence of two nerve plexuses, a superficial and a deep one, was observed. The superficial plexus is localized in the outer adventitial layer while the deeper plexus is localized in the adventitial-medial transitional zone. In smaller arteries and veins, the existence of a single plexus (adventitial-medial) was observed. In some specimens, the presence of diffuse masses of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive material or elbow-shaped AChE-positive formations was observed. The nature of these formations as well as the possible functional role of a cholinergic system in the pulmonary circulation are discussed.
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation*
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase