Ultrastructural investigation of nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive nerves associated with coronary blood vessels of rat and guinea-pig.
Ultrastructural investigation of nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive nerves closely associated with blood vessels in rat and guinea-pig hearts revealed many labelled nerve fibres in the walls of the main branches of the coronary arteries, and in arterioles, capillaries and post-capillary venules. The number of nitric oxide synthase-containing nerve fibres associated with different vessels, even those of the same calibre, varied. Terminal regions of nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive fibres were observed in the endocardium and myocardium. Nitric oxide synthase-labelled fibres displayed electron-dense immunoproduct in both varicose and intervaricose regions. Immunoreactive axonal varicosities contained both small and large synaptic vesicles. The characteristics of the nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive nerve fibres observed in the heart and the possibility that these fibres represent the processes of intracardiac neurones and/or sensory neurones of extrinsic origin are discussed.
Sosunov
A A
AA
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, UK.
Hassall
C J
CJ
Loesch
A
A
Turmaine
M
M
Burnstock
G
G
D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000294:innervation*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases