title: Complex innervation patterns of the conus arteriosus in the heart of the longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus.
abstract: Anatomical and functional studies of the autonomic innervation in the conus arteriosus of the garfishes are lacking. This study reveals that the conus arteriosus of the longnose gar is primarily myocardial in nature, but additionally, large numbers of smooth muscle cells are present in the subendocardium. A well-developed system of adrenergic, cholinergic, substance P (SP) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) positive nerve terminals are found in the wall of the conus arteriosus. Coronary blood vessels running in the adventitia receive a rich supply of nNOS positive nerve fibers, thus suggesting their importance in the nitrergic control of blood flow in the conus arteriosus. The present data show that the patterns of autonomic innervation of the garfish conus arteriosus are more complex than previously appreciated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Marine Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaccone
authors.forename: Adrian C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sfacteria
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaroszewska
authors.forename: Giuseppa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caristina
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manganaro
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zaccone
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dabrowski
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D017777:Parasympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000378:metabolism; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017779:Sympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase