title: [Autonomic angiotensinergic fibres in the human heart with an efferent sympathetic cophenotype].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The autonomic innervation of the heart consists of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibres, and fibres of the intrinsic ganglionated plexus with noradrenaline and acytylcholine as principal neurotransmitters. The fibres co-release neuropeptides to modulate intracardiac neurotransmission by specific presynaptic and postsynaptic receptors. The coexpression of angiotensin II in sympathetic fibres of the human heart and its role are not known so far.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autopsy specimens of human hearts were studied (n=3; ventricles). Using immunocytological methods, cryostat sections were stained by a murine monoclonal antibody (4B3) directed against angiotensin II and co-stained by polyclonal antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase, a catecholaminergic marker. Visualisation of the antibodies was by confocal light microscopy or laser scanning microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Angiotensin II-positive autonomic fibres with and without a catecholaminergic cophenotype (hydroxylase-positive) were found in all parts of the human ventricles. In the epicardium, the fibres were grouped in larger bundles of up to 100 and more fibres. They followed the preformed anatomic septa and epicardial vessels towards the myocardium and endocardium where the bundles dissolved and the individual fibres spread between myocytes and within the endocardium. Generally, angiotensinergic fibres showed no synaptic enlargements or only a few if they were also catecholaminergic. The exclusively catechalominergic fibres were characterised by multiple beaded synapses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The autonomic innervation of the human heart contains angiotensinergic fibres with a sympathetic efferent phenotype and exclusively angiotensinergic fibers representing probably afferents. Angiotensinergic neurotransmission may modulate intracardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic activity and thereby influence cardiac and circulatory function.
authors.affiliation: Département de néphrologie, hypertension et pharmacologie clinique, Inselspital, hôpital universitaire, université de Berne, 10, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Berne, Suisse; Institut de biologie cellulaire, université de Berne, 2, Baltzerstrasse, 3012 Berne, Suisse. Electronic address: juergen.bohlender@bluewin.ch.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bohlender
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine, centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV), 5, avenue Pierre-Decker, 1011 Lausanne, Suisse.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nussberger
authors.affiliation: Départment de chirurgie cardiovasculaire, Inselspital, hôpital universitaire, université de Berne, 10, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Berne, Suisse.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tevaearai
authors.affiliation: Institut de biologie cellulaire, université de Berne, 2, Baltzerstrasse, 3012 Berne, Suisse.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imboden
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009476:Neurons, Efferent / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000804:Angiotensin II
keywords: Acetylcholine; Acétylcholine; Angiotensin; Angiotensine; Angiotensinergic; Angiotensinergique; Autonome; Autonomic; Catecholamine; Catécholamine; Cœur; Heart; Humain; Human; Innervation; Noradrenaline; Noradrénaline; Parasympathetic; Paraympathique; Sympathetic; Sympathique