Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Anatomy logoLink to Journal of Anatomy
. 1984 Oct;139(Pt 3):449–461.

An ultrastructural study of the effects of right cervical sympathectomy on the sinuatrial and atrioventricular nodes in the heart of the monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

S S Tay, W C Wong, E A Ling
PMCID: PMC1165060  PMID: 6490528

Abstract

This study describes the ultrastructural changes in the sinuatrial and atrioventricular nodes of the heart of the monkey (Macaca fascicularis) after right cervical sympathectomy. Obvious changes in the nodal cells were seen one day after operation. Numerous glycogen particles grouped together to form electron-dense patches containing vacuoles in the cytoplasm. At three days after operation, intracellular organelles exhibited fragmentation and dissolution. By five and seven days after operation, the affected cells were vacuolated and some were swollen and appeared to have degenerated. Simultaneously, there was massive infiltration of macrophages were present nodal tissues. Axon profiles and terminals showing various degrees of degeneration were present in the vicinity of the nodal cells throughout the period of study. It is concluded that right cervical sympathectomy resulted in a rapid degeneration in some of the cells in the sinuatrial and atrioventricular nodes.

Full text

PDF
449

Images in this article

455Fig. 7
on p.455
455Fig. 8
on p.455
456Fig. 9
on p.456
456Fig. 10
on p.456
456Fig. 11
on p.456
451Fig. 1
on p.451
453Fig. 2
on p.453
453Fig. 3
on p.453
453Fig. 4
on p.453
454Fig. 5
on p.454
454Fig. 6
on p.454
458Fig. 12
on p.458
458Fig. 13
on p.458

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Berger J. M., Bencosme S. A. Fine structural cytochemistry of granules in atrial cardiocytes. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1971 Sep;3(1):111–120. doi: 10.1016/0022-2828(71)90037-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cheng Y. P. The ultrastructure of the rat sino-atrial node. Kaibogaku Zasshi. 1971 Oct;46(5):339–358. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Colborn G. L., Carsey E., Jr Electron microscopy of the sinoatrial node of the squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1972 Oct;4(5):525–536. doi: 10.1016/0022-2828(72)90109-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Irisawa H. Fine structure of the sinoatrial node of rabbit heart. Recent Adv Stud Cardiac Struct Metab. 1976 May 26;12:77–80. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. JAMIESON J. D., PALADE G. E. SPECIFIC GRANULES IN ATRIAL MUSCLE CELLS. J Cell Biol. 1964 Oct;23:151–172. doi: 10.1083/jcb.23.1.151. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kawamura K., Urthaler F., James T. N. Fine structure of the conduction system and working myocardium in the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus. Recent Adv Stud Cardiac Struct Metab. 1976 May 26;12:81–91. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kikuchi S. The structure and innervation of the sinu-atrial node of the mole heart. Cell Tissue Res. 1976 Sep 20;172(3):345–356. doi: 10.1007/BF00399517. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. McNutt N. S., Fawcett D. W. The ultrastructure of the cat myocardium. II. Atrial muscle. J Cell Biol. 1969 Jul;42(1):46–67. doi: 10.1083/jcb.42.1.46. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Mochet M., Moravec J., Guillemot H., Hatt P. Y. The ultrastructure of rat conductive tissue; an electron microscopic study of the atrioventricular node and the bundle of His. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1975 Dec;7(12):879–889. doi: 10.1016/0022-2828(75)90149-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Moravec-Mochet M., Moravec J., Hatt P. Y. Morphological evidence for neural control of the activity of rat heart pacemaker. Recent Adv Stud Cardiac Struct Metab. 1976 May 26;12:71–75. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Moravec M., Moravec J. Presence of mechanoreceptors in the atrioventricular junction of the rat heart: microanatomical and ultrastructural evidences. J Ultrastruct Res. 1982 Oct;81(1):47–65. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(82)90040-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Munnell J. F. Sensory components in the terminal innervation of the ovine cardiac conduction system. Am J Anat. 1982 Apr;163(4):337–350. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001630406. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Nilsson E., Sporrong B. Electron microscopic investigation of adrenergic and non-adrenergic axons in the rabbit SA-node. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1970;111(3):404–412. doi: 10.1007/BF00342490. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Thaemert J. C. Atrioventricular node innervation in ultrastructural three dimensions. Am J Anat. 1970 Jun;128(2):239–263. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001280209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Thaemert J. C. Fine structure of the atrioventricular node as viewed in serial sections. Am J Anat. 1973 Jan;136(1):43–66. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001360105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Tranzer J. P., Thoenen H. Electronmicroscopic localization of 5-hydroxydopamine (3,4,5-trihydroxy-phenyl-ethylamine), a new 'false' sympathetic transmitter. Experientia. 1967 Sep 15;23(9):743–745. doi: 10.1007/BF02154151. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Virágh S. Z., Porte A. On the impulse conducting system of the monkey heart (Macaca mulatta). II. The atrio-ventricular node and bundle. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1973 Dec 6;145(3):363–388. doi: 10.1007/BF00307163. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Virágh S., Porte A. The fine structure of the conducting system of the monkey heart (Macaca mulatta). I. The sino-atrial node and the internodal connections. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1973 Nov 29;145(2):191–211. doi: 10.1007/BF00307388. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Anatomy are provided here courtesy of Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

RESOURCES