S. Dolezel et al., INSTRUMENTATION OF RAMUS CIRCUMFLEXUS COMPROMISES THE INNERVATION OF CORONARY-ARTERY AND MYOCARDIUM, Journal of the autonomic nervous system, 50(2), 1994, pp. 171-179
A fine non-compressing methacrylate ring was implanted on the ramus ci
rcumflexus (RC) in 13 dogs. After the animals survived 7-14 days, the
distribution and the rate of the Wallerian degeneration was studied in
coronary arteries and myocardium by means of the formaldehyde induced
fluorescence (FIF) technique and the transmission electron microscopy
. The density of vasomotor innervation in the main arterial trunks was
expressed as the number of transsected terminals per 1 mm(2) of the t
ransversally sectioned media; the density of adrenergic terminals in t
he myocardium was determined by the point-counting method. A compact s
car encompassing the ring was found. The scar compressed some perivasc
ular nerves. As a consequence, by about 40% of terminals degenerated i
n the RC. The innervation of the branching of this artery was compromi
sed as well. Moreover, the density of nerve terminals in myocardium de
creased around the whole circumference of the ventricles and in the se
ptum, equally by 29%. The value was lower than that found after the in
strumentation of ramus interventricularis anterior (50%). The results
indicate (i) a compromise of the innervation of coronary artery and my
ocardium after the instrumentation of RC; (ii) the different decrease
in density of nerve terminals in the myocardium suggests that majority
of adrenergic nerve supply for ventricle myocardium is running along
ramus interventricularis anterior.