Distribution of autonomic nerves to the canine heart.

KAYE, MICHAEL P., JOHN M. GEESBREGHT, AND WALTER C. RANDALL. Distribution of autonomic nerves to the canine heart. Am. J. Physiol. 218(4): 1025-1029. 1970.-Ventricular contractile force and lead II ECG were recorded in 15 dogs under chloralose anesthesia prior to and following sectioning of the pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, and venae cavae. All experiments were carried out on cardiopulmonary bypass. Both stellate ganglia and cervical vagosympathetic trunks were electrically stimulated before and after each surgical intervention. Sectioning of the vessels was randomized. The results indicate that major sympathetic inotropic fibers travel in the peripulmonary region or in the ventrolateral cervical cardiac nerve. Sympathetic chronotropic fibers approach the heart either in the peripulmonary tissues or the superior vena cava and pulmonary veins. Parasympathetic fibers enter the heart along the superior pulmonary veins and superior vena cava.