[State of adrenergic innervation of intact sections of the myocardium and adrenal medulla in experimental myocardial infarction].

A quantitative histofluorescence method has been employed in rabbits to evaluate adrenergic heart innervation and the adrenal glands after experimental myocardial infarction reproduced by ligation of the coronary artery (group 1). Group 2 rabbits were not subjected to interruption of the coronary blood flow. The adrenergic response was evaluated on postinfarctional days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30. Intact animals comprised a control group 3. It was found out that the heart adrenergic plexuses of the left ventricular posterior wall demonstrated elevated luminescence intensity without changing their density in groups 1 and 2. Local accumulation of catecholamines in sympathetic axon conductive parts of the neural trunks along the coronary vessels was registered in groups 1 and 2. The luminescence intensity of catecholamines in the adrenal glands increased on day 1, 3 and 14 in group 1 and day 1 in group 2 rabbits. These findings suggest the method to be unsuitable for assessing the response of the cardiac adrenergic nerve plexuses during 30 postinfarctional days being adequate for the study of the adrenal gland response 3 days after the operation. The authors hold that relevant disadvantages can be adjusted for by introduction of mercury into the coronary channel.