Automic innervation of dog coronary arteries.

The autonomic innervation of canine coronary arteries has been examined using the Falck and Owman technique for demonstrating catecholamines and a modification of the Koelle technique for the demonstration of cholinesterase. The experimental protocol included an examination of the neural innervation of the major coronary arteries: LCC, LAD, and RCA. A consistent, relatively dense adrenergic innervation was noted. A gradient in the degree of cholinergic innervation was: LAD less than RCA less than LCC. Light microscopic examination of the hearts of dogs subjected to either cervical vagotomy or total extrinsic cardiac denervation was performed. Additional surgical procedures included removal of the left stellate ganglion and a preferential stripping of the LCC. These studies demonstrated the intrinsic nature of parasympathetic coronary innervation. Following all surgical procedure no variations in density of cholinergic innervation were noted, indicating that these fibers are probably postganglionic parasympathetic fibers arising from intrinsic ganglia within the ventricles. These ganglia may be located at the base of the great vessels and send their fibers to the coronary vessels via the septal artery.