Catecholamine-containing cells of the guinea pig heart: An ultrastructural study

• Published in: Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 17,IN1,21 - 20,IN11,26
• Main Authors: Ellison, J.P., Hibbs, R.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.1974
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiac innervation; Catecholamines; Catecholamines - analysis; Chemoreceptor; Coronary Circulation; Endocrine; Guinea Pigs; Heart - innervation; Heart Septum - cytology; Histocytochemistry; Microcirculation - cytology; Microscopy, Electron; Myocardium - cytology; Nerve Endings; Neurofibrils; Synapses - cytology; Catecholamines; Endocrine; Chemoreceptor; Cardiac innervation
• ISSN: 0022-2828; 1095-8584
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-2828(74)90003-0

Clusters of small cells in the interatrial septum of the heart fluoresce yellow-green when prepared according to the Falck-Hillarp method for biogenic amines. An attempt was made to locate these cells in electron microscopic preparations. Cells were found that contained many typical amine-storage granules. There were two types of granule; each cell contained one variety or the other, but none contained both. The granule-containing cells were in highly vascular, glomus-like clusters, most of which were in the vicinity of the AV node. Nerve terminals containing 550 Å transclucent vesicles made synaptic contact with granule-containing cells. These were typical efferent synapses. It is possible therefore that the granule-containing cells, under neural control, secrete catecholamines into the capillaries of the interatrial septum. However, in view of the several similarities between the glomus-like bodies of heart and the carotid and aortic bodies, the possibility of chemoreceptor function also must be considered.