Morphological study on vagal innervation in human atrioventricular valves using histochemical method

To demonstrate innervation in human atrioventricular valves, we examined the tricuspid and mitral valves of apparently normal autopsied hearts of four men (ages ranging from 50 to 74 years). Whole valve tissues were stained for acetylcholinesterase by a histochemical method. Acetylcholinesterase-positive nerve fibers with a diameter of 2 to 5 microns were distributed widely in the deep atrialis of the atrioventricular valves and partly in the fibrosa. The nerve fibers formed a network or plexus from the base to the anatomical edge of the valves. Meshes of the nerve fiber network were more dense towards the base and at the commissure than either towards the edge or at the body. Thicker nerve fibers, which were interspersed coarsely in the leaflets, were intercalated by special varicose apparatuses at a few sites in their long running course. On the contrary, thinner nerve fibers which were distributed abundantly, ended, as a rule, in small dotor brush-like formations. Approximately half of the chordae tendineae were innervated by the nerve fibers. The mode of vagal innervation suggests that the nerve system may assist valve movement by moderating myocyte contraction in the valve base and change valve structure by sensing a stress in the valves.