Innervation of myocardial microcirculation; terminal autonomic axons associated with capillaries and postcapillary...

Efferent terminal axons are associated with numerous capillaries and postcapillary venules in both the atria and ventricles of mouse heart. These axons possess ultrastructural characteristics which are typical of peripheral autonomic fibers in other tissues. Many are found near pericytes, in a relationship closely resembling that between terminal axons and smooth muscle cells of larger vessels. To demonstrate adrenergic terminals, mice were pretreated with 5- or 6-hydroxydopamine; examination of these animals' hearts revealed that both adrenergic and cholinergic axons terminate near pericytes and endothelial cells. The results of this study are consistent with the view that there may be a functional innervation of capillaries and postcapillary venules of the mouse heart.