A quantitative assessment of innervation in the conduction system of the calf heart

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the relative distribution of autonomic and sensory nerves in the cardiac conduction tissues of calves.

A quantitative immunohistochemical and histochemical technique was adopted.

Immunoreactivity to the general neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) demonstrated that all regions of the conduction system possessed a higher relative density of total nerves when compared with the surrounding myocardial tissues. Unlike myocardial innervation, the conduction system did not display an atrial-to-ventricular gradient in nerve density. PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerve trunks and varicose nerve fibres were more numerous in the transitional atrioventricular node and the penetrating atrioventricular bundle than in either the sinus node, compact atrioventricular node, or bundle branches. The Purkinje network of the ventricular conduction tissues possessed a rich supply of PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerve trunks and varicose nerve fibres. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive nerves were the main subtype identified in the sinus and atrioventricular nodes and in the ventricular conduction tissues, representing 50-80% of the area occupied by PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerves. The compact atrioventricular node possessed AChE-positive and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive nerves in similar proportions (45%), although, in general, TH-immunoreactive nerves had a lower relative nerve density than AChE-positive nerves. Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive nerves represented the main peptide-containing subpopulation and occurred throughout the conduction system, displaying a similar pattern of distribution and relative density to those demonstrating TH immunoreactivity. Nerve fibres immunoreactive for somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P, and calcitonin gene-related peptide formed relatively minor subpopulations.

The general innervation of the bovine conduction tissues exhibits significant regional variation. Throughout all regions of the conduction system, AChE-positive nerve represented the dominant subtype when compared with TH- and NPY-immunoreactive nerves. The distribution and relative density of nerve subtypes in the tissues of the bovine conduction system are similar to those observed in man, whereas differences were observed in other regions, such as the atrioventricular bundle and bundle branches. This finding must be considered by those making interspecies comparisons.