Functional capacity of nicotine-sensitive canine intrinsic cardiac neurons to modify the heart

Armour. Functional capacity of nicotine-sensitive canine intrinsic cardiac neurons to modify the heart. Am. J. Physiol. 266 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 35): R1127-R1135, 1994.-The capacity of intrinsic cardiac efferent para-sympathetic and sympathetic neurons to modify the heart was investigated in nine anesthetized open-chest dogs with adrenal glands removed from the circulation. The effects elicited by intravenously administered isoproterenol, tyramine, and nico-tine on cardiac variables were examined before and after acute decentralization of the heart. Major vessels, as well as other tissues at the base of the heart, were denuded by means of an ultrasonic aspirator that removed neural elements without damaging muscles or blood vessels. The efficacy of the acute decentralization was assured by testing cardiac responses elicited by right and left stellate ganglia and cervical vagosym