AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF RIGHT CERVICAL SYMPATHECTOMY ON THE SINOATRIAL AND ATRIOVENTRICULAR NODES IN THE HEART OF THE MONKEY (MACACA-FASCICULARIS)

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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 139  (OCT) , 449-461
Abstract
Ultrastructural change in the sinuatrial and atrioventricular nodes of the heart of the monkey (M. fascicularis) after right cervical sympathectomy are described. Obvious structural changes were observed in the nodal cells 1 day after the operation. Glycogen particles aggregated as electron dense patches containing vacuoles in the cytoplasm. Three days after the operation, intracellular organelles appeared fragmented and dissoluted. By 5 and 7 days, the affected cells appeared vacuolated and swollen, and were probably removed by invading macrophages. Axon profiles and terminals exhibiting various degrees of degeneration were present in the vicinity of the nodal cells throughout the study period.