The Relative Density of Sympathetic Nerve Terminals in the Canine Right Atrium

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Abstract
Relative densities of sympathetic nerve terminals in 20 consecutive sections of both normally innervated (n = 10) and chronically denervated (n = 8) dog right atria were determined by comparative uptakes of [3H]norepinephrine. Analysis of neurally intact atria displayed a consistent gradient of [3H]norepinephrine with the highest concentration (130,000 dpm[disintegrations/min]/g) in the tip of the atrial appendage and the lowest (30,000 dpm/g) in the interatrial septum. The region containing the SA node was not distinguished by significantly high uptake. Atria of chronically denervated hearts had a markedly diminished [3H]norepinephrine uptake (average of 28,000 dpm/g). No gradient of radioactivity between sections was present in the denervated atria. The canine right atrium has marked concentrations of sympathetic terminals in the appendage, the technique of [3H]norepinephrine uptake gives a quantitative evaluation of sympathetic nerve terminal density and the technique allows for evaluation of the status of cardiac denervation.

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