Vol. 45, No. 3, 2001
THE DISTRIBUTION OF NADPH-DIAPHORASE ACTIVITY IN THE MITRAL VALVE OF THE RAT HEART
Lovásová, K., Kluchová, D., Rybárová, S.
Faculty of Medicine
P. J. Šafárik University
Šrobárova 2
040 01 Košice
The Slovak Republic
Summary
A histochemical technique was used to investigate neuronal and vessel structures that show NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity in the cuspis septalis (cuspis anterior) of the mitral valve of the rat heart. This technique involved whole-mount stretch preparations of the valve, enabling the study of their innervation and blood supply by means of light microscopy. The highest concentrations of NADPH-d positive nerve fibres, capillaries and fine nerve fibres in the tunica adventitia of the arterial wall were found in the zone adjacent to the fibromuscular atrioventricular (AV) ring. In the free-moving zone of the valve, a few nerve fibres were found. These nerve fibres had a vertical course and they ended directly as free nerve endings. The nerve fibres did not reach either the free margin of the valve cusp or the chordae tendineae.
Key words: mitral valve; NADPH-diaphorase; nitric oxide; innervation; vessels; rat
References
Folia Veterinaria / 2001