Natriuretic peptide immunoreactivity in nerve structures and Purkinje fibres of human, pig and sheep hearts

Atrial natriuretic peptide is a well-described peptide in cardiac Purkinje fibres and has been shown to interfere with the autonomic regulation in the heart of various species, including man. Recently, we detected immunoreactivity for the peptide in intracardial ganglionic cells and nerve fibre vari...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Molecular Histology 1997-04, Vol.29 (4), p.329-336
Main Authors: Hansson, M, Eriksson, A, Forsgren, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Atrial Natriuretic Factor - analysis
Autonomic Pathways - chemistry
Female
Heart Conduction System - chemistry
Humans
Immunohistochemistry - methods
Male
Middle Aged
Myocardium - chemistry
Natriuretic Agents - analysis
Peptides
Purkinje Fibers - chemistry
Sheep - anatomy & histology
Swine - anatomy & histology
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Summary:Atrial natriuretic peptide is a well-described peptide in cardiac Purkinje fibres and has been shown to interfere with the autonomic regulation in the heart of various species, including man. Recently, we detected immunoreactivity for the peptide in intracardial ganglionic cells and nerve fibre varicosities of bovine hearts, by the use of a modified immunostaining technique that induced an improved detection of natriuretic peptides. These findings raised the question as to whether natriuretic peptides are detectable in these tissues in man and other species. The conduction system from human, pig and sheep hearts was dissected processed with antisera against atrial natriuretic peptide and the closely related brain natriuretic peptide. Immunostaining for the brain natriuretic peptide was detected in some Purkinje fibres in all of these species. Interestingly, in pig, sheep and human hearts, some ganglionic cells and nerve fibres showed atrial natriuretic peptide immunoreactivity, particularly in the soma of human ganglionic cells. This is the first study showing immunoreactivity for the atrial natriuretic peptide in nerve structures and for the brain natriuretic peptide in Purkinje fibres of the human heart. The results give a morphological correlate for the documented effects of atrial natriuretic peptide on the heart autonomic nervous system and for the presumable effects of brain natriuretic peptide in the conduction system of man.
ISSN:0018-2214
1567-2379
1567-2387
1573-6865
DOI:10.1023/A:1026478616039