Vasoactive intestinal peptide-like immunoreactivity in nerves associated with the cardiovascular system of guinea-pigs

Abstract

The distribution of nerves with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-like immunoreactivity has been examined in the heart and vascular system of guinea-pigs. There was a very sparse supply of fibres to the heart. No immunoreactive cell bodies were found in the intrinsic cardiac ganglia; however, positive nerve cell bodies were seen along the superior vena cava near the right atrium. There were immunoreactive fibres with most arteries; these fibres were located at the media-adventitia junction. The supply to major distributing arteries, such as the aorta, subclavian, carotid and femoral arteries as well as to the pulmonary arteries, was sparse. Of the individual vascular beds, the most densely..