Peripheral innervation of the heart

The present immunohistochemical study demonstrates the multiplicity, histotopography and origin of peptidergic innervation in the mammalian heart. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is the major representative of peptides in cardiac sympathetic efferents. Sympathetic afferents are characterized by the presence of tachykinins, calcitonin gene-related peptide and apparently also some opioid peptides. Predominant peptides of the vagal system are tachykinins. The intrinsic peptidergic system predominantly consists of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/peptide histidine isoleucine. Paracrine systems are merely opioid-ergic. Target relations of extrinsic and intrinsic peptidergic nerves were found to be more di…