RESUMO
Retrograde transneuronal viral labelling and immunocytochemical methods were used for revealing neuronal networks controlling the left ventricle myocardium of the rat heart. After injections of 1 microliter pseudorabies virus solution (3 x 10(6) PFU ml-1) into the left ventricle, infected orthosympathetic preganglionic cells were found in the intermediolateral cell groups of the first 6 thoracic spinal segments. Preganglionic parasympathetic neurones were seen both in the nucleus ambiguus/retro-ambiguus area and the dorsal motor vagus nucleus. Large numbers of infected projecting interneurones were found in the rostral, caudal and medial parts of the ventral medulla oblongata, the Kölliker-Fuse nucleus and catecholaminergic cell group A5 and in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus.
