THE DISTRIBUTION OF SMALL INTENSELY FLUORESCENT CELLS IN THE RAT HEART / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Serial cryostat sections of five hearts and seven atria of rats were prepared. Falck's fluorescent histochemical method, and histological staining methods wereutilized in succession on the same section. Small intensely fluorescent cells in rat's heart are round, oval or polyhedral in shape. A few of them possess processes. These cells are found in the heart in four major forms dense spheroid groups, loosely associated clusters, linear alignment, and isolated cells.The number of small intensely fluorescent cell varies between 442-664 cells in the adult rat's heart. 86-92% of them are localized in subepicardium of atrium, especially several areas on the dorsum of atrium. No small intensely fluorescent cell was found in endocardium. The rest of these cells are scattered in other parts of the heart. The distribution areas of atrial nerve ganglia and small intensely fluorescent cells in subepicardium are similar. There are no such cells in some atrial ganglia and there is no relation between the number of these cells in the ganglion and its size. Parts of these cells are often found near the blood vessels. Small intensely fluorescent cells are not morphologically associated with the conduction system in the rat.