Abstract
The heart beat originates within a certain group of cells of the sinoatrial node (SA node), and from this location, the excitation is propagated through the entire node, the right atrium and the other parts of the heart. Using intracellular recordings of electrical activity, West showed already in 1955 that within small areas of the SA node large differences in the shape of the recorded action potentials could be found. In addition it is known that the leading pacemaker site is small (for review see Brooks and Lu, 1972) and that its location within the node is variable even in animals from the same species (Sano and Yamagishi, 1965; Bleeker et al., 1978). Also morphologically the SA node is not homogeneous while a gradual transition between different territories is observed within the node. So it is difficult to localize precisely the leading pacemaker center. Nevertheless, among the numerous studies dealing with the ultrastructure of the SA node of several mammalian species: mole (Kikuchi, 1976), rat (Bompiani et al., 1959; Virégh, and Porte, 1960; Cheng, 1971), rabbit (Tori, 1962; Trautwein and Uchizono, 1963; Challice, 1966; Tranum-Jensen, 1976), dog (Kawamura, 1961; James et al., 1966; Hayashi, 1971), cow (Rhodin et al., 1961; Hayashi, 1962), monkey (Colborn and Carsey, 1972; Viragh and Porte, 1973) and man (James et al., 1966), only that of Trautwein and Uchizono (1963) has been made after electrophysiological identification, but they selected rather large pieces (1 mm2) for morphological examination.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benscosme, S.A., Berger, J.M.: Specific granules in mammalian and non-mammalian vertebrate cardiocytes. In: Meth Achievm Exp Path vol. 5. Bajusz, E., Jasmin, G. (eds.), Basel, 1971, p. 173
Berger, W.K.: Correlation between the ultrastructure and function of intercellular contacts. In: Electrical phenomena in the heart, edited by de Mello, W.C. Acad. Press, New York and London, 1972, p. 63
Bompiani, G.D., Rouiller, C., Hatt, P.Y.: Le tissu de conduction du cœur chez le rat. Etude au microscope électronique. I. Le tronc commun du faisceau de His et les cellules claires de l’oreillette droite. Arch des maladies du cwur et des vaisseaux 52: 1257, 1959
Bonke, F.I.M.: Electrotonic spread in the sinoatrial node of the rabbit heart. Pflügers Arch 339: 17, 1973
Branton, D.: Fracture faces of frozen membranes. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 55: 1048, 1966
Branton, D., Bullivant, S., Gilula, N.B., Karnovsky, M.J., Moor, A., Muhlethaler, K., Northcote, D.H., Packer, L., Satir, B., Satir, P., Speth, V., Staehlin, L.A:, Steer, R.L., Weinstein, R.S.: Freeze-etching nomenclature. Science 190: 54, 1975
Brooks, C.Mc.C., Lu, H.H.: The sinoatrial pacemaker of the heart. Springfield, Ill., 1972
Challice, C.E.: Studies on the microstructure of the heart. I. The sinoatrial node and the sinoatrial ring bundle. J Roy Micr Soc 85: 1, 1966
Cheng, Y.P.: The ultrastructure of the rat sinoatrial node. Acta Anat Nipponica 46: 339, 1971
Colborn, G.L., Carsey, E. Jr.: Electron microscopy of the sinoatrial node of the squirrel monkey (saimiri sciureus). J Mol Cell Cardiol 4: 525, 1972
Glauert, A.M., Glauert, R.H.: Araldite as an embedding medium for electron microscopy. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 4: 191, 1958
Harary, I., Farley, B.: In vitro studies on single beating heart cells. Exptl Cell Res 29: 451, 1963
Hayashi, K.: An electron microscopy study on the conduction system of the cow heart. Jap Cir J 26: 765, 1962
Hayashi, S.: Electron miscroscopy of the heart conduction system of the dog. Arch Histol Jap 33: 67, 1971
Ishikawa, H., Yamada, E.: Differentiation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum an T-system in developing mouse cardiac muscle. In: Developmental and physiological correlates of cardiac muscle, edited by Lieberman, M., Sano, T. Raven Press, 1975, p. 21
James, T.N., Sherf, L., Fine, G., Morales, A.R.: Comparative ultrastructure of the sinus node in man and dog. Circulation 34: 139, 1966
Karnovsky, M.J.: The ultrastructural basis of capillary permeability studied with peroxidase as tracer. J Cell Biol 35: 213, 1967
Kawamura, K.: Electron microscope studies on the cardiac conduction system of the dog. II. The sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes. Jap Cir J 25: 973, 1961
Kikuchi, S.: The structure and innervation of the sinu-atrial node of the mole heart. Cell Tiss Res 172: 345, 1976
Lee, B.B., Mandl, G., Stean, J.P.B.: Microelectrode tip position marking in nervous tissue: a new dye method. Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol 27: 610, 1969
Lorber, V., Bertaud, W.S.: Cellular surfaces of amphibian atrial muscle. J Cell Sci 9: 427, 1971
McEwen, L.M.: The effect on the isolated rabbit heart of vagal stimulation and its modification by cocaine, hexamethonium and ouabain. J Physiol 131: 678, 1956
McNutt, N.S., Fawcett, D.W.: The ultrastructure of the cat myocardium. J Cell Biol 42: 46, 1969
Masson-Pevet, M., Jongsma, H.J., Bruijne de, J.: Collagenase-and trypsin-dissociated heart cells: a comparative ultrastructural study. J Mol Cell Cardiol 8: 747, 1976
Mobley, B. A., Page, E.: The surface area of sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres. J Physiol 220: 547, 1972
Moor, H., Muhlethaler, K.: Fine structure of frozen-etched yeast cells. J Cell Biol 17: 609, 1963
Orci, L., Amherdt, M., Malaisse-Lagae, F., Rouiller, Ch., Reynold, A.E.: Insulin release by emiocytosis: demonstration with freeze-etching technique. Science 179: 82, 1973
Pollack, G.H.: Cardiac pacemaking: an obligatory role of catecholamines? A possible mechanism underlaying spontaneous pacemaking can be deduced from several recent clues. Science 196: 731, 1977
Reynolds, E.S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17: 208, 1963
Rhodin, J.A.G., Del Missier, P., Reid, L.C.: The structure of the specialized impulse conducting system of the steer heart. Circulation 24: 349, 1961
Sano, T., Yamagishi, S: Spread of excitation from the sinus node. Circulation Res 16: 423, 1965
Schreurs, A.W., Meijer, A.A., Bouman, L.N., Bonke, F.I.M.: Micromanipulator with an electrode driver used for microelectrode work. Pflügers Arch 346: 163, 1974
Smith, U., Smith, D.S., Winkler, H., Ryan, J.W.: Exocitosis in adrenal medulla demonstrated by freeze etching. Science 179: 79, 1973
Tori, H.: Electron microscope observations of the SA. and A.V. nodes and the Purkinje fibres of the rabbit. Jap Cir J 26: 39, 1962
Tranum-Jensen, J.: The fine structure of the atrial and atrioventricular (A V) junctional specialized tissues of the rabbit heart. In: The conduction system of the heart; structure, function and clinical implications, edited by Wellens, H.J.J., Lie, K.I., Janse, M.J. Stenfert Kroese B.V. Leiden, 1976, p. 55
Trautwein, W., Uchizono, K.: Electron microscopic and electrophysiologic study of the pacemaker in the sino-atrial node of the rabbit heart. Z Zellforsch Midrosk Anat 61: 96, 1963
Viragh, S., Porte, A.: Le noeud de Keith et Flack et les différentes fibres auriculaires du cœur de rat. Etude au microscope optique et électronique. CR Acad Sci (Paris) 251: 2086, 1960
Viragh, S., Porte, A.: The fine structure of the conducting system of the monkey heart (Macaca mulatta) I. The sinoatrial node and the internodal connections. Z Zellforsch 145: 191, 1973
Weibele, E.R., Kistler, G.S., Walter, F.S.: Practical stereological methods for morphometric cytology. J. Cell Biol 30: 23, 1966
West, T.C.: Ultramicroelectrode recording from the cardiac pacemaker. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 115: 283, 1955
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1978 Martinus Nijhoff Medical Division
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Masson-Pévet, M., Bleeker, W., Mackaay, A., Gros, D., Bouman, L. (1978). Ultrastructural and Functional Aspects of the Rabbit Sinoatrial Node. In: Bonke, F.I.M. (eds) The Sinus Node. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9715-8_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9715-8_16
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-009-9717-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-9715-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive