PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Vincenzi, Frank F.
AU  - West, Theodore C.
TI  - RELEASE OF AUTONOMIC MEDIATORS IN CARDIAC TISSUE BY DIRECT SUBTHRESHOLD ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
DP  - 1963 Aug 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 185--194
VI  - 141
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/141/2/185.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/141/2/185.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1963 Aug 01; 141
AB  - Electrical stimuli which are subthreshold for myocardial excitation have been shown to be effective in causing the release of autonomic mediators in several types of cardiac tissue derived from rabbit, guinea pig, dog, and cat. Strength-duration data have been presented illustrating the relative case with which subthreshold release of the autonomic mediators may be demonstrated in rabbit SA node, AV node, and left atrium. It is proposed that both subthreshold and threshold electrical stimulation act upon intramyocardial autonomic nervous elements to cause the release of acetylcholine and norepinephrine. The significance of the release of acetylchohine and/or norepinephrine in procedures involving electrical stimulation is discussed.