Experimental production of papillary muscle and mitral valve lesions by vagal manipulations in rabbits.

The present paper describes peculiar lesions in papillary muscles and mitral valves produced by vagal manipulations. In the 109 rabbits killed one week after clipping or crushing of their cervical vagi, papillary muscle and mitral valve lesions were found in 53 (48.6%) and 52 (47.7%) hearts respectively. The lesions were identified by visible deposits of colloidal carbon which had been injected intravenously during the first 3 postoperative days. The left ventricular free wall, interventricular septum and right ventricle were free of carbon deposits. The papillary muscles involved were characterized by swelling and increased stiffness which corresponded to degeneration of the myocardial cells and interstitial fibrosis on microscopic observation. Hydroxyproline content of the papillary muscles involved was 1.4 times more than that of normal hearts, while there was no significant difference in hydroxyproline content of either interventricular septum or left ventricular free wall between the manipulated and the normal preparations. Heart murmurs were heard in 23 animals studied. Phonocardiograms revealed mid to late systolic murmurs with or without midsystolic click. These results indicate that the vagus nerve plays an important role in the pathogenesis of some forms of papillary muscle and mitral valve lesions.