Functional Distribution of Right and Left Stellate Innervation to the Ventricles

TLDR

The study measured ECG changes and ventricular refractory periods after unilateral stellate ganglion stimulation or ablation in open‑chest dogs. Unilateral stellate manipulation produced distinct ECG changes—right ganglionectomy or left stimulation prolonged QT and raised T‑wave amplitude, while left ganglionectomy or right stimulation increased T‑wave negativity without QT change—correlating with region‑specific ventricular refractory period prolongations and mirroring ECG abnormalities seen in CNS lesion patients, indicating functional lateralization of sympathetic influence.

Abstract

Changes of the electrocardiogram and of ventricular refractory period were measured following either unilateral stellate ganglion stimulation or ablation in the open chest dog preparation. Right stellate ganglionectomy or left stellate stimulation produces prolonged Q-T intervals and increased T-wave amplitude. Left stellate ganglionectomy or right stellate stimulation produces increased T-wave negativity without measurable change in the Q-T interval. The differing patterns of electrocardiographic wave form resulting from changes in sympathetic tone mediated by right and left stellate innervation could be correlated with changes in ventricular refractory period. Following right stellate ganglionectomy, refractory period prolongations were most marked over the anterior ventricular surface; left stellate ganglionectomy produced the greatest prolongation on the posterior surface. Although the right and left stellate innervations of the ventricles overlap, the left stellate influence is predominant over the posterior wall of the ventricles, while right stellate influence dominates the anterior ventricular walls. The electrocardiographic form changes observed following unilateral alteration of sympathetic tone paralleled those electrocardiographic abnormalities seen in patients with lesions of the central nervous system, suggesting a possible functional explanation for these clinical findings.