Innervation pattern of inferior vena cava in mouse and rat.

The innervation pattern of rat and mouse inferior vena cava was studied using catecholamine fluorescence and cholinesterase histochemical methods. Adrenergic nerve fibers innervate only abdominal portions of the inferior vena cava, while cholinergic nerves are chiefly distributed to the thoracic inferior vena cava and show a gradual decrease in the abdomen. Chemical sympathectomy performed with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine does not alter the pattern of cholinergic innervation of the inferior vena cava, suggesting the parasympathetic nature of cholinergic nerves.