Cardiac effects of stimulation and block of the stellate ganglion

Stimulation of the right stellate ganglion in 21 of 27 cats resulted in a marked increase in positivity of the T wave. Stimulation of the left stellate ganglion in 19 of 26 cats resulted in marked negativity of the T wave. Right or left stellate ganglion block in 19 cats consistently produced diphasic and lower T waves. Right stellate ganglion block in 5 cats was also shown to produce significant prolongation of the functional refractory period exclusively in the anterior right ventricle. Left stellate ganglion block had almost no effect in this area, but did produce significant functional refractory period prolongation in the left ventricle. By heating and cooling the anterior right ventricle, ST and T wave changes were produced in a manner predicted from the functional refractory period studies. While significant overlapping of innervation exists, the right stellate ganglion functionally predominates over the anterior right ventricle and the left stellate ganglion predominates over the lateral and posterior left ventricle.