[Experimental production of mitral valve and papillary muscle lesions by cervical vagus stimulation in rabbits].

Mitral valve and papillary muscle lesions were experimentally produced in rabbits by cervical vagal stimulation or compression of the abdominal aorta. The involvement induced the similar findings to mitral valve prolapse in human beings including mid-systolic clicks and a late systolic or holosystolic murmur. Extrasystoles were also common. Necropsies disclosed papillary muscle swelling, bleeding and edematous change in the mitral valve, swelling of the myocardial cells and interstitial fibrosis. Further, bacterial endocarditis was induced in such rabbits by injecting pseudomonas alkaligenes. Possible connection of experimentally-induced lesions of the mitral complex and mitral valve prolapse in human beings was discussed.