Brachial Artery Vasospasm Caused by Cervical Dorsal Root Ganglion Degeneration After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: An Experimental Study.

PURPOSE: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) may lead to vasospasm in various vessels. The cervical nerves have a vasodilatory effect on the upper extremity arteries. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a relationship between C6 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) degeneration and brachial artery (BA) vasospasm after spinal SAH. METHODS: This experimental study was conducted on 23 rabbits. The animals were divided into 3 groups: control (n = 5), SHAM (n = 5), and study group (n = 13). One cubic centimeter (cc) of serum saline was injected into the cisterna magna of animals of the SHAM group; the same procedure was performed by 1 cc of homologous blood in the study group. Degenerated neuron densities (DNDs) of DRGs (n/mm3) at C6 levels and BA vasospasm indexes (VSI; wall surface/lumen surface) of all animals were determined and results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Mean VSI values of BAs and DNDs of C6DRGs of the control, SHAM, and study groups were estimated as 10 ± 3/1.12 ± 0.11 n/mm3, 34 ± 9/1.27 ± 0.24 n/mm3, and 1031 ± 145/2.93 ± 0.78 n/mm3, respectively. Mean DNDs and VSI values were statistically significantly different between the control and study groups (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: C6DRG degeneration may be considered as an important factor in the etiopathogenesis of severe BA vasospasm after SAH.

Ganglionary mechanisms of spasticity and ileus in cerebral hemorrhage: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of retrograde neuronal death is well determined in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) after peripheral nerve injury, but the effects of intracerebral hemorrhage on the DRG has not been well known. In this study, it was investigated if hemorrhagic lesions of sensory-motor cortex cause neurodegeneration on DRG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 23 male hybrid rabbits. Three of 23 animals were examined as control. Left parietal burr-hole surgery was applied to remaining 20 animals and autolog blood of 0.25ml injected into left sensory-motor region under general anesthesia. All rabbits were followed-up for two months and sacrificed. L(5) DRG's were observed histopathologically. The results were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Right spastic hemiplegia developed only in 16 operated animals and 10 of them were developed ileus. The number of degenerated neurons in DRG was higher in the plegic side than in the non-plegic side (p<0.001). But, the difference between the non-plegic side of the study group and control group did not meaningful (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Intracerebral hemorrhages affecting the sensory-motor cortex may result in neurodegeneration in DRG. Sensitive reflex arches of striated muscles and bowels may be disturbed due to DRG degeneration and results in spasticity and/or ileus.

Variants and deformities of atlas vertebrae in Eastern Anatolian people.

OBJECTIVE: At the craniocervical junction, developmental anomalies of the atlas may produce clinical symptoms by compressing on the vertebral artery, particularly during extreme rotational movements of the cervical spine. The aim of the present study was to investigate several varieties and deformities of the atlas vertebra from the skeletal specimens of Eastern Anatolian people. METHODS: This study was carried out over a 3-year period, 2000 through to 2002 in the Department of Anatomy, Firat, Yuzuncu Yil and Ataturk University, Turkey. Developmental anomalies and the variants of the first vertebrae were investigated on 86 atlas. RESULTS: Ponticulus posterior was observed with a low frequency on right as 2.3%. The bilateral localization was 10.5% and the left-side localization was 9.3%. Ponticulus lateralis showed an equal localization as 1.2% on the right, 1.2% on the left and 1.2% bilateral. In the present study, a complete subdivision of the joint surface was observed in 11 atlases (12.8%). Processus infratransversarius atlantis with a frequency between 1.2-7%, arthrotic formation and corona atlantis peridentals in 8 cases (9.3%) were also found. CONCLUSION: The low frequency for fonticulus posterior might be peculiar to the population living in this area.

Sex and handedness differences in size of cerebral ventricles of normal subjects.

Sex and handedness differences in the volumes of cerebral ventricles were studied in 20 right- and 21 left-handed subjects. To assess the volumes of cerebral ventricles, Cavalieri's method was used using MRI. In right-handers, the volume of the lateral ventricle was higher in the right side than in the left side, but, in left-handers, it was higher in the left side than in the right side. The volumes of right-lateral and third ventricles were larger in right-handers than in left -handers. There were no sex related differences in terms of the volumes of right- and left -lateral, third, and fourth ventricles. These results suggest that left-handedness is an important factor reducing the sizes of all the brain ventricles.

An evaluation of histomorphometric properties of coronary arteries, saphenous vein, and various arterial conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the histomorphological properties of the coronary arteries, saphenous vein, and five arterial conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting, and compared them with each other. METHODS: All vessels were harvested from seven cadavers, eight autopsied individuals, and 14 patients. The length, lumen diameter, wall thickness, and histological structures were examined based on samples obtained from the coronary arteries and the conduits. The dimensions and wall thicknesses of the coronary arteries and the conduits were compared using a one-sided variance analysis. The similarities between the coronary arteries and the conduits were investigated by Duncan's multiple range tests. RESULTS: The internal mammary and intercostal arteries were elastic, while the others were muscular. The lengths of all conduits were adequate for use as coronary artery grafts. The dimensions and wall thicknesses of the coronary arteries and the conduits showed no statistically significant differences, except for the proximal portion of the saphenous vein. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the justification of continued use of the ideally matching internal mammary artery, either as an in situ or free graft, in coronary artery bypass grafting, although other arterial grafts can be used in coronary artery bypass grafting. In addition, the intercostal artery was found to have relatively favorable properties regarding its potential suitability as a coronary bypass conduit.