Predictive Role of the Cervical Sympathetic Trunk Ischemia on Lower Heart Rates in an Experimentally Induced Stenoocclusive Carotid Artery Model by Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Ligation.

Bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCAL) leads to acute craniocervicocerebral ischemia, retrograde blood flow, increased blood pressure, and significant hemodynamic and histomorphological changes at the posterior cerebral vasculature. We examined the potential relationship between denervation injury following BCCAL-induced cervical sympathetic trunk (CST) ischemia and heart rate after permanent BCCAL. Rabbits (n = 25) were randomly divided into three groups: an unoperated control group (GI, n = 6); a sham-operated control group (GII, n = 6), and an experimental group subjected to BCCAL (GIII, n = 13); and then followed for one month. All animals were then sacrificed and the stellate ganglia (STGs) were examined histologically using stereological methods. The densities of degenerated neurons in the STGs were compared with heart rates and the results were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test. The mean normal neuron density in STGs was 10.340 ± 954/mm3 and the degenerated neuron density was 12 ± 3/mm3 in the GI group (p > 0.5). The mean heart rates and degenerated neuron densities of STGs were recorded as 267 ± 19/min and 237 ± 45/mm3 in GII (p < 0.005 for GII vs. GI); and 190 ± 11/min 1421 ± 230/mm3 in GIII (p < 0.0001 for GIII vs. GI and p < 0.005 for GIII vs. GII). An inverse and meaningful association was observed between the heart rate and degenerated neuronal density in the STGs. BCCAL may lead to hazardous histomorphological changes in the CST. A high density of degenerated neurons in the STG may provoke excessive sympathetic hypoactivity-related cardiac damage and bradyarrhythmias after stenoocclusive carotid artery diseases.

The vertebral artery is unlikely to be the sole source of vascular complications occurring during stellate ganglion block.

INTRODUCTION: Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is commonly performed for upper extremity complex regional pain syndrome and other conditions. Known complications of stellate block include Horner's syndrome, hoarseness, hematoma formation, airway compromise, immediate seizure (presumably from vertebral artery injection), and death. A previous arterial anatomy study demonstrated other vessels, eg, the ascending and deep cervical arteries, reinforcing the blood supply of the spinal cord and brain stem. The potential role of these vessels in the pathogenesis of seizures or hematoma during SGB has not been studied. METHODS: The anatomical recording log from 10 cadaver dissections and photographic records of same were reviewed to ascertain the presence of the ascending or deep cervical arteries, or other branches emanating from the thyrocervical or costocervical trunk and their relationship to the medial anterior surface of the C6 and C7 transverse processes. RESULTS: In 4 cases, as determined by the dissection log, and in 6 cases, determined by photographic images, the ascending cervical artery or a branch from the thyrocervical trunk passed over the anterior aspect of the transverse processes of C6 or C7. DISCUSSION: Arterial vessels other than the vertebral artery that also supply the anterior spinal cord and brain stem pass directly anterior to the transverse processes at the most common sites of the SGB. It is anatomically possible, therefore, that accidental injection or induced spasm of these vessels and not the vertebral arteries is responsible for some cases of seizure, hematoma, or other vascular complications during SGB.

[Enzyme and chemical characteristics of neurocytes of cervicothoracic ganglion of deafferented albino rats]. / Enzimokhimicheskaia kharakteristika neirotsitov sheino-grudnogo uzla simpaticheskogo stvola deafferentirovannoi beloi krysy.

The influence of chemical deafferentation (capsaicin 50 mg/kg in dose) on age-related reorganisations of cervicothoracic ganglion neurocytes was studied. Disturbance of normal age dynamics of neurocyte area, change of neurocyte choline esterase and monoaminooxidase activity and ganglionic choroid plexus density within 6 months following neonatal administration of capsaicine were discovered. The changes were maximally manifested on d 30. Metric and histochemical parameters did not stabilise completely within observation terms.

[Histometric characteristics of capillary-glio-neurocytic relationships of cervicothoracic (stellate) ganglia of cats during experimental isadrine-induced myocardial necrosis]. / Gistometricheskaia kharakteristika kapilliaro-glio-neirotsitnykh otnoshenii sheino-grudnykh (zvezdchatykh) uzlov koshki pri éksperimental'nom izadrinovom nekroze miokarda.

Focal myocardial necrosis in cats (Felis domestica) was provoked by means of threefold subcutaneous administrtion of isadrin at a rate of 10 mg bw. Cervicothoracic nodes of the boundary sympathetic trunk normally and experimentally were subjected to morphologic and histometric analysis (after 3 hours, 3--7 days and 2 weeks). The presence of foci of myocardial necrosis was supported by electrocardiography data and histologic examination of the myocardium. Histometric analysis of the cervicothoracic nodes revealed shifts in the microcirculatory channel and in the neurocytic-glial complexes. A correlation was revealed between the time course of electrocardiography data on focal myocardial necrosis and consistently developing time-dependent histopathologic changes in the cervicothoracic nodes which are specific for them in acute metabolic myocardial necroses.

[Histoarchitectonics and capillary-glio-neurocytic relationships in the stellate ganglion of cats]. / Gistoarkhitektonika i kapilliaro-glio-neirotsitnye otnosheniia v zvezdchatom uzle koshki.

By means of injection into the microcirculatory network, section staining with hallocyanine chromic alumen, hematoxylin--eosin, silver impregnation after Bielschowsky--Gross, Baginsky, unequal intensity of microvascularization in cervical and thoracic portions have been stated, as well as different forms of interrelations between capillaries, neurocytes and gliocytes (capillaries are predominantly situated in parallel fashion to the surface of neurocytes, or else surround them). The distance between the capillary and neurocyte does not usually exceed 5--10 mkm. The contact area between neurocytes and capillaries increases with enlargement of neurocyte area. Glial and connective tissue elements are clearly differentiated after staining with acridine orange.