BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Antiarrhythmic effect of renal denervation (RDN) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of RDN on ventricular arrhythmia (VA) after AMI in a porcine model.METHODS: Twenty pigs were randomly divided into 2 groups based on RDN (RDN, n=10; Sham, n=10). After implanting a loop recorder, AMI was induced by occlusion of the middle left anterior descending coronary artery. Catheter-based RDN was performed for each renal artery immediately after creating AMI. Sham procedure used the same method, but a radiofrequency current was not delivered. Electrocardiography was monitored for 1 hour to observe VA. One week later, the animals were euthanized and the loop recorder data were analyzed.RESULTS: Ventricular fibrillation event rate and the interval from AMI creation to first VA in acute phase were not different between the 2 groups. However, the incidence of premature ventricular complex (PVC) was lower in the RDN than in the Sham. Additionally, RDN inhibited prolongation of the corrected QT (QTc) interval after AMI. The frequency of non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia, arrhythmic death was lower in the RDN group in the early period.CONCLUSIONS: RDN reduced the incidence of PVC, inhibited prolongation of the QTc interval, and reduced VA in the early period following an AMI. These results suggest that RDN might be a therapeutic option in patients with electrical instability after AMI.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Autonomic Denervation ; Coronary Vessels ; Denervation ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Methods ; Myocardial Infarction ; Renal Artery ; Swine ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Ventricular Premature Complexes

OBJECTIVETo establishment and verify pelvic nerve denervation (PND) model in mice.

METHODS(1) Establishment of models. Seventy-two healthy male SPE class C57 mice with age of 7 weeks and body weight of (25±1) g were chosen. These 72 mice were randomly divided into PND group containing 36 mice and sham operation group containing 36 mice. Referring to the establishment method of PND rats, after anesthesia, a laparotomy was performed on the mouse with an abdominal median incision. Under the dissection microscope, the pelvic nerves behind and after each sides of the prostate gland were bluntly separated with cotton swabs and cut with a dissecting scissor. After the operation, the urination of mice was assisted twice every day. For the mice of sham operation group, the pelvic nerves were only exposed without cutting. (2) Detection of models. Colonic transit test was performed in 18 mice chosen randomly from each group to detect the colonic transit ratio (colored colon by methylene blue/ whole colon) and visceral sensitivity tests was performed in the rest mice to observe and record the changes of electromyogram.

RESULTSThree mice died of colonic transit test in each group. Uroschesis occurred in all the mice of PND group and needed bladder massage to assist the urination. Colonic transit test showed that the colonic transit ratios of sham operation group at postoperative day (POD) 1, 3 and 7 were (0.4950±0.3858)%, (0.6386±0.1293)% and (0.6470±0.1088)% without significant difference (F=0.3647, P=0.058), while in PND group, the colonic transit ratio at POD 7 [(0.6044±0.1768) %] was obviously higher than that both at POD 3[(0.3876±0.1364)%, P=0.022] and POD 1[(0.2542±0.0371)%, P=0.001], indicating a recovery trend of colonic transit function (F=9.143, P=0.004). Compared with the sham operation group, the colonic transit function in PND group decreased significantly at POD 1 and POD 3(both P<0.05), and at POD 7, there was no significant difference between two groups. Visceral sensitivity test showed that the visceral sensitivity of sham operation group at POD 1, 3 and 7 was 24.2808±9.5566, 33.6725±7.9548 and 43.9086±12.1875 with significant difference (F=5.722, P=0.014). The visceral sensitivity of PND group at POD 1, 3 and 7 was 11.7609±2.1049, 21.8415±8.1527 and 26.2310±4.2235 with significant difference as well (F=11.154, P=0.001). The visceral sensitivity at POD 3 and POD 7 was obviously higher than that at POD 1 (P=0.006, P<0.001), and there was no significant difference between POD 3 and POD 7 (P=0.183). Compared with sham operation group, the visceral sensitivity of PND group decreased significantly at POD 1, 3 and 7(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDenervation of pelvic nerves can obviously decrease the colonic transit function and the visceral sensitivity of mice, but these changes can recover over time, which suggests that the establishment of PND model in mice is successful.

Abdominal Pain ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Autonomic Pathways ; growth & development ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Colon ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Denervation ; methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Transit ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nerve Tissue ; growth & development ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Pain, Postoperative ; physiopathology ; Pelvis ; innervation ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Prostate ; innervation ; Recovery of Function ; physiology

Ross syndrome is characterized by a triad of segmental anhidrosis, tonic pupil, and generalized areflexia. Selective postganglionic autonomic denervation could be the differential diagnostic point for other diseases of the autonomic nervous system. Here we report a patient with regional anhidrosis in his left hand and sole, and anisocoria. An evaluation of sweating and the pupillary response together with generalized areflexia confirmed the diagnosis of Ross syndrome. The finger wrinkle test is a simple and useful tool for revealing segmental sympathetic denervation.
Anisocoria* ; Autonomic Denervation ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Diagnosis ; Fingers* ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis* ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy ; Tonic Pupil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Major epicardial fat pads contain cardiac ganglionated plexi (GP) of the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic denervation may improve the success rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. This study was designed to elucidate the acute effects of blocking the right atrium-pulmonary vein (RA-PV) and left atrium-inferior vena cava (LA-IVC) fat pads on the electrophysiologic characteristics of the atrium and AF inducibility with a botulinum toxin injection. Materials and Methods: Eight mongrel dogs were studied. The RA-PV and LA-IVC fat pads were exposed through a median thoracotomy. Botulinum toxin (BT, 50 U to each fat pad, n=6) or normal saline (NS, n=2) was injected in the entire area of two fat pads. The study protocol was applied before injection and repeated at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours thereafter. The sinus rate, ventricular rate during rapid atrial pacing with a cycle length of 50 ms, and AF inducibility were measured with and without vagal stimulation (VS). Bilateral cervical VS was applied (20 Hz, 0.2 ms, 5.6+/-2.0 V). AF inducibility was evaluated with burst pacing with 200 impulses at a 50-ms cycle length. RESULTS: VS effects on the sinus node and AF inducibility were eliminated a few hours after injection of BT; these changes were not observed after injection of NS. CONCLUSION: Short-term autonomic denervation of the atria was achieved by blocking the major epicardial GP with BT.
Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Autonomic Denervation ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Autonomic Pathways ; Botulinum Toxins ; Dogs ; Ganglion Cysts ; Sinoatrial Node ; Thoracotomy ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: To observe the apoptosis in penile corpus cavernous after neurotomy. METHODS: After neurotomy, 78 SD rats were randomly assigned to experimental and normal control groups at day 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 time point. The quality was measured by DNA Ladder and the quantitation was measured by TUNEL. The location of apoptosis was detected by dual stained with immunohistochemistry and TUNEL. RESULTS: After transaction of cavernous nerve, dorsal never, and both nerves, the apoptosis in experimental and control group showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.0046); however there was no statistically significant difference after bilateral dorsal nerve transaction alone (P>0.0046). There was a statistically significant difference in apoptosis between cavernous smooth muscle cell and endothelial cell groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Cavernous nerve transection induces apoptosis in smooth muscle cells of the rat penis, but nor does dorsal nerve transaction alone. There is no statistically significant difference in apoptosis between cavernous nerve injury alone and combination injuries of cavernous nerve and dorsal nerve.
Animals ; Apoptosis/physiology* ; Autonomic Denervation ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth/pathology* ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Penis/pathology* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEConflicting results exist on the therapeutic effects of percutaneous myocardial laser revascularization (PMR) in patients with refractory angina pectoris. This study assessed the effects of PMR on myocardial innervation and perfusion in patients with refractory angina pectoris.

METHODSPatients with refractory angina unsuitable for standard revascularization treatment (PTI and CABG) were randomly divided into medication plus PMR (PMR, n = 17) and medication group (M, n = 13). Coronary sinus noradrenaline (NE) and epinephrine (E) levels, heart rate variability (HRV), total ischemic burden (TIB), and ischemic ST segmental events (STI), myocardial perfusion were evaluated at pre-, immediately post and 12 months post treatment (mean followed up time = 11.6 +/- 4.9 months).

RESULTSIn PMR group, one patient developed non-persistent ventricular tachycardia, 2 developed pericardial tamponade and another one patient developed heart failure at 24 h after operation. Coronary sinus NE and E were significantly lower 60 min post PMR compared to pre-PMR and HRV was significantly increased 24 h post PMR. One year post treatments, angina grade was significantly decreased in PMR (1.7 +/- 0.3) than that in M group (0.4 +/- 0.2, P < 0.05) while other parameters were similar between the groups.

CONCLUSIONSPMR induced an early transient denervation and decreased angina grade one year post treatment in patients with refractory angina.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; therapy ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Laser-Assisted ; Autonomic Denervation ; Female ; Heart ; innervation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; therapy ; Myocardial Revascularization ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects on erectile function of transplanted major pelvic ganglion into the corpus cavernosum of adult male rats undergoing transection of bilateral cavernous nerves.

METHODSTwenty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats (3 - 4 month-old and 300 - 400 g/each) were divided into 2 groups: experimental group (transection of bilateral cavernous nerves and transplantation of left ganglion into left crus of penis, n = 16) and control group (transection of bilateral cavernous nerves only, n = 10). Erectile function was measured by injecting APO, and intracavernous pressure was measured 1 and 3 months afterwards by electric-stimulating the right major pelvic ganglion or the left crus. Half animals in each group were sacrificed 1 and 3 months afterwards for detecting nNOS-containing nerve fibers of corpus cavernosum. Electron microscopy of the implanted area was performed to assess neuronal survival.

RESULTSBoth of the two groups have no erectile response to APO injection. Electrostimulation on the right major pelvic ganglion and left crus failed to produce erection in experimental group. The mean pressure changes in the two groups, measured by stimulating the left crus, were (9.41 +/- 3.20) and (4.16 +/- 2.58) cmH(2)O 1 month afterwards, and (13.67 +/- 4.18) and (5.09 +/- 2.74) cmH(2)O 3 months afterwards, respectively (P < 0.05). An increased number of nNOS-containing nerve fibers in left crus was detected in experimental group 1 and 3 months later, compared with control one (218.7 +/- 24.5, 18.0 +/- 3.7; 183.2 +/- 19.7, 19.0 +/- 3.8; P < 0.05). Ultrastructure examination by transmission electron microscope confirmed the survival of the implanted ganglion.

CONCLUSIONMajor pelvic ganglion can survive in the corpus cavernosum, and it has significant effects on the number of nNOS-containing nerve fibers and the alteration of intracavernous pressure.

Animals ; Autonomic Denervation ; Celiac Plexus ; surgery ; Ganglia, Autonomic ; transplantation ; Graft Survival ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Penis ; innervation ; surgery ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transplantation, Autologous

Our previous data demonstrate that impairment of arterial baroreceptor reflex (ABR) plays an independent role in hypertension target organ damage. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the dysfunction of ABR associated organ damage, sinoaortic denervated (SAD) rats were used as an animal model of ABR dysfunction. Twenty-four-hour continuous blood pressure (SBP and DBP), blood pressure variability (BPV), heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) were measured in conscious and unrestrained rats. Angiotensin II (Ang II) in plasma, heart and kidney was assayed by raio-immunological assay (RIA) 1 or 18 weeks after denervation. In short-term SAD rats, twenty-four-hour mean SBP and DBP increased compared with that of sham-operated rats and long-term SAD rats. No significant difference in SBP, DBP or HR was found between long-term SAD rats and sham-operated ones. Compared with the sham-operated rats, long-term SAD rats had elevated BPV. No significant change in Ang II levels of caridiac and renal tissues was found in short-term SAD rats. In long-term SAD rats, Ang II level of plasma was not increased while the Ang II content in the heart and kidney increased. Ang II contents of plasma and tissues in long-term SAD rats exposed to chronic stress were higher than those in the control rats. These results show (1) in short-term SAD rats blood pressure increased, while in long-term SAD rats 24 h mean blood pressure did not increase, although BPV elevated in long-term SAD rats; (2) in long-term SAD rats, secretion of Ang II in cardiac and renal tissues was enhanced and more Ang II released when the animals were exposed to chronic stress. These results suggest that elevated BPV and secretion of Ang II may be related to the development of organ damage induced by ABR dysfunction.
Angiotensin II ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta ; innervation ; metabolism ; Autonomic Denervation ; Baroreflex ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Carotid Sinus ; innervation ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: little is known about the mechanisms responsible for ventricular tachycardia during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the autonomic nervous system on ventricular tachycardia in dogs. METHODS: Four groups of eight dogs were studied. The control group had intact autonomic neural innervation:the stellectomy group had bilateral transection of stellate ganglia:the vagotomy group had bilateral transection of cervical vagi; and the autonomic denervation group underwent bilateral transection of stellate ganglia and cervical vagi. Open-chest dogs anesthetized with ketamine were studied in 3 sequential steps: denervation, ischemia, and reperfusion stage. At the end of each step, we estimated effective refractory period (ERP) at four sites : the apex of non-ischemic area, the base of non-ischemic area, the apex of ischemic area, and the base of ischemic area. We observed early afterdepolarization (EAD) through recording monophasic action potential on the ischemic epicardium during ischemia and reperfusion stages. RESULTS: In ischemia stage, deltaERPs(ERPmax.-ERPmin.) were significantly prolonged, compared to deltaERPs at denervation stage, and deltaERPs of the vagotomy group tended to be prolonged to 60 minutes after myocardial ischemia, as compared to those of the stellectomy group and the autonomic denervation group. The incidence of ventricular tachycardia during ischemia presented a significant increase in the vagotomy group, compared to the control group. However, there was no difference in incidence of ventricular tachycardia between the stellectomy group and the control group. deltaERP at the group with the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia were significantly prolonged , compared to the other group without the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia. In terms of the incidence of EAD, there was no difference between the groups and it was not associated with ventricular tachycardia. deltaERP was significantly decreased to 30 minutes after reperfusion, at which point there was no significant difference between the groups. There was no correlation between EAD and ventricular tachycardia. However, deltaERP with ventricular tachycardia indicated much more significant increase than deltaERP without ventricular tachycardia. CONCLUSIONS: Sympathetic nerve may be related to prolongation of deltaERP and incidence of ventricular tachycardia in the ischemic period. However, EAD is not related to ventricular tachycardia during ischemia and reperfusion. These findings suggest that the major mechanism of ventricular tachycardia may be a reentry in ischemia and reperfusion period.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Autonomic Denervation* ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Denervation ; Dogs ; Heart* ; Incidence ; Ischemia* ; Ketamine ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pericardium ; Reperfusion* ; Stellate Ganglion ; Tachycardia* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Vagotomy

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of nasal polyp is not well understood, however the common pathway of nasal polyp formation is tissue edema. Factors that are known to predispose tissue edema include histamine, arachidonic acid metabolites, serotonin and peptidergic neuro-transmitters. OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the pathophysiological roles of peptidergic neurotransmitters on the polyp formation, we investigated the distribution of several immunoreactive nerve fibers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained normal middle turbinate mucosa, edematous middle turbinate mucosa, polypoid middle turbinate mucosa and nasal polyp tissue from 5 patients at the time of surgery and we determined the distribution of substance P(SP) immunoreactive, vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) immunoreactive and neuropeptide-Y(NPY) immunoreactive nerve fibers in the above tissues using avidin-biotin complex(ABC) immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Fine varicose peptidergic nerve fibers were found numerously in normal mucosa and they were decreased in number in the edematous mucosa. However the peptidergic nerve fibers were hardly found in the polypoid mucosa and the pedicle of polyp, and no nerve fibers were found in the apex of polyp except VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibers. CONCLUSION: Decreasing tendency of distribution of these peptidergic nerve fibers in the order of edematous mucosa, polypoid mucosa, and polyp may indicate the denervation of autonomic nervous system. These phenomenon suggests the important role of peptidergic neurotransmitters in the early stage of polyp formation. However, once the polyp has been formed, contribution of the peptidergic neurotransmitters is considered to be negligible.
Arachidonic Acid ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Denervation ; Edema ; Histamine ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane* ; Nasal Polyps* ; Nerve Fibers ; Neuropeptides* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Polyps ; Serotonin ; Turbinates