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Results for “Autonomic Nervous System”

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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

An evaluation of autonomic nervous system function in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex multisystem genetic disorder in which many cardinal features may have a neurologically based pathophysiology involving both the central and peripheral components of the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic nervous system function was studied noninvasively in a group of subjects with PWS and control subjects to determine whether autonomic nervous system dysfunction exists as part of the PWS. DESIGN/SETTING: This cross-sectional study was performed in the neurophysiology laboratory at a tertiary care facility. METHODS: Evaluation included anthropometric measurements and calculation of a body mass index (BMI). Simultaneous electrocardiography and serial recordings of pulse rate and systolic/diastolic mean arterial blood pressures during orthostatic maneuvers were taken. Pupillary response to the instillation of dilute pilocarpine and measurements of plasma norepinephrine at rest and after standing were also obtained. Results were analyzed using two-tailed t tests, Fisher exact test, analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance adjusting for age, gender, and BMI. PATIENTS: There were 14 subjects with PWS (8 female, 6 male; aged 4 to 40 years, mean age 16 years) and 8 control subjects (4 female, 4 male; aged 5 to 37 years, mean age 19 years). RESULTS: Abnormal findings were obtained only in subjects with PWS. Analysis of covariance adjusting for age, gender, and BMI revealed a trend for subjects with PWS to have lower resting diastolic blood pressure (P < .09) and significantly less change in diastolic blood pressure after standing (P < .02). Subjects with PWS had significantly greater BMI than did control subjects (P < .001), which correlated significantly with all pulse rate measurements where the greater the BMI the higher the pulse rate at rest (r = .25, P < .04) and the lower the pulse rate after arising from lying to standing at both 15 and 30 seconds (r = .17, P < .1; r = .55, P < .08 respectively). Pupillary constriction of 2 mm or more was seen in 7 of 14 subjects with PWS and in no control subjects (P < .004). The 30:15 R-R interval ratio was abnormal in 6 of 14 subjects with PWS and in no control subjects (P < .03). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that patients with PWS have a detectable underlying autonomic dysfunction characterized principally by diminished parasympathetic nervous system activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Pathophysiology of essential hypertension. Role of the autonomic nervous system.

The participation of the autonomic nervous system in hypertension is not restricted to increased cardiac action and peripheral vasoconstriction during periods of stress. The three major systems that are particularly involved in hypertension, the heart, brain, and kidneys, are interrelated in a multifaceted way by which all of them inform, interfere, and influence one another. The autonomic nervous system will play an important role in most types of hypertension whether these are volume-dependent, cardiogenically mediated, or related to stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system.

Autonomic Nervous System↗
PubMed2003

Testing the autonomic nervous system.

Noninvasive, well-validated clinical tests of autonomic function are available and are in relatively wide use. These comprise an evaluation of sudomotor, cardiovagal, and adrenergic functions. These tests are very useful and have resulted in the recognition of milder degrees of autonomic failure and the presence of orthostatic intolerance that previously were missed. An extensive normative database and commercial equipment is available. The main limitations of the tests relate to the fact that they evaluate mainly the function of target tissues so that the status of autonomic reflexes are inferred. The tests can be affected by medications. There are more invasive, more time-consuming, or less validated tests of autonomic function that can directly record from sympathetic nerve fibers (microneurography) and mesenteric bed to study cerebral vasoregulation and the status of the veins.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The central autonomic nervous system: conscious visceral perception and autonomic pattern generation.

The overall organization of the peripheral autonomic nervous system has been known for many decades, but the mechanisms by which it is controlled by the central nervous system are just now coming to light. In particular, two major issues have seen considerable progress in the past decade. First, the pathways that provide visceral sensation to conscious perception at a cortical level have been elucidated in both animals and humans. The nociceptive system runs in parallel to the pathways carrying visceral sensation from the cranial nerves and may be considered in itself a component of visceral sensation. Second, structures in the central nervous system that generate patterns of autonomic response have been identified. These pattern generators are located at multiple levels of the central nervous system, and they can be combined in temporal and spatial patterns to subserve a wide range of behavioral needs.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Love: an emergent property of the mammalian autonomic nervous system.

The evolution of the autonomic nervous system provides an organizing principle to interpret the adaptive significance of mammalian affective processes including courting, sexual arousal, copulation, and the establishment of enduring social bonds. According to the Polyvagal Theory (Porges, 1995, 1996, 1997), the well-documented phylogenetic shift in the neural regulation of the autonomic nervous system passes through three stages, each with an associated behavioral strategy. The first stage is characterized by a primitive unmyelinated visceral vagus that fosters digestion and responds to threat by depressing metabolic activity. Behaviorally, the first stage is associated with immobilization behaviors. The second stage is characterized by the sympathetic nervous system that is capable of increasing metabolic output and inhibiting the visceral vagus to foster mobilization behaviors necessary for 'fight or flight'. The third stage, unique to mammals, is characterized by a myelinated vagus that can rapidly regulate cardiac output to foster engagement and disengagement with the environment. The mammalian vagus is neuroanatomically linked to the cranial nerves that regulate social engagement via facial expression and vocalization. The Polyvagal Theory provides neurobiological explanations for two dimensions of intimacy: courting and the establishment of enduring pair-bonds. Courting is dependent upon the social engagement strategies associated with the mammalian vagus. The establishment of enduring pair-bonds is dependent upon a co-opting of the visceral vagus from an immobilization system associated with fear and avoidance to an immobilization system associated with safety and trust. The theory proposes that the phylogenetic development of the mammalian vagus is paralleled by a specialized communication, via oxytocin and vasopressin, between the hypothalamus and the medullary source nuclei of the viscera vagus, which facilitates sexual arousal, copulation, and the development of enduring pair-bonds.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Analysis of antibodies against components of the autonomic nervous system in diabetes mellitus.

Antibodies to autonomic nervous system structures have previously been detected using a complement fixation immunofluorescence test in the sera of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). These antibodies might play a role in the aetiology of autonomic neuropathy. Sera from 45 IDDM, 40 NIDDM and 52 control subjects were tested by immunofluorescence for antibodies to human sympathetic ganglia, human adrenal medulla and rabbit vagus nerve. The use of human sympathetic ganglia was compared with rabbit tissue for the detection of sympathetic ganglia antibodies; the results for these autonomic nervous system antibodies were also compared with results using an ELISA. There was no relationship between the presence of antibodies detected by ELISA and those detected by immunofluorescence, but of 14 IDDM patients with thyroid antibodies, 12 had autonomic nervous system antibodies detected by either immunofluorescence or ELISA (p < 0.005 compared to patients without thyroid antibodies). To further characterize the autoantigen(s), immunoblotting was performed. An adrenal antigen corresponding to 74 kDa was detected in sera from three patients, only one of whom had antibodies detectable by ELISA and immunofluorescence. One IDDM serum showed specific binding to a vagus nerve antigen corresponding to 33 kDa. No specific binding to sympathetic ganglia antigen was demonstrated. Antibodies against autonomic nervous system antigens are an inconsistent feature of diabetes, and appear more associated with coincidental autoimmunity against other organs such as the thyroid.

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed2003

Central and autonomic nervous system integration in emotion.

Emotions involve physiological responses that are regulated by the brain. The present paper reviews the empirical literature on central nervous system (CNS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) concomitants of emotional states, with a focus on studies that simultaneously assessed CNS and ANS activity. The reviewed data support two primary conclusions: (1) numerous cortical and subcortical regions show co-occurring activity with ANS responses in emotion, and (2) there may be reversed asymmetries on cortical and subcortical levels with respect to CNS/ANS interrelations. These observations are interpreted in terms of a model of neurovisceral integration in emotion, and directions for future research are presented.

Affect↗
PubMed1989

[The autonomic nervous system and reticular formation in normal and pathologic states].

Patients with autonomic disorders that are located in the brain and spinal cord also have abnormalities in the corresponding reticular formation, especially in the brain stem. Treatment should be adequate and combined because the same adreno- and cholinoreceptor structures are damaged as those in autonomic innervation. This also refers to the limbic formations which are intimately connected with autonomic structures and the reticular formation.

Autonomic Nervous System↗
PubMed1981

Current approaches to development of the autonomic nervous system: clues to clinical problems.

A number of different approaches to autonomic development utilizing a variety of experimental models and analytical techniques have been outlined. A scheme, which attempts to delineate a series of events involving separate but sometimes overlapping mechanisms, is proposed for the complex process of formation and maintenance of functional autonomic neuroeffector junctions. The relevance of these basic mechanisms of a variety of clinical abnormalities of autonomic function is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cognitive influences on human autonomic nervous system function.

Recent studies of human autonomic nervous system function have challenged the traditional view that the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches have opposite effects. In addition, studies of autonomic activity that accompanies attention, orienting and learning have demonstrated that the autonomic nervous system is not simply a 'non-cognitive' and automatic part of brain function. The autonomic and central nervous systems are intimately related, and new research is beginning to link brain function with autonomic function in a dynamic way.

Attention↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nutritional status and autonomic nervous system function.

Autonomic function was studied in 20 undernourished subjects without medical or neurologic disease (aged 20 to 66 years, mean age 36) and compared to 30 well nourished subjects (age 20 to 65 years, mean age 40). Anthropometric measurements were performed (height, weight, triceps skinfold thickness, arm muscle circumference). The Valsalva manoeuvre and the immediate heart rate response to lying down test (S/L) were performed to study autonomic functions. The Valsalva ratio was 1.56 +/- 0.29 for controls and 1.66 +/- 0.34 for undernourished subjects (p greater than 0.1). The S/L ratio showed a significant difference (p less than 0.001) between controls (1.278 +/- 0.13) and undernourished subjects (1.06 +/- 0.07).

Adult↗