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PubMed1986

Varied effects of experimental diabetes on the autonomic nervous system of the rat.

Disorders of the autonomic nervous system are a frequent late complication of human diabetes. They have been extensively studied clinically, yet their pathologic aspects are still poorly understood. Also, reports on the autonomic nervous system in animal models for diabetes are scanty. Therefore we have investigated sympathetic preganglionic and postganglionic nerve fibers, vagal fibers, as well as sympathetic and enteric neurons of male Wistar rats 1 year after streptozotocin or vehicle injection. By light and electron microscopic morphology we observed: various degenerative changes in sympathetic neurons and in Schwann cells of the sympathetic fibers; intraaxonal glycogen deposits in all fiber types; and a large amount of lipoid material in intraganglionic and endoneural mesenchymal cells. By morphometry, the cytoplasmic area and perimeter as well as the cytoplasmic to nuclear ratio were significantly reduced in the sympathetic neurons of diabetic rats. Further we found axonal dwindling, enlarged myelin-axons space and an increased number of Schwann cell pi-granules in the sympathetic preganglionic fibers of diabetic animals. Axonal glycogenosomes were absent in the vagus of control and were present in that of diabetic rats. By stereology, the mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum were reduced in the sympathetic neurons of diabetic rats, whereas in the same animals the volume density of the Golgi complex was increased in the sympathetic neurons and decreased in the enteric neurons. In conclusion, relevant changes occur in the sympathetic preganglionic nerve fibers which suggest a causal relationship between fiber and neuronal lesions. Further, the stereologic findings imply decreased cellular activity and imbalance between cellular synthesis and secretion in the sympathetic neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Function of the autonomic nervous system in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus].

19 IDDM patients (m/f 9/10; ages 7-25 y.; duration of diabetes 3-20 y., mean 10 y.) have been compared to 15 healthy controls (m/f 11/4; ages 11-24 y., mean 14 y.) in respect to HRTS (heart rate response to standing), SDB (single deep breath) and Valsalva maneuvre. In the diabetics the results have been correlated to MNCV (motor nerve conduction velocities), quality of diabetic control and duration of diabetes. A questionnaire did not uncover signs or symptoms of autonomic dysfunction. Resting heart rates were significantly higher in diabetics but were unrelated to age, duration of diabetes, quality of diabetic control or MNCV. HRTS, SDB and the Valsalva maneuvre did not display statistically significant differences between diabetics and controls. Diabetic autonomic dysfunction seems to be rare in young diabetics. Routinely testing for this sequela would therefore not be justified at this stage of diabetes. On the other hand diabetic autonomic dysfunction might be harmful for the patient as regards sudden and unexpected cardiorespiratory arrest eg. during anaesthesia or bronchopneumonia. If therefore symptoms and/or signs of possible peripheral or autonomic dysfunction are present special investigations (eg. HRTS) are indicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Autonomic nervous system function.

An age-related increase in autonomic nervous system activity, as reflected by increased plasma norepinephrine levels, has been reported by a number of investigators. This increase in plasma norepinephrine levels cannot be solely explained by increased obesity and decreased norepinephrine clearance with ageing. It has also been suggested that enhanced autonomic nervous system (sympathetic) activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. However, recent studies from several laboratories have demonstrated that plasma norepinephrine levels increase with age in normotensives but not in patients with essential hypertension. A recent study from our laboratory has demonstrated no difference in basal or cardiopulmonary baroreflex-mediated increases in plasma norepinephrine levels in older hypertensives compared with middle-aged hypertensives. These observations suggest that elevated norepinephrine levels, per se, are not sufficient to explain the high prevalence of hypertension in the elderly, who are otherwise normal. In fact, it is likely that high norepinephrine levels in the elderly may be due to factors other than a primary hyperadrenergic state. Although arterial baroreceptor sensitivity decreases with ageing, studies from our laboratory indicate that cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of vascular resistance is relatively well preserved in older subjects with mild-to-moderate established essential hypertension. Thus, the relative influence of altered baroreflex sensitivity with ageing, or of a disturbed sympathetic outflow affecting autonomic nervous system activity and leading to variable blood pressure in the elderly, remains to be determined.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

General pharmacological properties of the new vasodilator flosequinan.

Pharmacological effects of a new vasodilator, flosequinan (7-fluoro-1-methyl-3-(methylsulfinyl)-4(1H)-quinolone, BTS 49 465, CAS 76568-02-0) on the central nervous system, somatic nervous system, autonomic nervous system and smooth muscle, digestive system and miscellaneous organs were investigated. 1. The central nervous system: Flosequinan inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing at doses of more than 30 mg/kg p.o. and decreased body temperature and tended to decrease spontaneous movement slightly in mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg p.o. However, flosequinan had little effect on hexobarbital-induced hypnosis, reserpine-induced hypothermia and motor coordination and lacked anticonvulsant and analgesic activities in mice. Flosequinan had little effect on general behavior in rats and did not have any effect on spontaneous EEG and EEG arousal response in rabbits. 2. The somatic nervous system: Flosequinan did not cause muscle relaxation in mice and had little effect on neuromuscular transmission in cats. No local anesthetic activity was exhibited through inhibition of the corneal reflex in guinea pigs. 3. The autonomic nervous system and smooth muscle: Flosequinan produced a relaxation of the isolated trachea of guinea pigs at concentrations of more than 3 x 10(-5) mol/l, but its potency was very weak in comparison with that of isoproterenol (isoprenaline). Flosequinan inhibited spontaneous motility of the isolated uterus of pregnant rats at concentrations higher than 10(-4) mol/l and the motility of the uterus of non-pregnant rats in vivo was inhibited at 30 mg/kg i.v. Flosequinan does not seem to exert any on norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine or histamine. This is supported by the fact that at concentrations of 10(-4)-3 x 10(-3) mol/l non-competitive inhibition was observed with regard of the contractions of the isolated aorta and vas deferens of rats induced by norepinephrine, the contraction of isolated rat stomach induced by serotonin, the contraction of isolated guinea-pig ileum induced by acetylcholine, histamine and barium chloride and the contraction of the isolated uterus of non-pregnant rats induced by oxytocin. However, flosequinan was more potent as a relaxant of vascular than of these other smooth muscles. The drug was slightly inhibitive at a high dose of 30 mg/kg i.v. with regard of the contraction of nictitating membrane induced by stimulation of preganglionic sympathetic nerve in cats. 4. The digestive system: Flosequinan at 100 mg/kg p.o. inhibited intestinal propulsion in mice and inhibited spontaneous motility of stomach and duodenum of rats at a dose of 30 mg/kg i.v.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

General pharmacological properties of the human corticotropin-releasing hormone corticorelin (human).

General pharmacological effects of the human corticotropin-releasing hormone, corticorelin (human) (CAS 86784-80-7), on the central nervous system, somatic nervous system, autonomic nervous system and smooth muscle, respiratory and circulatory system, digestive system and miscellaneous organs were investigated. 1. The central nervous system: Corticorelin (human) had little effect on hexobarbital-induced sleeping-time, maximal electroshock-induced convulsion, acetic acid-induced writhing, rota-rod performance. Corticorelin (human) at doses of more than 10 micrograms/kg i.v. induced flush of skin and pilo-erection, at doses of more than 30 micrograms/kg i.v. decreased body temperature, delayed expression of perphenazine-induced catalepsy and indicated hunched posture, and at the dose of 100 micrograms/kg i.v. induced the rise of awake-level and decrease of the total power of EEG, and decreased the spontaneous motor activity. 2. The somatic nervous system: Corticorelin (human) did not cause muscle relaxation in mice and had little effect on neuromuscular transmission in rats. No local anesthetic activity of corticorelin (human) was exhibited through inhibition of the corneal reflex in guinea pigs. 3. The autonomic nervous system and smooth muscle: Corticorelin (human) had no effect on the contraction of isolated ileum of guinea pigs induced by histamine and acetylcholine, and on the contraction of isolated trachea of guinea pigs induced by histamine, and the pupil diameter of rabbits. Corticorelin (human) at doses more than 30 micrograms/kg i.v. decreased spontaneous motility and contractile force of uterus of non-pregnant rabbits. 4. The respiratory and circulatory system: Corticorelin (human) had no effect on the contraction of isolated aorta of rats induced by norepinephrine. Corticorelin (human) at doses of more than 3 micrograms/kg i.v. decreased the blood pressure, increased heart rates and slightly increased the number of respiration in dogs. However, corticorelin (human) had no effect on ECG and femoral blood flow in dogs. 5. The digestive system: Corticorelin (human) at doses of more than 0.3 microgram/kg i.v. increased duodenal motility and contractile force, at doses of more than 1 microgram/kg i.v. increased colonic contractile force transiently and increased antral motility. Corticorelin (human) at doses of more than 3 micrograms/kg i.v. caused diarrhea and at doses of more than 30 micrograms/kg i.v. inhibited small intestinal propulsion in mice. Corticorelin (human) at dose of 100 micrograms/kg i.v. showed an inhibition of the gastric juice secretion and decreased the excretion of Na+, Cl- and H+ in rats. Corticorelin (human) produced slight gastric damages only at the highest dose of 100 micrograms/kg i.v.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The effects of antidepressants on the autonomic nervous system--a current investigation.

Tricyclic antidepressants influence the autonomic nervous system, as is well known; and endogenous depression shows autonomic nervous symptoms besides the readily observable emotional changes. This is a report on a current investigation of the effects of antidepressants on the function of the autonomic nervous system. In a preliminary study 2 kinds of antidepressants, amitriptyline (tricyclic) and nomifensine (non-tricyclic) were administered to 20 healthy volunteers. The palmar skin potential reflex (SPR), heart rate and respiratory rate were recorded and serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was assayed both before and after the administration of antidepressant. The results were as follows: 1. In the amitriptyline group, the spontaneous SPR and serum DBH activity decreased, and heart rate increased; and the degree of change before and after administration of the drug was statistically significant. Thus amitriptyline seems to suppress the activity of sympathetic nervous system, in addition to suppressing the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system. 2. In the nomifensine group, spontaneous SPR and serum DBH activity tended to increase. This seems to indicate that nomifensine suppresses neither the parasympathetic nor the sympathetic nervous functions. 3. Amitriptyline and nomifensine has different effects on the sympathetic nervous system, suggesting correspondingly divergent pharmacological mechanisms for the depressive modality.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Autonomic nervous system and cardiac involvement in familial amyloidosis, Finnish type (FAF).

Familial amyloidosis, Finnish type (FAF), is a gelsolin-related inherited systemic amyloidosis. We report autonomic nervous system and cardiac findings in a study of 30 FAF patients (18 females, 12 males aged 27-74 years; mean 53.9 years). Cardiovascular reflex tests showed a significant decrease in heart rate variation in FAF patients compared with healthy controls. Orthostatic hypotension was found in 9 of 28 FAF patients, but only in 3 of 69 controls. Signs of amyloid cardiopathy were rare at clinical examination and in radio-, echocardio- and electrocardiographic examinations. Histological and immunohistochemical studies revealed amyloid deposition and immunoreactivity against the gelsolin-related FAF amyloid subunit in autonomic nervous system structures and in cardiac tissue in 3 autopsied FAF patients. The results show that minor autonomic nervous system dysfunction can be found in FAF, while clinically significant amyloid cardiopathy or autonomic neuropathy is not characteristic of this type of amyloidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Differential changes of autonomic nervous system function with age in man.

To assess the relationship between aging and autonomic nervous system function, cardiovascular and pupillary autonomic nervous system reflexes were measured in subgroups of 103 normal male subjects ranging in age from 19 to 82 years (mean age = 39 years). Both the plasma norepinephrine level, a measure of cardiovascular sympathetic nervous system activity, and the mean arterial blood pressure increased with age (r = 0.68 and 0.67, respectively, both p less than 0.001). In contrast, the plasma epinephrine level, a measure of adrenomedullary sympathetic nervous system activity, was unrelated to age (r = 0.08, p = NS). Respiratory variation of heart rate during beta-adrenergic blockade, an index of cardiac parasympathetic nervous system activity, was reduced in older subjects (r = -0.54, p less than 0.001). Thus, there was evidence of an age-related increase of cardiovascular sympathetic nervous system activity and a reduction of cardiac parasympathetic nervous system activity. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that there is sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system compensation of cardiovascular function in response to an age-related decrease in baroreceptor sensitivity. However, dark-adapted pupil size during parasympathetic nervous system blockade, an index of iris sympathetic nervous system activity, declined with age (r = -0.81, p less than 0.001). The latency time for the pupillary response to a light stimulus, an index of iris parasympathetic nervous system activity, was prolonged in older subjects (r = 0.58, p less than 0.001). Thus, both sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system inputs to the iris were diminished in older subjects, findings consistent with the generalized decrease of peripheral somatic nerve function that has been reported with aging in man. It is concluded that autonomic nervous system function also declines with aging, but that other age-related changes such as a decline of baroreceptor sensitivity may lead to compensatory autonomic nervous system response, which could mask underlying functional defects.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of the autonomic nervous system.

This article has reviewed the laboratory evaluation of autonomic disorders. Autonomic testing can be divided into the assessment of three functional domains: sudomotor (assessed best by the thermoregulatory sweat test or QSART), cardiovagal (assessed by the Valsalva ratio and heart rate response to deep breathing or standing up), and adrenergic (assessed by the blood pressure response to the Valsalva maneuver or head-upright tilt). Tables 2 and 3 summarize the test findings in a variety of clinical disorders affecting autonomic nervous system function.

Autonomic Nervous System↗