A morphometric study of the carotid sinus nerve in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic alcoholism.
Morphometric studies were performed on the myelinated fibres of the carotid sinus nerve obtained at autopsy from 13 control subjects, 7 patients with diabetes mellitus and 11 with chronic alcoholism. The myelinated fibre-diameter distribution in control nerves was bimodal with peaks at 3-4 micron and at 8-10 micron. The mean myelinated fibre density was 14.8 X 10(3)/mm2 (SD 2.3 X 10(3)/mm2) in control nerves and was significantly reduced in the nerves of diabetics (mean, 11.7 X 10(3)/mm2; SD, 2.2 X 10(3)/mm2), and chronic alcoholics (mean, 12.7 X 10(3)/mm2; SD, 2.1 X 10(3)/mm2), although in 8 of 11 nerves from alcoholics, the density was within the control range. These findings demonstrate that autonomic afferent fibres are damaged in diabetes and chronic alcoholism, and provide a pathological basis for the disturbances of heart rate and blood pressure control in these conditions.
Tamura
N
N
Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia.
Baverstock
J
J
McLeod
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000473:pathology*; D002346:Carotid Sinus / Q000294:innervation*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values