Absence of adrenergic neurons in nucleus tractus solitarius in sudden infant death syndrome.
Immunohistochemical study of catecholamine synthesizing enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) was performed in lower brain stem of 5 controls and 9 sudden infant death "syndrome" (SIDS) cases. No difference was noticed in TH immunoreactive neuronal groups. With anti-PNMT antibody, electively in nucleus gelatinosus (NG), a subnucleus of nucleus tractus solitarius, an absence of immunoreactivity was noticed. Catecholamine neuronal cell bodies in NG were present. The discussion favours a nonartefactual interpretation of data. A delay in maturation would be a possible explanation.
Kopp
N
N
Laboratoire d'Anatomie Pathologique, Faculté de Médecine A. Carrel, Lyon, France.
Chigr
F
F
Denoroy
L
L
Gilly
R
R
Jordan
D
D
D001933:Brain Stem / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000276:immunology*; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
D002395:Catecholamines; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase