title: Anatomical basis of hypoxic and hyperoxic injuries to the centres of cardiorespiratory regulation.
abstract: The aim of the present paper is to briefly review the changes occurring in the nucleus tractus solitarii and carotid body in response to hypoxic and hyperoxic injuries. Selective alterations of dendrites and Fos-immunoreactivity of neurons have been observed in the subnucleus gelatinosus of the nucleus tractus solitarii of adult subjects dying after hypoxic-ischaemic injury. The selective vulnerability of this portion of the nucleus tractus solitarii may be explained mainly with reference to the vascularization of medullary tegmentum. In the carotid body, chronic hypoxia and hyperoxia cause a series of morphological, cellular and biochemical changes which may play a major role during the first postnatal period and may have implications in the pathogenesis of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Intermittent hypoxia may cause hypersensitivity of the carotid body, possibly increasing the risk of unstable respiration. Conversely, hyperoxia exposure has been reported to cause hyposensitivity and reduction in volume of the carotid body, possibly leading to ineffective response.
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padova, Via A. Gabelli 65, 35121 Padova, Italy. rdecaro@unipd.it
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Caro
authors.forename: Anna Sandra
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Belloni
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rebuffat
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albertin
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porzionato
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stecco
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tortorella
authors.forename: Pietro Franco
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Munari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018496:Hyperoxia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*