title: Neural reflex pathway between cervical spinal and sympathetic ganglia in rabbits: implication for pathogenesis of cervical vertigo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A functional association between cervix and vertigo has been observed in patients with cervical vertigo, implicating correlation between cervical spinal and sympathetic ganglia. However, it is unclear where there is an anatomic connection between those two groups of ganglia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the existence of the neural connections between cervical spinal and sympathetic ganglia.
  
  
  METHODS
  FluoroGold staining patterns in cervical spinal and sympathetic ganglia were evaluated using FluoroGold retrograde tracing in New Zealand rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into superior cervical spinal ganglion injection groups, inferior cervical spinal ganglion injection groups, superior cervical sympathetic ganglion injection group, and inferior cervical sympathetic ganglion injection group. Four percent FluoroGold solution was injected into these ganglia. Distribution of FluoroGold in cervical spinal and sympathetic ganglia was observed under a microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When FluoroGold solution was injected into C2 and C3 superior cervical spinal ganglia or C5-C6 inferior cervical spinal ganglia, fluorescence was only observed in the ipsilateral superior or inferior cervical sympathetic ganglia, respectively. When FluoroGold solution was injected into superior or inferior cervical sympathetic ganglia, fluorescence was found mainly in the ipsilateral C3-C4 superior or C5-C8 inferior spinal ganglia. No fluorescence was observed in contralateral ganglia of experimental animals and all ganglia of matched control animals injected with physiological saline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bidirectional nerve fiber connections between cervical spinal and sympathetic ganglia were observed, and these connections are arranged in a segmental distribution. This observation may provide a possible neuroanatomic basis for the pathogenesis of cervical vertigo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The 4th Hospital of Jinan, 50 Shifan Rd, Jinan, Shandong Province 250031, China. Electronic address: zjl.md@163.com.
authors.forename: Jinliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The 4th Hospital of Jinan, 50 Shifan Rd, Jinan, Shandong Province 250031, China.
authors.forename: Jianlong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The 4th Hospital of Jinan, 50 Shifan Rd, Jinan, Shandong Province 250031, China.
authors.forename: Siqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The 4th Hospital of Jinan, 50 Shifan Rd, Jinan, Shandong Province 250031, China.
authors.forename: Fanghai
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The 4th Hospital of Jinan, 50 Shifan Rd, Jinan, Shandong Province 250031, China.
authors.forename: Xinwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The 4th Hospital of Jinan, 50 Shifan Rd, Jinan, Shandong Province 250031, China.
authors.forename: Haoyuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430030, China.
authors.forename: Anmin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D011817:Rabbits; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Cervical spinal ganglion; Cervical sympathetic ganglia; Cervical vertigo; FluoroGold; Reflex arc; Retrograde labeling