Sympathetic hyperactivity and aortic sympathetic nerve sprouting in patients with thoracic aortic dissection.
BACKGROUND
To determine the yet unknown relation between thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) and sympathetic nervous system activity.


METHODS
Variables such as electrocardiography, blood pressure, respiratory activity, postganglionic muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), plasma norepinephrine, tyrosine hydroxylase-positive nerve fiber density, and growth-associated protein 43-positive nerve fiber density were detected and statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
TAD Patients showed a significant lower R-R interval variance and higher blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, MSNA, plasma norepinephrine (reflecting elevated sympathetic nervous system [SNS] activity), higher tyrosine hydroxylase, growth-associated protein 43-positive nerve fiber density (reflecting sympathetic sprouting and innervation) than those of the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
In TAD patients, both overall and regional aortic SNS activities are elevated.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Hu
H
Zhipeng
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Electronic address: wangzhiwp@gmail.com.
Wang
W
Zhiwei
Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Yu
Y
Lilei
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Zhang
Z
Hao
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Wu
W
Hongbing
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Ren
R
Zongli
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Chen
C
Hao
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Hu
H
Xiaoping
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000294:innervation*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D009638:Norepinephrine