title: Inverse Association Between Basilar Artery Volume and Neuron Density in the Stellate Ganglion Following Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Ligation: An Experimental Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the relationship between neuron density in the stellate ganglion and the severity of basilar artery (BA) enlargement after bilateral common carotid artery ligation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rabbits (n = 24) were randomly divided into 3 groups: unoperated control group (n = 4), experimental group subjected to bilateral common carotid artery ligation (n = 15), and sham-operated control group (n = 5). Histologic examination of the BAs and stellate ganglia was performed 2 months later. Permanent bilateral common carotid artery ligation was induced by ligation of common carotid arteries at prebifurcation levels as a model for steno-occlusive carotid artery disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean BA volume and neuron density in stellate ganglia for all animals were 4200 μm3± 240 and 8325 μm3± 210. In sham-operated animals, the mean values were 4360 μm3± 340 and 8250 mm3± 250. For the experimental group, mean volume and density in animals with slight dilatation of the BA (n = 6) were 4948 μm3± 680 and 10,321 mm3± 120, whereas in animals with severe dilatation (n = 9), the values were 6728 μm3± 440 and 6300 mm3± 730. An inverse association was observed between degree of BA enlargement and stellate ganglia neuronal density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High neuron density in stellate ganglia may protect against steno-occlusive carotid artery disease by preventing BA dilatation and aneurysm formation in the posterior circulatory arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Metehan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eseoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Umraniye Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: mresid@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mehmet Resid
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Onen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tanrıverdi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Adem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Murat
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Musluman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty of Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Dumlu
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty of Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gündogdu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Basilar artery; Bilateral common carotid artery ligation; Neuron density in stellate ganglion