Turkish Neurosurgery 2015 , Vol 25 , Num 4
Preventive Role of Hilar Parasympathetic Ganglia on Pulmonary Artery Vasospasm in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: An Experimental Study
Omer ARAZ1, Mehmet Dumlu AYDIN2, Betul GUNDOGDU3, Ender ALTAS4, Murteza CAKIR2, Cagatay CALIKOGLU2, Canan ATALAY5, Cemal GUNDOGDU3
1Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Erzurum, Turkey
2Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Erzurum, Turkey
3Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Erzurum, Turkey
4Palandoken Government Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Erzurum, Turkey
5Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Erzurum, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.8754-13.3 Aim: Pulmonary arteries are mainly innervated by sympathetic vasoconstrictor and parasympathetic vasodilatory fibers. We examined whether there is a relationship between the neuron densities of hilar parasympathetic ganglia and pulmonary vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Material and Methods: Twenty-four rabbits were divided into two groups: control (n=8) and SAH (n=16). The animals were observed for 20 days following experimental SAH. The number of hilar parasympathetic ganglia and their neuron densities were determined. Proportion of pulmonary artery ring surface to lumen surface values was accepted as vasospasm index (VSI). Neuron densities of the hilar ganglia and VSI values were compared statistically.

Results: Animals in the SAH group experienced either mild (n=6) or severe (n=10) pulmonary artery vasospasm. In the control group, the mean VSI of pulmonary arteries was 0.777±0.048 and the hilar ganglion neuron density was estimated as 12.100±2.010/mm3. In SAH animals with mild vasospasm, VSI=1.148±0.090 and neuron density was estimated as 10.110±1.430/mm3; in animals with severe vasospasm, VSI=1.500±0.120 and neuron density was estimated as 7.340±990/mm3.

Conclusion: There was an inverse correlation between quantity and neuron density of hilar ganglia and vasospasm index value. The low numbers and low density of hilar parasympathetic ganglia may be responsible for the more severe artery vasospasm in SAH. Keywords : Hilar parasympathetic ganglion, Neuron density, Pulmonary artery vasospasm, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Rabbit

Corresponding author : Mehmet Dumlu Aydın, nmda11@hotmail.com