Myelinated fibres in the human paravertebral sympathetic chain; quantitative studies on white rami communicantes

Myelinated fibres in the human sympathetic paravertebral chain were examined histologically and in single teased fibre preparations in various age groups in subjects dying from disorders not affecting primarily the autonomic nervous system. An increase in fibre density predominantly due to an increa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry neurosurgery and psychiatry, 1973-10, Vol.36 (5), p.777-785
Main Authors: Appenzeller, Otto, Ogin, Gary
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aging
Child
Child, Preschool
Demyelinating Diseases
Female
Ganglia, Autonomic - cytology
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Nerve Degeneration
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated
Nerve Regeneration
Neurofibrils
Ranvier's Nodes
Sympathetic Nervous System - anatomy & histology
Sympathetic Nervous System - physiopathology
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Summary:Myelinated fibres in the human sympathetic paravertebral chain were examined histologically and in single teased fibre preparations in various age groups in subjects dying from disorders not affecting primarily the autonomic nervous system. An increase in fibre density predominantly due to an increase in the number of small fibres was found in older subjects. A correlation between internodal length and fibre diameter was found but the internodes of sympathetic myelinated fibres are shorter for any given diameter than those found on fibres of comparable size in the sural nerve. A reduction in internodal lengths with advancing years was demonstrated. These observations are interpreted to show that Wallerian degeneration and segmental demyelination occur with increasing frequency in old age and that regeneration does not keep pace with successive degenerative events. The deterioration in function of the autonomic nervous system with advancing years may be attributed in part to the changes found in myelinated fibres in the paravertebral sympathetic chain.
ISSN:0022-3050
1468-330X
DOI:10.1136/jnnp.36.5.777