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Myocardial hypertrophy induces carotid body hyperplasia

Efthimios Sivridis1, Pavlos Pavlidis, Aliki Fiska

  • 1Department of Pathology, Democritus University of Thrace, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Greece.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|October 19, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac hypertrophy is linked to enlarged carotid bodies, primarily due to an increase in sustentacular cells. This suggests long-standing hypoxia from cardiopulmonary disease drives carotid body hyperplasia.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Pathology
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Carotid bodies (CBs) are known to enlarge in response to chronic cardiopulmonary disease.
  • The relationship between cardiac hypertrophy and CB hyperplasia requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if cardiac hypertrophy is associated with carotid body (CB) hyperplasia.
  • To analyze the cellular changes within CBs in cases of cardiac hypertrophy.

Main Methods:

  • Autopsy examination of 15 cases with cardiac hypertrophy and 2 control groups (16 cases).
  • Morphometric analysis of CB volume and cellular composition (progenitor, dark, light, sustentacular cells) via serial sections.
  • Dissection of carotid bifurcations.

Main Results:

  • Significant increase in CB volume and sustentacular cells in individuals with cardiac hypertrophy.
  • Sustentacular cell hyperplasia was observed irrespective of drug induction.
  • Focal accumulation of dark or light cells was infrequent (3 cases).

Conclusions:

  • Generalized sustentacular cell hyperplasia in CBs is likely a response to long-standing hypoxia associated with cardiac hypertrophy.
  • Focal increases in dark or light cells may indicate proliferative or metaplastic changes due to short-term hypoxia.

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