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Recurrent laryngeal nerve alterations in developing spontaneously hypertensive rats
Greice Anne Rodrigues da Silva1, Vania Alice de Aguiar Mendes1, Adriana Borges Genari1
1Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
The Laryngoscope
|July 9, 2015
Summary
Hypertension negatively impacts the recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing smaller axon and myelinated fiber growth, particularly in small fibers. These changes occurred equally in male and female rats, suggesting blood vessel alterations contribute to nerve damage.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pathology
Background:
- The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) innervates the larynx and contains baroreceptor fibers.
- Hypertension adversely affects peripheral nerve morphology and baroreflex function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate morphological changes in the recurrent laryngeal nerve associated with hypertension development.
- To understand the impact of hypertension on RLN structure and function.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of RLN morphology in spontaneously hypertensive rats (male and female) at 5, 8, and 20 weeks.
- Measurement of blood pressure and heart rate.
- Light microscopy and morphometric analysis of nerve segments.
Main Results:
- Increased blood pressure with age in hypertensive rats.
- Reduced myelinated fiber and axon size, especially in small fibers, in hypertensive rats.
- Decreased endoneural blood vessel occupancy in older, hypertensive rats.
- No significant gender-based differences in nerve alterations.
Conclusions:
- Hypertension development impairs axon growth, predominantly affecting small myelinated fibers in the RLN.
- Alterations in endoneural blood vessels likely contribute to small fiber damage.
- RLN morphological changes due to hypertension are similar in both male and female rats.
