Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development
Published on: April 29, 2015
Autonomic and Enteric Nervous System Dysfunction May Play a Role in Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Joy D Hughes1, Neeta G Nayak2, Naeem Aslam2
1Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Background:
Nausea and vomiting, seen in 70-85% of all pregnancies, becomes intractable in hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). We aimed to investigate the relationship between HG and autonomic nervous system functioning and gastric electrical activity.
Methods:
Twenty-seven pregnant patients, 21 with HG and six normal, were studied with sympathetic adrenergic; percent vasoconstriction (%VC) and postural adjustment ratio (PAR); parasympathetic vagal cholinergic functions by R-to-R intervals (RRIs), a total autonomic score; and enteric nervous system measured by electrogastrography (EGG).
Results:
Significant differences were found in parasympathetic measures (RRI for HG 29.98 ± 2.95 vs. control 40.91 ± 2.38, P < 0.05); sympathetic PAR was significantly lower in patients (PAR for HG 24.5 ± 5.0 vs. 67.6 ± 11.4 for controls, P < 0.01); mean total autonomic score was significantly lower in HG (131.75 ± 9.61 vs. 196.87 ± 12.8, P < 0.05). EGG results were borderline different (normal < 3.3, HG 3.4 vs. controls 3.0, P = 0.07).
Conclusion:
Autonomic and enteric nervous system dysfunction may play a role in the pathophysiology of HG.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity
During periods of fasting, the ENS initiates the migrating myoelectric complex, a...
Pathophysiology of Vomiting
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System
Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's...
Nerve Supply of the GI Tract
The enteric nervous system consists of two major plexuses: the myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus) and the submucosal plexus (Meissner's plexus). These plexuses are located within the layers of...
Autonomic Nervous System
The ANS comprises two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. These divisions function antagonistically to maintain a dynamic...
Neural Regulation

