Biomaterial Database

Cardiac parasympathetic innervation in Chagas' heart disease. 1991

D F Davila, and J H Donis, and A Torres, and C F Gottberg, and O Rossell

Departamento de Biologia, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela.

Trypanosoma cruzi is thought to selectively destroy the postganglionic cardiac vagal neurons of chagasic cardiac patients. This theory is based on morphologic and functional evidences obtained from chagasic individuals who were in very advanced stages of the disease. We have studied chagasic patients who were in both the early and late stages of the disease. Our findings and the review of the available literature suggest that myocardial damage and mild left ventricular dilatation precede the cardiac parasympathetic abnormalities. Furthermore, we have found a strong correlation between the degree of left ventricular dilatation and the extent of cardiac parasympathetic impairment. Consequently, we propose that the cardiac parasympathetic abnormalities arise as a compensating mechanism for the progressive left ventricular dilatation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D010275	Parasympathetic Nervous System	The craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system. The cell bodies of the parasympathetic preganglionic fibers are in brain stem nuclei and in the sacral spinal cord. They synapse in cranial autonomic ganglia or in terminal ganglia near target organs. The parasympathetic nervous system generally acts to conserve resources and restore homeostasis, often with effects reciprocal to the sympathetic nervous system.	Nervous System, Parasympathetic,Nervous Systems, Parasympathetic,Parasympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Parasympathetic Nervous,Systems, Parasympathetic Nervous
D002598	Chagas Cardiomyopathy	A disease of the CARDIAC MUSCLE developed subsequent to the initial protozoan infection by TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI. After infection, less than 10% develop acute illness such as MYOCARDITIS (mostly in children). The disease then enters a latent phase without clinical symptoms until about 20 years later. Myocardial symptoms of advanced CHAGAS DISEASE include conduction defects (HEART BLOCK) and CARDIOMEGALY.	Cardiomyopathy, Chagas,Myocarditis, Chagas,Trypanosomiasis, Cardiovascular,Chagas' Cardiomyopathy,Cardiomyopathy, Chagas',Cardiovascular Trypanosomiasis
D006321	Heart	The hollow, muscular organ that maintains the circulation of the blood.	Hearts
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia