Biomaterial Database

Dysfunction of the medullary cardiovascular center may cause acute spinal cord swelling. 1994

M Maeda, and M Nakai, and A J Krieger, and H N Sapru

Department of Systems Physiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Acute brain swelling is well known to be acute vasodilatation of cerebral vessels and sometimes results from brain injury. One of the causes of acute brain swelling may be disturbance of central control mechanisms of cerebral vessels. However, the presence of acute spinal cord swelling is little noticed. We present here a possibility that acute spinal cord swelling may be occur following the dysfunction of the cardiovascular center of the medulla. In urethane-anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated rats, the neurons in the rostral ventrolateral pressor area (VLPA), origin of the sympathetic nerve activities in the brain stem, were chemically stimulated by microinjection of L-glutamate and the spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) was determined using labeled microspheres. The SCBFs of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar cord decreased significantly from 27 +/- 3 (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 20 +/- 2 (p < 0.01), from 22 +/- 1 to 17 +/- 2 (p < 0.05), and from 41 +/- 5 to 26 +/- 3 (p < 0.05) ml.min-1.(100 g)-1, respectively (n = 12). The spinal cord vascular resistances (SCVRs) of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar cord increased significantly from 3.7 +/- 0.4 to 5.0 +/- 0.6 (p < 0.05), from 4.2 +/- 0.2 to 5.9 +/- 0.7 (p < 0.05), and from 2.5 +/- 0.2 to 3.8 +/- 0.4 (p < 0.05) mmHg per [ml.min-1.(100 g)-1], respectively (n = 12). These results suggest that the neurons within the VLPA may play a role in the control of spinal cord circulation. There is a possibility that the dysfunction of the VLPA may cause acute spinal cord swelling.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008526	Medulla Oblongata	The lower portion of the BRAIN STEM. It is inferior to the PONS and anterior to the CEREBELLUM. Medulla oblongata serves as a relay station between the brain and the spinal cord, and contains centers for regulating respiratory, vasomotor, cardiac, and reflex activities.	Accessory Cuneate Nucleus,Ambiguous Nucleus,Arcuate Nucleus of the Medulla,Arcuate Nucleus-1,External Cuneate Nucleus,Lateral Cuneate Nucleus,Nucleus Ambiguus,Ambiguus, Nucleus,Arcuate Nucleus 1,Arcuate Nucleus-1s,Cuneate Nucleus, Accessory,Cuneate Nucleus, External,Cuneate Nucleus, Lateral,Medulla Oblongatas,Nucleus, Accessory Cuneate,Nucleus, Ambiguous,Nucleus, External Cuneate,Nucleus, Lateral Cuneate
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D011311	Pressoreceptors	Receptors in the vascular system, particularly the aorta and carotid sinus, which are sensitive to stretch of the vessel walls.	Baroreceptors,Receptors, Stretch, Arterial,Receptors, Stretch, Vascular,Stretch Receptors, Arterial,Stretch Receptors, Vascular,Arterial Stretch Receptor,Arterial Stretch Receptors,Baroreceptor,Pressoreceptor,Receptor, Arterial Stretch,Receptor, Vascular Stretch,Receptors, Arterial Stretch,Receptors, Vascular Stretch,Stretch Receptor, Arterial,Stretch Receptor, Vascular,Vascular Stretch Receptor,Vascular Stretch Receptors
D001783	Blood Flow Velocity	A value equal to the total volume flow divided by the cross-sectional area of the vascular bed.	Blood Flow Velocities,Flow Velocities, Blood,Flow Velocity, Blood,Velocities, Blood Flow,Velocity, Blood Flow
D001931	Brain Mapping	Imaging techniques used to colocalize sites of brain functions or physiological activity with brain structures.	Brain Electrical Activity Mapping,Functional Cerebral Localization,Topographic Brain Mapping,Brain Mapping, Topographic,Functional Cerebral Localizations,Mapping, Brain,Mapping, Topographic Brain
D002199	Capillary Permeability	The property of blood capillary ENDOTHELIUM that allows for the selective exchange of substances between the blood and surrounding tissues and through membranous barriers such as the BLOOD-AIR BARRIER; BLOOD-AQUEOUS BARRIER; BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER; BLOOD-NERVE BARRIER; BLOOD-RETINAL BARRIER; and BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER. Small lipid-soluble molecules such as carbon dioxide and oxygen move freely by diffusion. Water and water-soluble molecules cannot pass through the endothelial walls and are dependent on microscopic pores. These pores show narrow areas (TIGHT JUNCTIONS) which may limit large molecule movement.	Microvascular Permeability,Permeability, Capillary,Permeability, Microvascular,Vascular Permeability,Capillary Permeabilities,Microvascular Permeabilities,Permeabilities, Capillary,Permeabilities, Microvascular,Permeabilities, Vascular,Permeability, Vascular,Vascular Permeabilities
D002319	Cardiovascular System	The HEART and the BLOOD VESSELS by which BLOOD is pumped and circulated through the body.	Circulatory System,Cardiovascular Systems,Circulatory Systems
D004487	Edema	Abnormal fluid accumulation in TISSUES or body cavities. Most cases of edema are present under the SKIN in SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE.	Dropsy,Hydrops,Anasarca
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