Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Neurosurgery Quarterly, cilt.19, sa.4, ss.264-269, 2009 (SCI-Expanded)
Objective: Cerebral arteries innervated by several systems contribute to the control of cerebral blood flow. Sensory fibers of the trigeminal nerve have a vasodilatory effect on the basilar artery. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes severe cerebral vasospasm by various neurochemical mechanisms. We examined possible relationships between the neuron density of the trigeminal ganglion and the severity of basilar artery vasospasm in SAH. Methods: In this study, 28 rabbits were used. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups: SAH (n=18), serum physiologic (n=5) and control (n=5) groups. Experimental SAH was induced by injecting homologous blood into the cisterna magna. After 20 days, the basilar arteries and trigeminal ganglions were examined histopathologically. Basilar artery volumes and the neuron density of the ophthalmic divisions of the trigeminal ganglions were estimated stereologically, and the results were statistically analyzed. Results: The mean basilar artery volume was 4.15±0.19mm 3 and the mean neuronal density of the trigeminal ganglion was 6500±750/mm 3 for the control group. These values were 4.05±0.29mm 3 and 6400±584/mm for the serum physiologic group, 3.80±0.35mm 3 and 4600±300/mm for living animals in the SAH group, and 2.26±0.29mm 3 and 2950±618/mm 3 for dead animals in SAH group, respectively. A linear relationship was found between the neuronal density of the trigeminal ganglion and basilar artery volumes. Conclusions: The neuron density of the trigeminal ganglion may be an important factor in the regulation of basilar artery volume and for the continuation of cerebral blood flow. The low neuron density of the trigeminal ganglion may be involved in the pathogenesis of severe basilar artery vasospasm induced by SAH. Copyright © 2009 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.