Publication:
Peripheral chemoreceptors, postnatal development and cytochemical findings in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

relationships.isAuthorOfPublication
relationships.isSecondaryAuthorOf
relationships.isDirectorOf
Authors
Porzionato, Andrea ; Macchi, Verónica ; Parenti, Anna ; Matturri, Luigi ; De Caro, Raffaelle
item.page.secondaryauthor
item.page.director
Publisher
Murcia : F. Hernández
publication.page.editor
publication.page.department
DOI
item.page.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to give a review of the postnatal development of peripheral chemoreceptors - carotid body, paraganglia, and pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNEC) - with implications in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In the postnatal period, the hypoxic chemosensitivity of the carotid body gradually develops. Changes include proliferation of type I and II cells, increased numbers of dense core vesicles and K+ channels, and modifications of neurotransmitter/neuromodulator and receptor expression. Chromaffin paraganglia show increased expression of nitric oxide synthase and neuropeptides, and increased innervation. Innervation of PNEC develops fully only in the first postnatal period, after which their density falls. The neuropeptides produced by PNEC also changes, with increased expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide and neuropeptide YY and reduced expression of calcitonin and gastrin-releasing peptide. Most of the findings in the carotid body of SIDS victims, i.e., decrease in type I cells and dense cytoplasmic granules, and increase in progenitor cells, indicates immaturity of the carotid body, which may play a role in SIDS in the form of underlying biologic vulnerability. Aorticopulmonary paraganglia hyperplasia and increase of PNEC are also found in SIDS, and may be epiphenomena of alterations of the respiratory function with a pathogenetical role in SIDS. A comprehensive view of the pathogenesis of SIDS should also arise from the integration of peripheral chemoreceptors findings with neuro- and cardiopathologic ones.
Citation
item.page.embargo