FREE PLASMA-CATECHOLAMINES IN SPINAL-CORD INJURED PERSONS WITH DIFFERENT INJURY LEVELS AT REST AND DURING EXERCISE

Citation
A. Schmid et al., FREE PLASMA-CATECHOLAMINES IN SPINAL-CORD INJURED PERSONS WITH DIFFERENT INJURY LEVELS AT REST AND DURING EXERCISE, Journal of the autonomic nervous system, 68(1-2), 1998, pp. 96-100
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences
ISSN journal
01651838
Volume
68
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1998
Pages
96 - 100
Database
ISI
SICI code
0165-1838(1998)68:1-2<96:FPISIP>2.0.ZU;2-S
Abstract
Spinal cord lesion leads to an interruption of pathways from brain to the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, which results in pathologic al changes in sympathetic innervation. Free epinephrine (E), norepinep hrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) were measured in 30 tetraplegics (TETRA). 15 high-lesion paraplegics (T-1 and T-4, HPARA). 15 paraplegics with injuries between T-5 and T-10 (MPARA), 15 low-lesion paraplegics (belo w T-10, LPARA) and 16 non-handicapped control persons (C) at rest, at 60 and 100% of maximal oxygen consumption during graded wheelchair erg ometry (WCE). The TETRA showed significant lower E and NE levels st re st and only slight increases during physical exercise. The E and NE co ncentrations of the paraplegics with a lesion below T-5 were significa ntly higher than those of the high-lesion paraplegics. as well as thos e of the control persons at every point in the study. All paraplegics and the control persons showed, at submaximal and maximal exercise, a significant increase in NE. Only a slight increase in E in HAPRA was s hown. No differences were found at rest and during exercise in E and N E levels in the MPARA and LPARA. No significant differences were found in the dopamine concentration at rest or during exercise for any of t he groups. In summary, different levels of lesion and the resulting in terruption to sympathetic pathways in the spinal cord are decisive fac tors in the degree of impairment of sympathetic innervation in SCI per sons. Tetraplegics show less preganglionic resting activity because of interruption of impulses from central centers and no considerable sti mulation of the sympathetic nervous system during maximal exercise. In dividuals with high paraplegia have a partial impairment of catecholam ine release. especially of epinephrine. at rest and during exercise. P araplegics with a lesion level below T-5 showed an augmented basal and exercise-induced upper spinal thoracic sympathetic activity in compar ison to control persons. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.