Abstract
Systemic injection of monoclonal antibodies to neural acetylcholinesterase in adult rats caused a syndrome with permanent, complement-mediated destruction of presynaptic fibers in sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla. Ptosis, hypotension, bradycardia, and postural syncope ensued. In sympathetic ganglia, acetylcholinesterase activity disappeared from neuropil but not from nerve cell bodies. Choline acetyltransferase activity and ultrastructurally defined synapses were also lost. Electrical stimulation of presynaptic fibers to the superior cervical ganglion ceased to evoke end-organ responses. On the other hand, direct ganglionic stimulation remained effective, and the postganglionic adrenergic system appeared intact. Motor performance and the choline acetyltransferase content of skeletal muscle were preserved, as was parasympathetic (vagal) function. This model of selective cholinergic autoimmunity represents another tool for autonomic physiology and may be relevant to the pathogenesis of human dysautonomias.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 9630-9634 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Volume | 87 |
| Issue number | 24 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1990 |
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Keywords
- complement-mediated cytotoxicity
- ganglionic transmission
- idiopathic orthostatic hypotension
- ptosis
- sympathetic nervous system
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General
- Genetics
Cite this
Autoimmune preganglionic sympathectomy induced by acetylcholinesterase antibodies. / Brimijoin, William Stephen; Lennon, Vanda A.
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 87, No. 24, 1990, p. 9630-9634.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Autoimmune preganglionic sympathectomy induced by acetylcholinesterase antibodies
AU - Brimijoin, William Stephen
AU - Lennon, Vanda A
PY - 1990
Y1 - 1990
N2 - Systemic injection of monoclonal antibodies to neural acetylcholinesterase in adult rats caused a syndrome with permanent, complement-mediated destruction of presynaptic fibers in sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla. Ptosis, hypotension, bradycardia, and postural syncope ensued. In sympathetic ganglia, acetylcholinesterase activity disappeared from neuropil but not from nerve cell bodies. Choline acetyltransferase activity and ultrastructurally defined synapses were also lost. Electrical stimulation of presynaptic fibers to the superior cervical ganglion ceased to evoke end-organ responses. On the other hand, direct ganglionic stimulation remained effective, and the postganglionic adrenergic system appeared intact. Motor performance and the choline acetyltransferase content of skeletal muscle were preserved, as was parasympathetic (vagal) function. This model of selective cholinergic autoimmunity represents another tool for autonomic physiology and may be relevant to the pathogenesis of human dysautonomias.
AB - Systemic injection of monoclonal antibodies to neural acetylcholinesterase in adult rats caused a syndrome with permanent, complement-mediated destruction of presynaptic fibers in sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla. Ptosis, hypotension, bradycardia, and postural syncope ensued. In sympathetic ganglia, acetylcholinesterase activity disappeared from neuropil but not from nerve cell bodies. Choline acetyltransferase activity and ultrastructurally defined synapses were also lost. Electrical stimulation of presynaptic fibers to the superior cervical ganglion ceased to evoke end-organ responses. On the other hand, direct ganglionic stimulation remained effective, and the postganglionic adrenergic system appeared intact. Motor performance and the choline acetyltransferase content of skeletal muscle were preserved, as was parasympathetic (vagal) function. This model of selective cholinergic autoimmunity represents another tool for autonomic physiology and may be relevant to the pathogenesis of human dysautonomias.
KW - complement-mediated cytotoxicity
KW - ganglionic transmission
KW - idiopathic orthostatic hypotension
KW - ptosis
KW - sympathetic nervous system
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0025694764&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0025694764&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.87.24.9630
DO - 10.1073/pnas.87.24.9630
M3 - Article
C2 - 2175909
AN - SCOPUS:0025694764
VL - 87
SP - 9630
EP - 9634
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 24
ER -