Catecholamines contents in experimental microvascular anastomoses

The Authors present the results of an immunohistochemical-chromatographic study for the evaluation of the catecholamine content in experimental microvascular anastomoses on rat femoral arteries. Immunohistochemistry showed perivascular TH immunoreactive autonomic nerve fibers and, within the vascular wall, the presence of enzymes of the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway which has been confirmed by chromatography. The data, after statistical analysis, proved a significant reduction of catecholamine levels within operated patent or thrombosed vessels compared to non operated on control vessels; these data proved also a non significant increase of catecholamine levels within operated thrombosed vessels compared to operated patent vessels. The reasons and the potential clinical repercussions of these experimental data are analyzed, underlying the importance of neurogenic factors in the pathogenesis of microvascular thrombosis.