Gobbi H, Barbosa A J, Teixeira V P, Almeida H O
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Federal University of M.G., Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Histochemistry. 1991;95(4):337-40. doi: 10.1007/BF00266960.
Paraganglion-like structures (PLS) containing chromaffin-positive cells have been reported to be present in the adult human heart. The present work was initiated in order to evaluate the density of these structures in the interatrial septum and to study the presence of immunoreactivity of their cells to NSE and PGP 9,5 antibodies, two neuroendocrine markers. Six hundred 6-microns paraffin serial sections were obtained from the upper third of the interatrial septum from six adult human hearts. From 2 to 12 paraganglia were found in each case, and their principal cells stained positively with NSE and PGP 9,5 antibodies. Depending on how these PLS related to other cardiac structures, four different types were identified: Type I - "True paraganglia" (located adjacent to ganglia or nerve fibers); Type II - "Free paraganglia" (immersed in the interatrial adipose tissue, without evident connection to other structures); Type III - "Intraganglionic paraganglia" (located within the nervous ganglia); Type IV - "Intramyocardic paraganglia" (small nests of immunoreactive cells closely related to myocardiocyte bundles). These cardiac paraganglia, which probably belong to the visceral-autonomic group, may have a role in the regulation of the cardiac function and in the adaptive mechanisms of the heart. Its is also possible that they originate functioning and non-functioning tumours.
据报道，成人心脏中存在含有嗜铬素阳性细胞的副神经节样结构（PLS）。开展本研究是为了评估这些结构在房间隔中的密度，并研究其细胞对两种神经内分泌标志物——神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）和PGP 9,5抗体的免疫反应性。从6例成人心脏的房间隔上三分之一处获取600张6微米厚的石蜡连续切片。每例均发现2至12个副神经节，其主细胞对NSE和PGP 9,5抗体呈阳性染色。根据这些PLS与其他心脏结构的关系，确定了四种不同类型：I型——“真性副神经节”（位于神经节或神经纤维附近）；II型——“游离副神经节”（浸于房间隔脂肪组织中，与其他结构无明显联系）；III型——“神经节内副神经节”（位于神经节内）；IV型——“心肌内副神经节”（与心肌细胞束密切相关的免疫反应性细胞小巢）。这些心脏副神经节可能属于内脏自主神经组，可能在心脏功能调节和心脏的适应性机制中发挥作用。它们也有可能起源于功能性和非功能性肿瘤。
