Subscribe to RSS
![](/products/assets/desktop/img/oa-logo.png)
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1699492
Histomorphometric and sympathetic innervation of the human superficial temporal artery
Publication History
Publication Date:
31 December 2019 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00042863/201101/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1055-s-0039-1699492_00127-1.jpg)
ABSTRACT
Context: Following microvascular surgeries, stenosis and spasm of the arterial graft or the recipient vessel are serious complications which are often caused by intimal hyperplasia and perivascular nerves, respectively. Aims: The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics of arterial wall and sympathetic innervation of the human superficial temporal artery (STA) and also, the effect of aging on STA. Methods and Materials: Fifty-two fresh human STA (frontal branch) samples were obtained from 26 cadavers (19 males and 7 females) between the ages of 19 and 83 years. Samples were divided into three age groups: G1, 19-40 years; G2, 41-60 years; G3, over 61 years. 5μm-thin sections of each sample were taken and stained with haematoxylin-eosin, Verhoff's and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining. Results: The well-defined internal elastic lamina (IEL) was observed in all samples of STA, whereas external elastic lamina (EEL) was not prominent in almost all cases or absent in few cases. This might be the important factor in the process of intimal and medial hyperplasia in the frontal branch of STA. Notably, intimal thickening appeared from second decade of life. Sympathetic fibres are located mainly in tunica adventitia and outer media. Mean adventitial and sympathetic areas were found to be 0.080 and 0.010mm2, respectively. Statistical analysis used: One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD post hoc test by using the SPSS 11.5 software. Conclusions: STA is prone to age related pathological changes. Sympathetic index may be used for analysis of sympathetic fibre-related problems (vasospasm, migraine) of the STA.
-
REFERENCES
- 1 Hansen SL, Foster RD, Dosanjh AS, Mathes SJ, Hoffman WY, Leon P. Superficial temporal artery and vein as recipient vessels for facial and scalp microsurgical reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 2007;120:1879-84.
- 2 Halvorson EG, Cordeiro PG, Disa JJ, Wallin EF, Mehrara BJ. Superficial temporal recipient vessels in microvascular orbit and scalp reconstruction of oncologic defects. J Reconstr Microsurg 2009;25:383-7.
- 3 Yasargil MG. A legacy of microneurosurgery: Memoirs, lessons, and axioms. Neurosurgery 1999;45:1025-92.
- 4 Newell DW, Vilela MD. Superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass. Neurosurgery 2004;54:1441-8.
- 5 Baaj AA, Agazzi S, Sayed ZA, Toledo M, Spetzler RF, van Loveren H. Surgical management of moyamoya disease: A review. Neurosurg Focus 2009;26:E7.
- 6 Allen GS, Harris RD, Gross CJ, Chou SN. Cerebral arterial spasm. In: Microsurgery for Stroke. Schmiedek P, editor. New York: Springer- Verlag; 1977. p. 98-104.
- 7 Uddman R, Edvinsson L, Hara H. Axonal tracing of autonomic nerve fibers to the superficial temporal artery in the rat. Cell Tissue Res 1989;256:559-65.
- 8 Bleys RL, Cowen T, Groen GJ, Hillen B. Perivascular nerves of the human basal cerebral arteries: II. Changes in aging and Alzheimer's disease. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 1996;16: 1048-57.
- 9 Diaz FG, Chason J, Shrontz C, Ausman JI, Dujovny M. Histological structural abnormalities of superficial temporal arteries used for extracranial-intracranial anastomosis. J Neurosurg 1982;57: 328-33.
- 10 Li B, Wang CC, Zhao ZZ, Hu Y, Aihara K, Ghazizadeh M, et al. A histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of superficial temporal arteries and middle meningeal arteries in moyamoya disease. Acta Pathol Jpn 1991;41:521-30.
- 11 Aoyagi M, Fukai N, Yamamoto M, Nakagawa K, Matsushima Y, Yamamoto K. Early development of intimal thickening in superficial temporal arteries in patients with moyamoya disease. Stroke 1996;27:1750-4.
- 12 Xu C-B, Pessah-Rasmussen H, Stavenow L. Interactions between cultured bovine arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells: Effects of injury on the release of growth stimulating and growth inhibiting substances. Pharmacol Toxicol 1991;69: 195-200.
- 13 Stary HC, Blankenhorn DH, Chandler AB, Glagov S, Insull W Jr, Richardson M, et al. A definition of the intima of human arteries and of its atherosclerosis-prone regions. A report from the Committee on Vascular Lesions of the Council on Arteriosclerosis, American Heart Association. Circulation 1992;85:391-405.
- 14 Vink A, Schoneveld AH, Poppen M, de Kleijn DP, Borst C, Pasterkamp G. Morphometric and immunohistochemical characterization of the intimal layer throughout the arterial system of elderly humans. J Anat 2002;200:97-103.
- 15 Sims FH. Discontinuities in the internal elastic lamina: A comparison of coronary and internal mammary arteries. Artery 1985;13:127-42.
- 16 Hassler O. The windows of the internal elastic lamella of the cerebral arteries. Virchows Arch Pathol Anat Physiol Klin Med 1962;335:127-32.
- 17 Kwon HM, Kang S, Hong BK, Kim D, Park HY, Shin MS, et al. Ultrastructural changes of the external elastic lamina in experimental hypercholesterolemic porcine coronary arteries. Yonsei Med J 1999;40:273-82.
- 18 Masuoka T, Hayashi N, Hori E, Kuwayama N, Ohtani O, Endo S. Distribution of internal elastic lamina and external elastic lamina in the internal carotid artery: Possible relationship with atherosclerosis. Neurol Med Chir 2010;50:179-82.
- 19 Shibahara T, Schmelzeisen R, Noma H. Histological changes in vessels used for microvascular reconstruction in the head and neck. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 1996;24:24-8.
- 20 Macleod RI, Soames JV. A morphometric study of age changes in the human lingual artery. Arch Oral Biol 1988;33:455-7.
- 21 Semba I. A histometrical analysis of age changes in the human lingual artery. Arch Oral Biol 1989;34:483-9.
- 22 Olesen IJ, Gulbenkian S, Valença A, Antunes JL, Wharton J, Polak JM, et al. The peptidergic innervation of the human superficial temporal artery: Immunohistochemistry, ultrastructure, and vasomotility. Peptides 1995;16:275-87.
- 23 Bevan RD, Dodge J, Nichols P, Penar PL, Walters CL, Wellman T, et al. Weakness of sympathetic neural control of human pial compared with superficial temporal arteries reflects low innervation density and poor sympathetic responsiveness. Stroke 1998;29:212-21.
- 24 Oka N, Akiguchi I, Matsubayashi K, Kameyama M, Maeda T, Kawamura J. Density of sympathetic nerve terminals in human superficial temporal arteries: Potassium permanganate fixation and monoamine oxidase histochemistry. Stroke 1987;18:229-33.