Batman P, Miller A, Griffin GE; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1990 Jun 20-23; 6: 213 (abstract no. Th.B.366).
Department of Histopathology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK
OBJECTIVE: Pathophysiology of depressed autonomic nervous function in HIV disease is unknown but may be related to neuronal degeneration. In order to test the hypothesis that jejunal autonomic neuronal mass is reduced in HIV infection we have histologically quantitated neuronal tissue in jejunal biopsies using a neurone specific monoclonal antibody, PGP 9.5. METHODS: Crosby capsule jejunal biopsies from HIV antibody positive male homosexuals (n 19): asymptomatic 5, persistent generalised lymphadenopathy 9, AIDS 5 were treated with PGP 9.5 which was histologically detected using an immunoperoxidase technique. Volume Density (D) of nerves in villi (DV) and around crypts (DC) was quantitated by a point-counting technique using a Lennox graticule under light microscopic examination for 50 villi in each biopsy. Using this technique D of nerve per constant area of lamina propria was expressed as arbitrary units. Jejunal biopsies from age matched male control subjects (n 10) were similarly treated. RESULTS: DV and DC were decreased at all clinical stages of HIV disease; DV: (control) 15.3 +/- 5.2, (HIV) 9.0 +/- 4.7, p less than .003; DC: (control) 27.3 +/- 6.2, (HIV) 17.8 +/- 5.4, p less than .0002 (mean +/- 1 SD, Student's two tailed t test). CONCLUSION: Thus there is histological evidence of decreased neuronal tissue in jejunal mucosa in HIV disease. The loss of neuronal tissue was demonstrated in villous and deep lamina propria and was detected at all clinical stages of HIV infection. Such autonomic neuronal degeneration may contribute to diarrhoeal disease in HIV infection.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Biopsy
- Case-Control Studies
- Communicable Diseases
- Gastrointestinal Diseases
- HIV
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Homosexuality, Male
- Humans
- Intestinal Mucosa
- Jejunum
- Male
- Nerve Tissue
- Neurons
Other ID:
UI: 102181930
From Meeting Abstracts