vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and Varicose-Veins

The human great saphenous vein is often used in by-pass surgery. In spite of its importance little is known about the neuronal regulation and innervation of this vessel. On the other hand, therapeutic phlebectomy of the saphenous vein provides a good basis for investigations on the nervous supply of human veins. In former studies the human great saphenous vein has been proved to be a richly innervated portion of the low pressure vascular system. We studied the innervation of the proximal femoral saphenous vein by immunohistochemical methods and with special regard to regulatory neuropeptides. A peptidergic innervation mainly localized along the vasa vasorum and associated with immunoreactivity of substance P and CGRP was found which yields evidence for a mechanosensory innervation of this vascular segment.

Topics: Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; S100 Proteins; Saphenous Vein; Sensory Receptor Cells; Substance P; Varicose Veins; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide