An immunohistochemical study on the arrangement of sympathetic fibers within the human common fibular nerve

Abstract

Physiologists often use muscle sympathetic neural activity (MSNA) in the common fibular nerve (CFN) to measure sympathetic drive within lower limb peripheral nerves. It is understood that significant alterations in MSNA activity occur with age, diabetes, and vascular disease. Little is known, however, about sympathetic fiber distribution in the lower limb nerves of humans. In order to describe the general sympathetic arrangement in the CFN, immunohistochemical techniques were used on 5μm transverse sections of formaldehyde‐fixed CFN taken from human cadavers within 24 hours of death. By staining for tyrosine hydroxylase the arrangement and number of sympathetic fibers can be determined. From microneurographic records it is hypothesized that the sympathetic fibers are arranged in randomly dispersed bundles, each of approximately 10–40 fibers. Results from this study will quantify autonomic fiber distribution in the CFN. This will better enable physiologists to relate autonomic neuroanatomy to microneurographic outcomes in the CFN.Grant Funding Source: Departmental