Abstract
Knowledge of sex differences in the histomorphology of the carotid body is important in understanding observed differences in respiratory function and disorders. There are few studies on sex differences in the carotid body. This study therefore aimed at describing these differences in the histomorphology features of the human carotid body. Thirty six random carotid bodies from cardiovascular disease free individuals (20 male, 16 female) obtained during autopsy at the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi were studied. Specimens obtained within 48 hours of death were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution and processed routinely for paraffin embedding. Seven micron thick serial sections were stained with H&E, Mason’s trichrome and examined with light microscope. Stereology was done to determine area occupied by parenchyma, stroma and vasculature. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0. The student’s t test was used to compare sex differences. The data are represented using tables and macrographs.
Highlights
Knowledge of sex differences in the histomorphology of the human carotid body (HCB) is important in explaining the differences in respiratory function, responses and disease predisposition [1,2]
Sex histomorphological differences in the human carotid body characterized by higher population of chief cells, density of vascularity, innervation and blunted age related morphological attenuation underpin differences in its function and disease
This study investigated the histomorphological features of CB in males and females with a view to defining any sex differences in this organ
Summary
Knowledge of sex differences in the histomorphology of the human carotid body (HCB) is important in explaining the differences in respiratory function, responses and disease predisposition [1,2]. There are sex differences in the ventilatory response to hypoxia (VRH) and hypercapnia [1,3,4,5], response in ventilatory control under acute or chronic hypoxic stimulation morphine induced ventilatory depression [6], ventilatory roll off and post hypoxia facilitation [7] and carotid body based control of ventilation [8]. This study investigated the histomorphological features of CB in males and females with a view to defining any sex differences in this organ
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