Changes in the intracardiac nerve plexuses in sudden death

Neurohistoligical and histochemical study of 57 cases of sudden cardiac death and control material in the age aspect revealed deep changes in the intracardiac nerve plexuses. In cases of sudden cardiac death conjoint mosaic changes were seen in the microcirculation channel in which regions with empty capillaries and areas of blood stasis were found. In some of the cholinergic neurons signs of edema were seen and cholinesterase activity was reduced, though it was still high in the preterminal and terminal plexuses stretching along the conduction system and blood vessels and in the myocardium. The regional microcirculatory disorders may be linked with the neuroregulative metabolic disorders.