Histofluorescence and histochemical analysis of adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the lungs in burns

Neurohistochemical methods were applied to study adrenergic and cholinergic nervous structures of pulmonary tissue in 30 patients aged 14-82 who had died of burn disease at various stages of its progress (shock, toxemia, septic toxemia). Autopsies performed within 4 hours after the patients' death evidenced mediators depletion in perivascular and peribronchial plexuses as well as intensive luminescence of nervous fibers considered as compensatory adaptation. There was cholinesterase hypoactivity in cholinergic plexuses. It is established that the failure of adaptive-trophic sympathetic regulation of pulmonary tissues including relevant vessels and bronchi results in diminution of pulmonary compensatory and adaptive potential. This should be allowed for in the treatment of burn disease complications.