Viscero-somatic and viscero-visceral reflexes in brain death

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1986 Jun;49(6):695-8. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.49.6.695.

Abstract

Little is known about spinal visceral reflexes in brain-dead man, although they have been described in experimental animals. In 1983, 25 brain-dead individuals were observed during donor nephrectomy. It was confirmed that some of these donors, without higher centre modulation and not under significant pharmacological influence, had viscero-somatic motor reflexes and viscero-visceral cardiovascular reflexes.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Pressure
  • Brain Death*
  • Cardiovascular System / innervation
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement
  • Peritoneum / innervation
  • Reflex / physiology*
  • Spinal Cord / physiology*

Substances

  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin