[Hypothalamic characteristics in sudden human cardiac death].

The hypothalamus was examined in cases of sudden heart death in 50 persons of both sexes whose ages ranged from 25 to 55. The microscopic and biochemical findings were compared with those in cases of heart death which had not occurred suddenly in patients with myocardial infarction of different duration (50 cases). It is shown that in sudden heart death diffuse edema of the white matter and dystonic changes in the microcirculation vessels develop in the hypothalamus. Biochemical examination discloses in the tissue of the hypothalamus in such cases a sharp decrease in the content of noradrenalin and the precursor of catecholamine synthesis DOPA and a marked increase in the level of adrenalin. It is assumed that there is a causative connection between vascular dystonia and the decrease in the noradrenalin level. An increase in the adrenalin content may be conducive to the intensification of cerebral hydrophilism.