Cholinergic, nitrergic and peptidergic (Substance P- and CGRP-utilizing) innervation of the horse intestine. A histochemical and immunohistochemical study.
Abstract: The small and large intestine of adult horses were histochemically and immunohistochemically investigated in order to evidence components of the intramural nervous system. The general structural organization of the intramural nervous system was examined by using Nissl-thionin staining as well as the anti-neurofilament 200 (NF200) immunoreaction, which demonstrated the presence of neurons in the submucous as well as myenteric plexuses. The additional presence of subserosal ganglia was shown in the large intestine. Acetylcholinesterase (AChEase) activity was observed in both the submucous and myenteric plexuses. Localization of acetylcholine-utilizing neurons was also evidenced by immunohistochemical reactions for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). With both histochemistry and immunohistochemistry possible cholinergic nerve fibres were detected in the inner musculature. The two possible cholinergic co-mediators Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Substance P (SP) have been investigated by an immunohistochemical approach. CGRP immunoreactivity was detected in roundish nerve cell bodies as well as in nerve fibres of the submucous plexus, whereas SP immunoreactivity was evidenced in nerve fibres of the tunica mucosa, in nerve cell bodies and fibres of the submucous plexus and in nerve fibres of the myenteric plexus. NADPH-diaphorase reactivity, which is linked to the synthesis and release of nitric oxide, was detected in nerve cell bodies and nerve fibres of both the submucous and myenteric plexuses as well as in a subserosal localization of the large intestine. The nitrergic components were confirmed by the anti-NOS (nitric oxide synthase) immunoreaction. Results are compared with those of other mammals and related to the complex intestinal horse physiology and pathophysiology.
Publication Date: 2004-03-17 PubMed ID: 15024697DOI: 10.14670/HH-19.357Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study examines the structure of the nervous system within the intestines of adult horses, focusing specifically on cholinergic, nitrergic, and peptidergic innervation. Using various histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques, the researchers identified the presence of neurons, acetylcholinesterase activity, and other substances in the myenteric and submucous plexuses within the small and large intestines.
Study Methodology
- The research team conducted a detailed analysis of the horse intestine, employing modern histochemical and immunohistochemical methods.
- The structural organization of the intramural (within the wall of the organ) nervous system was investigated using Nissl-thionin staining and an immunoreaction mechanism with anti-neurofilament 200 (NF200).
- Serious attention was paid to the detection of neurons in the submucous plexus (a layer of the gut wall) and myenteric plexus (part of the enteric nervous system controlling gastrointestinal motility) as well as subserosal ganglia in the large intestine.
Investigation of Cholinergic Innervation
- To uncover the presence of cholinergic (related to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine) components, researchers measured Acetylcholinesterase (AChEase), an enzyme involved in the breakdown of acetylcholine.
- The team also used immunohistochemical reactions for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), an enzyme essential for the synthesis of acetylcholine, and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), which is responsible for loading synaptic vesicles with acetylcholine.
- With these techniques, potential cholinergic nerve fibers were identified in the inner musculature of the horse intestine.
Examination of Peptidergic Innervation
- The two cholinergic co-mediator peptides, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Substance P (SP), were examined through the use of immunohistochemistry.
- CGRP immunoreactivity was seen in rounded nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers in the submucous plexus while SP immunoreactivity was found in nerve fibers in the tunica mucosa, nerve cell bodies and fibers in the submucous plexus, and nerve fibers in the myenteric plexus.
Nitrergic Innervation study
- Nitrergic (related to the production of nitric oxide) components were also explored in the study.
- NADPH-diaphorase reactivity, which is linked to the synthesis and release of nitric oxide, was detected in nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers in both the submucous and myenteric plexuses, as well as in a subserosal location in the large intestine.
- These findings were confirmed using an anti-NOS (nitric oxide synthase) immunoreaction.
Insights and Comparisons
- The study findings were compared with those from other mammals and analyzed in relation to horse-specific intestinal physiology and pathophysiology.
Cite This Article
APA
Domeneghini C, Radaelli G, Arrighi S, Bosi G, Dolera M.
(2004).
Cholinergic, nitrergic and peptidergic (Substance P- and CGRP-utilizing) innervation of the horse intestine. A histochemical and immunohistochemical study.
Histol Histopathol, 19(2), 357-370.
https://doi.org/10.14670/HH-19.357 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technologies for Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Italy. Cinzia.Domeneghini@unimi.it
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / metabolism
- Choline O-Acetyltransferase / metabolism
- Cytoplasm / metabolism
- Female
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry
- Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
- Male
- Membrane Transport Proteins
- NADPH Dehydrogenase / metabolism
- Neurons / metabolism
- Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
- Substance P / metabolism
- Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins
- Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Cheng L, de la Monte S, Ma J, Hong J, Tong M, Cao W, Behar J, Biancani P, Harnett KM. HCl-activated neural and epithelial vanilloid receptors (TRPV1) in cat esophageal mucosa. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2009 Jul;297(1):G135-43.
- Arrighi S, Bosi G, Cremonesi F, Domeneghini C. Immunohistochemical study of the pre- and postnatal innervation of the dog lower urinary tract: morphological aspects at the basis of the consolidation of the micturition reflex. Vet Res Commun 2008 Apr;32(4):291-304.
- Ma J, Nguyen D, Madas J, Bizanti A, Mistareehi A, Kwiat AM, Chen J, Lin M, Christie R, Hunter P, Heal M, Baldwin S, Tappan S, Furness JB, Powley TL, Cheng ZJ. Organization and morphology of calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive axons in the whole mouse stomach. J Comp Neurol 2023 Nov;531(16):1608-1632.
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