FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Cell and tissue research1994; 276(3); 523-534; doi: 10.1007/BF00343949

Structural organization and neuropeptide distributions in the equine enteric nervous system: an immunohistochemical study using whole-mount preparations from the small intestine.

Abstract: The architecture and neurochemistry of the enteric nervous system was studied by use of whole-mount preparations obtained by microdissection of the horse jejunum. A myenteric plexus and two plexuses within the submucosa were identified. The external submucosal plexus lying in the outermost region of the submucosa had both neural and vascular connections with the inner submucosal plexus situated closer to the mucosa. Counts of neurones stained for NADH-diaphorase demonstrated the wide variation in size, shape and neurone content of individual ganglia in both the external and internal submucosal plexuses. The average number of cells/ganglion was similar in each plexus (about 25 cells). Immunoreactivities for galanin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide Y were observed in nerve cell bodies and fibres of each of the plexuses. Immunoreactivity for substance P was extensive and strong in nerve fibres of all plexuses but was weaker in cell bodies of the submucosal neurones and absent in the cell bodies of the myenteric plexus. Comparative quantitative analysis of immunoreactive cell populations with total cell numbers (enzyme staining) was indicative of neuropeptide colocalization in the external submucosal plexus.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1994-06-01 PubMed ID: 7520362DOI: 10.1007/BF00343949Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study delves into the structure and neurochemistry of the enteric nervous system in horses, notably the jejunum region of the small intestine. It primarily aims to understand connections within the submucosa and the respective neuron compositions.

Study Objectives

The primary object of this study was:

  • Understanding the arrangement and chemical makeup of the horse’s enteric, or digestive, nervous system using microscopic examination

Methodology

Their method involved:

  • Microdissection was used to procure whole-mount preparations from the jejunum segment of the horse’s small intestine.
  • A discovery of two plexuses or nerve-networks within the submucosa in addition to an already existing myenteric plexus was noted.
  • External submucous plexus found in the farthest region of the submucosa was found to have both vascular and neural connections with the internal submucous plexus located near the mucosa.

Findings

The research revealed:

  • Neurones stained for NADH-diaphorase exhibited disparity in terms of size, shape, and neuronal matter of individual ganglia in both submucosal plexuses.
  • The standard cell count per ganglion in each plexus roughly amounted to 25 cells
  • Immunoreactions for galanin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and neuropeptide Y were monitored in nerve cells and fibres of each of the plexuses.
  • In comparison, substance P immunoreaction showed a widespread and strong presence in all plexuses’ nerve fibres. It was notably weaker in the submucosal neurones’ cell bodies and altogether absent in the myenteric plexus’ cell bodies.
  • Quantitative comparison of immunoreactive cell populations with the total cell numbers, stained by enzyme, suggested neuropeptide colocalization in the external submucosal plexus.

Conclusion

The study gives a detailed understanding of the structural organization and the distribution of various neuropeptides in the equine enteric nervous system. It also highlights the presence and variation of different neuropeptides across various plexuses.

Cite This Article

APA
Pearson GT. (1994). Structural organization and neuropeptide distributions in the equine enteric nervous system: an immunohistochemical study using whole-mount preparations from the small intestine. Cell Tissue Res, 276(3), 523-534. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343949

Publication

Cell and tissue research
ISSN: 0302-766X
NlmUniqueID: 0417625
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 276
Issue: 3
Pages: 523-534

Researcher Affiliations

Pearson, G T
  • Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Enteric Nervous System / anatomy & histology
  • Enteric Nervous System / metabolism
  • Galanin
  • Horses / anatomy & histology
  • Horses / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Jejunum / innervation
  • Jejunum / metabolism
  • Myenteric Plexus / anatomy & histology
  • Myenteric Plexus / metabolism
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neuropeptide Y / metabolism
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Substance P / metabolism
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / metabolism

References

This article includes 33 references
  1. Hirst GD, McKirdy HC. Synaptic potentials recorded from neurones of the submucous plexus of guinea-pig small intestine.. J Physiol 1975 Jul;249(2):369-85.
    pubmed: 1177096doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1975.sp011020google scholar: lookup
  2. Timmermans JP, Scheuermann DW, Stach W, Adriaensen D, De Groodt-Lasseel MH. Functional morphology of the enteric nervous system with special reference to large mammals.. Eur J Morphol 1992;30(2):113-22.
    pubmed: 1457247
  3. Wilson AJ, Furness JB, Costa M. The fine structure of the submucous plexus of the guinea-pig ileum. I. The ganglia, neurons, Schwann cells and neuropil.. J Neurocytol 1981 Oct;10(5):759-84.
    pubmed: 7310474doi: 10.1007/BF01262652google scholar: lookup
  4. Gunn M. Histological and histochemical observations on the myenteric and submucous plexuses of mammals.. J Anat 1968 Jan;102(Pt 2):223-39.
    pubmed: 4966913
  5. Gabella G. Detection of nerve cells by a histochemical technic.. Experientia 1969 Feb 15;25(2):218-9.
    pubmed: 5786120doi: 10.1007/BF01899135google scholar: lookup
  6. Timmermans JP, Scheuermann DW, Barbiers M, Adriaensen D, Stach W, Van Hee R, De Groodt-Lasseel MH. Calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in the human small intestine.. Acta Anat (Basel) 1992;143(1):48-53.
    pubmed: 1585788doi: 10.1159/000147227google scholar: lookup
  7. Scheuermann DW, Stach W. Fluorescence microscopic study of the architecture and structure of an adrenergic network in the plexus myentericus (Auerbach), plexus submucosus externus (Schabadasch) and plexus submucosus internus (Meissner) of the porcine small intestine.. Acta Anat (Basel) 1984;119(1):49-59.
    pubmed: 6730895doi: 10.1159/000145861google scholar: lookup
  8. Mannl A, Pospischil A, Dahme E. [The plexus submucosus (Meissner and Schabadasch) in the pig intestine. I. Light and electron microscopic studies of the normal structure].. Zentralbl Veterinarmed A 1986 Nov;33(9):647-59.
    pubmed: 3155434
  9. Timmermans JP, Scheuermann DW, Stach W, Adriaensen D, De Groodt-Lasseel MH. Distinct distribution of CGRP-, enkephalin-, galanin-, neuromedin U-, neuropeptide Y-, somatostatin-, substance P-, VIP- and serotonin-containing neurons in the two submucosal ganglionic neural networks of the porcine small intestine.. Cell Tissue Res 1990 May;260(2):367-79.
    pubmed: 1694106doi: 10.1007/BF00318639google scholar: lookup
  10. Costa M, Furness JB. The simultaneous demonstration of adrenergic fibres and enteric ganglion cells.. Histochem J 1973 Jul;5(4):343-9.
    pubmed: 4126426doi: 10.1007/BF01004802google scholar: lookup
  11. Katayama Y, Lees GM, Pearson GT. Electrophysiology and morphology of vasoactive-intestinal-peptide-immunoreactive neurones of the guinea-pig ileum.. J Physiol 1986 Sep;378:1-11.
    pubmed: 3795100doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1986.sp016204google scholar: lookup
  12. Furness JB, Costa M, Keast JR. Choline acetyltransferase- and peptide immunoreactivity of submucous neurons in the small intestine of the guinea-pig.. Cell Tissue Res 1984;237(2):329-36.
    pubmed: 6206951doi: 10.1007/BF00217152google scholar: lookup
  13. Burns GA, Cummings JF. Equine myenteric plexus with special reference to the pelvic flexure pacemaker.. Anat Rec 1991 Jul;230(3):417-24.
    pubmed: 1867415doi: 10.1002/ar.1092300314google scholar: lookup
  14. Schultzberg M, Hökfelt T, Nilsson G, Terenius L, Rehfeld JF, Brown M, Elde R, Goldstein M, Said S. Distribution of peptide- and catecholamine-containing neurons in the gastro-intestinal tract of rat and guinea-pig: immunohistochemical studies with antisera to substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, enkephalins, somatostatin, gastrin/cholecystokinin, neurotensin and dopamine beta-hydroxylase.. Neuroscience 1980;5(4):689-744.
    pubmed: 6156425doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(80)90166-9google scholar: lookup
  15. Gabella G. The number of neurons in the small intestine of mice, guinea-pigs and sheep.. Neuroscience 1987 Aug;22(2):737-52.
    pubmed: 2444903doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(87)90369-1google scholar: lookup
  16. Furness JB, Bornstein JC, Trussell DC. Shapes of nerve cells in the myenteric plexus of the guinea-pig small intestine revealed by the intracellular injection of dye.. Cell Tissue Res 1988;254(3):561-71.
    pubmed: 3233651doi: 10.1007/BF00226506google scholar: lookup
  17. Burns GA, Karcher LF, Cummings JF. Equine myenteric ganglionitis: a case of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.. Cornell Vet 1990 Jan;80(1):53-63.
    pubmed: 2403425
  18. Scheuermann DW, Stach W, Timmermans JP, Adriaensen D, De Groodt-Lasseel MH. Neuron-specific enolase and S-100 protein immunohistochemistry for defining the structure and topographical relationship of the different enteric nerve plexuses in the small intestine of the pig.. Cell Tissue Res 1989 Apr;256(1):65-75.
    pubmed: 2713898doi: 10.1007/BF00224719google scholar: lookup
  19. Melander T, Hökfelt T, Rökaeus A, Fahrenkrug J, Tatemoto K, Mutt V. Distribution of galanin-like immunoreactivity in the gastro-intestinal tract of several mammalian species.. Cell Tissue Res 1985;239(2):253-70.
    pubmed: 2579738doi: 10.1007/BF00218003google scholar: lookup
  20. Lees GM, MacKenzie GM, Pearson GT. Complex correlations between the morphology, electrophysiology and peptide immunohistochemistry of guinea-pig enteric neurones.. Eur J Morphol 1992;30(2):123-36.
    pubmed: 1360806
  21. Bornstein JC, Costa M, Furness JB, Lees GM. Electrophysiology and enkephalin immunoreactivity of identified myenteric plexus neurones of guinea-pig small intestine.. J Physiol 1984 Jun;351:313-25.
    pubmed: 6379150doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1984.sp015247google scholar: lookup
  22. Scheuermann DW, Stach W, De Groodt-Lasseel MH, Timmermans JP. Calcitonin gene-related peptide in morphologically well-defined type II neurons of the enteric nervous system in the porcine small intestine.. Acta Anat (Basel) 1987;129(4):325-8.
    pubmed: 3498282doi: 10.1159/000146423google scholar: lookup
  23. Hoyle CH, Burnstock G. Galanin-like immunoreactivity in enteric neurons of the human colon.. J Anat 1989 Oct;166:23-33.
    pubmed: 2482838
  24. Pogson DM, Doxey DL, Gilmour JS, Milne EM, Chisholm HK. Autonomic neurone degeneration in equine dysautonomia (grass sickness).. J Comp Pathol 1992 Oct;107(3):271-83.
    pubmed: 1469124doi: 10.1016/0021-9975(92)90003-dgoogle scholar: lookup
  25. Cummings JF, Sellers AF, Lowe JE. Distribution of substance P-like immunoreactivity in the enteric neurons of the large colon of normal and amitraz-treated ponies: an immunocytochemical study.. Equine Vet J 1985 Jan;17(1):23-9.
    pubmed: 2579808doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02032.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  26. Hoyle CH, Burnstock G. Neuronal populations in the submucous plexus of the human colon.. J Anat 1989 Oct;166:7-22.
    pubmed: 2621148
  27. Burns GA, Cummings JF. Neuropeptide distributions in the colon, cecum, and jejunum of the horse.. Anat Rec 1993 Jun;236(2):341-50.
    pubmed: 7687832doi: 10.1002/ar.1092360207google scholar: lookup
  28. Bishop AE, Hodson NP, Major JH, Probert L, Yeats J, Edwards GB, Wright JA, Bloom SR, Polak JM. The regulatory peptide system of the large bowel in equine grass sickness.. Experientia 1984 Aug 15;40(8):801-6.
    pubmed: 6205892doi: 10.1007/BF01951962google scholar: lookup
  29. OBEL AL. Studies on grass disease: the morphological picture with special reference to the vegetative nervous system.. J Comp Pathol 1955 Oct;65(4):334-46.
    pubmed: 13263453
  30. Timmermans JP, Barbiers M, Scheuermann DW, Stach W, Adriaensen D, De Groodt-Lasseel MH. Occurrence, distribution and neurochemical features of small intestinal neurons projecting to the cranial mesenteric ganglion in the pig.. Cell Tissue Res 1993 Apr;272(1):49-58.
    pubmed: 8481956doi: 10.1007/BF00323570google scholar: lookup
  31. Hultgren BD. Ileocolonic aganglionosis in white progeny of overo spotted horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1982 Feb 1;180(3):289-92.
    pubmed: 7056678
  32. Nishi S, North RA. Intracellular recording from the myenteric plexus of the guinea-pig ileum.. J Physiol 1973 Jun;231(3):471-91.
    pubmed: 4783093doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1973.sp010244google scholar: lookup
  33. Young HM, Furness JB, Sewell P, Burcher EF, Kandiah CJ. Total numbers of neurons in myenteric ganglia of the guinea-pig small intestine.. Cell Tissue Res 1993 Apr;272(1):197-200.
    pubmed: 8481953doi: 10.1007/BF00323587google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 14 times.
  1. Hecking I, Stegemann LN, Stahlke S, Theis V, Vorgerd M, Matschke V, Theiss C. Methods to Study the Myenteric Plexus of Rat Small Intestine. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023 Jan;43(1):315-325.
    doi: 10.1007/s10571-021-01181-5pubmed: 34932174google scholar: lookup
  2. Bombardi C, Rambaldi AM, Galiazzo G, Giancola F, Graïc JM, Salamanca G, Cozzi B, Chiocchetti R. Nitrergic and Substance P Immunoreactive Neurons in the Enteric Nervous System of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Intestine. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 8;11(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11041057pubmed: 33918065google scholar: lookup
  3. Chiocchetti R, Giancola F, Mazzoni M, Sorteni C, Romagnoli N, Pietra M. Excitatory and inhibitory enteric innervation of horse lower esophageal sphincter. Histochem Cell Biol 2015 Jun;143(6):625-35.
    doi: 10.1007/s00418-014-1306-ypubmed: 25578519google scholar: lookup
  4. Yang P, Gandahi JA, Zhang Q, Zhang LL, Bian XG, Wu L, Liu Y, Chen QS. Quantitative changes of nitrergic neurons during postnatal development of chicken myenteric plexus. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2013 Oct;14(10):886-95.
    doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1300005pubmed: 24101205google scholar: lookup
  5. Lee HS, Nam YS. Immunohistochemical localization of calcium binding proteins and some neurotransmitters in myenteric plexus of goat stomach. J Vet Sci 2006 Dec;7(4):315-9.
    doi: 10.4142/jvs.2006.7.4.315pubmed: 17106220google scholar: lookup
  6. Persson-Sjögren S, Zashihin A, Forsgren S. Nerve cells associated with the endocrine pancreas in young mice: an ultrastructural analysis of the neuroinsular complex type I. Histochem J 2001 Jun;33(6):373-8.
    doi: 10.1023/a:1012439510709pubmed: 11758814google scholar: lookup
  7. Hudson NP, Pearson GT, Mayhew IG. Tissue culture of the enteric nervous system from equine ileum. Vet Res Commun 2000 Jul;24(5):299-307.
    doi: 10.1023/a:1006439904937pubmed: 10868548google scholar: lookup
  8. Balemba OB, Mbassa GK, Semuguruka WD, Assey RJ, Kahwa CK, Hay-Schmidt A, Dantzer V. The topography, architecture and structure of the enteric nervous system in the jejunum and ileum of cattle. J Anat 1999 Jul;195 ( Pt 1)(Pt 1):1-9.
    doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1999.19510001.xpubmed: 10473287google scholar: lookup
  9. Balemba OB, Grøndahl ML, Mbassa GK, Semuguruka WD, Hay-Smith A, Skadhauge E, Dantzer V. The organisation of the enteric nervous system in the submucous and mucous layers of the small intestine of the pig studied by VIP and neurofilament protein immunohistochemistry. J Anat 1998 Feb;192 ( Pt 2)(Pt 2):257-67.
    doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1998.19220257.xpubmed: 9643426google scholar: lookup
  10. Murray A, Pearson GT, Cottrell DF. Light microscopy of the enteric nervous system of horses with or without equine dysautonomia (grass sickness): its correlation with the motor effects of physostigmine. Vet Res Commun 1997 Oct;21(7):507-20.
    doi: 10.1023/a:1005998505369pubmed: 9345718google scholar: lookup
  11. Avadhanam KP, Plopper CG, Pinkerton KE. Mapping the distribution of neuroepithelial bodies of the rat lung. A whole-mount immunohistochemical approach. Am J Pathol 1997 Mar;150(3):851-9.
    pubmed: 9060823
  12. Thomsen L, Pearson GT, Larsen EH, Skadhauge E. Electrophysiological properties of neurones in the internal and external submucous plexuses of newborn pig small intestine. J Physiol 1997 Feb 1;498 ( Pt 3)(Pt 3):773-85.
    doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1997.sp021901pubmed: 9051588google scholar: lookup
  13. Doxey DL, Milne EM, Woodman MP, Gilmour JS, Chisholm HK. Small intestine and small colon neuropathy in equine dysautonomia (grass sickness). Vet Res Commun 1995;19(6):529-43.
    doi: 10.1007/BF01839341pubmed: 8619291google scholar: lookup
  14. Doxey DL, Pearson GT, Milne EM, Gilmour JS, Chisholm HK. The equine enteric nervous system--neuron characterization and distribution in adults and juveniles. Vet Res Commun 1995;19(6):433-49.
    doi: 10.1007/BF01839331pubmed: 8619281google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.