Presence of putative neurotransmitters in the myenteric plexus of the gastrointestinal tract and in the musculature of the urinary bladder of the ferret

The distribution of nerves containing galanin-immunoreactive (GAL-IR) material was compared to the distribution of neurons containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactivity in the canine gastrointestinal tract. The actions of intra-arterially administered galanin and VIP on motility in the gastric antrum and corpus and the intestines were also studied. All sphincter muscles contained galanin- and VIP-immunoreactive nerve profiles. VIP-immunoreactive nerve profiles were present in all layers of the stomach, small intestine, and colon. GAL-IR nerve somata were common in the submucous plexus of ileum and colon and in the myenteric plexus of the terminal antrum, as were nerve processes in various layers. In the small intestine, galanin inhibited contractile responses to field stimulation of intrinsic nerves and also reduced the contractions after nerve blockade with tetrodotoxin (TTX). VIP often enhanced field-stimulated contractions at low doses but inhibited these and the contractions after TTX at higher doses. In the stomach and colon, both peptides inhibited responses to field stimulation; whether these effects were due to actions on smooth muscle was not tested. The distribution and actions of galanin in gut are consistent with the hypothesis that it acts at smooth muscle sites and possibly at prejunctional sites.

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Arrangement of the myenteric plexus throughout the gastrointestinal tract of the opossum

Gastroenterology ◽

10.1016/0016-5085(83)90441-9 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 890-899 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

James Christensen ◽

Gary A. Rick ◽

Bryce A. Robison ◽

Michael J. Stiles ◽

Mark A. Wix

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Myenteric Plexus

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Desipramine, commonly used as a noradrenergic neuroprotectant in 6-OHDA-lesions, leads to local functional changes in the urinary bladder and gastrointestinal tract in healthy rats

Heliyon ◽

10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05472 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (11) ◽

pp. e05472

Author(s):

Maria del Pilar Murillo ◽

Patrik Aronsson ◽

Michael Winder ◽

Thomas Carlsson

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Urinary Bladder ◽

Functional Changes ◽

Local Functional

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Neurochemical coding in the myenteric plexus of the upper gastrointestinal tract of hibernating hamsters

International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience ◽

10.1016/s0736-5748(97)00003-8 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 353-362 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

M. Shochina ◽

A. Belai ◽

L. Toole ◽

G. Knight ◽

G. Burnstock

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Myenteric Plexus ◽

Upper Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Neurochemical Coding ◽

Upper Gastrointestinal

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Specific Localization of β-Arrestin2 in Myenteric Plexus of Mouse Gastrointestinal Tract

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0103894 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. e103894 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hercules T. Maguma ◽

Dipanjana Datta De ◽

Sukhada Bhave ◽

William L. Dewey ◽

Hamid I. Akbarali

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Myenteric Plexus ◽

Specific Localization

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Abnormalities of digestive tract innervation in rat fetus treated with ethylenethiourea

Acta Cirurgica Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0102-86502012000300007 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 244-250 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sidney Pereira Pinto Lemos ◽

José Luiz Martins ◽

Patrícia Veruska Ribeiro Barbosa Lemos ◽

Silvio Romero Gonçalves e Silva ◽

Fernando Leandro dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Digestive Tract ◽

Myenteric Plexus ◽

Interstitial Cells Of Cajal ◽

Muscle Layer ◽

Interstitial Cells ◽

Female Rats ◽

Nerve Plexus ◽

Cells Of Cajal ◽

Experimental Group

PURPOSE: The pathophysiology of abnormalities associated with myenteric plexus lesions remains imperfectly understood. Such abnormalities have been correlated with subocclusive intestinal conditions in children with Hirschsprung's disease, cases of chronic constipation and, postoperatively, in cases of anorectal anomalies. This study evaluated abnormalities of the myenteric plexus in fetus from female rats that received ethylenethiourea. METHODS: Female rats were exposed to ethylenethiourea on the 11th day of pregnancy (experimental group) or to 0.9% physiological solution (control group). Abnormalities were only found in the experimental group. The digestive tract muscle layer was analyzed morphometrically and changes to the frequencies of nerve plexus cells and interstitial cells of Cajal were evaluated, using hematoxylin-eosin, S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase and C-Kit, respectively. RESULTS: Muscle and skeletal abnormalities were observed in 100%, anorectal anomalies in 86%, absent tail in 71%, short tail in 29%, duodenal atresia in 5%, esophageal atresia in 5% and persistent omphalomesenteric duct in 5%. Histopathological analysis showed a thinner muscle layer associated with lower frequencies of ganglion cells and interstitial cells of Cajal, in all gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSION: Severe nerve plexus abnormalities associated with muscle layer atrophy were observed throughout the gastrointestinal tract in newborn rats exposed to ethylenethiourea.

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Gap junctions in gastrointestinal muscle contain multiple connexins

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpgi.2001.281.2.g533 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 281 (2) ◽

pp. G533-G543 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Y. F. Wang ◽

E. E. Daniel

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Gap Junctions ◽

Lower Esophageal Sphincter ◽

Myenteric Plexus ◽

Interstitial Cells Of Cajal ◽

Longitudinal Muscle ◽

Circular Muscle ◽

Esophageal Sphincter ◽

Cells Of Cajal ◽

Cx 43

In the canine gastrointestinal tract, the roles that gap junctions play in pacemaking and neurotransmission are unclear. Using antibodies to connexin (Cx)43, Cx45, and Cx40, we determined the distribution of these connexins. Cx43 was present in all locations where structural gap junctions occur. Cx40 was also widely distributed in the circular muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), stomach, and ileum. Cx45 was sparsely distributed in circular muscle of the LES. In the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) networks of myenteric plexus, in the deep muscular and submuscular plexuses, sparse Cx45 and Cx40 immunoreactivity was present. In colon, immunoreactivity was found only in the myenteric and submuscular plexus and nearby circular muscle cells. No immunoreactivity was found in sites lacking structural gap junctions (longitudinal muscle, inner circular muscle of the intestine, and most circular muscle of the colon). Studies of colocalization of connexins suggested that in the ICC networks, some colocalization of Cx43 with Cx40 and/or Cx45 occurred. Thus gap junctions in canine intestine may be heterotypic or heteromeric and have different conductance properties in different regions based on different connexin compositions.

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