Ileal myenteric plexus in aged guinea-pigs: loss of structure and calretinin-immunoreactive neurones.

摘要: Myenteric plexus controls gastrointestinal motility by means of well organized circuits which are comprised sensory neurones, interneurones and motor neurones to the muscular layers. Calretinin (CR) is a calcium-binding protein that, in guinea-pig ileum, has only been found ascending interneurones, also express neurofilament triplet proteins (NFT), excitatory longitudinal muscle do not. In spite some evidence that age affects both function structure myenteric plexus, little known about possible selectivity process regarding specific neuronal phenotypes. The influence on presence CR-immunoreactive (CR-IR) was studied using conventional immunohistochemical procedures applied ileal whole-mount preparations from guinea-pigs. Both reduction ganglionic size changes distribution inside outside ganglia, together with general loss were aged More interestingly, relatively more pronounced age-related CR-IR especially those lacking NFT expression, found. Specific phenotypes may show differential sensitivity ageing, this could, under certain circumstances, alter functional balance individuals.