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The Anatomical Record Jan 2001The architecture of the enteric nerve networks in the gastrointestinal tract appears to be more complex in large mammals, including humans, than in small laboratory... (Review)
Review
The architecture of the enteric nerve networks in the gastrointestinal tract appears to be more complex in large mammals, including humans, than in small laboratory animals. At least two distinct ganglionic nerve plexuses could be identified in the submucous layer in the digestive tract of large mammals. While functionally and morphologically similar neuron populations are found in the intestinal wall of both small and large mammals, significant differences in their topographical organization and neurochemical features may be present. This short review clearly illustrates that the close and exclusive association, which has been assumed so far between the efferent pathways of the submucous plexus and regulation of intestinal secretion/absorption on the one hand and between the myenteric plexus and regulation of intestinal motility on the other hand, cannot be interpreted that strictly. An attempt has been made to give a briefoverview of the current status of the identification of distinct functional enteric neuronal classes in the gastrointestinal tract of large mammals using the pig and human intestine as references, and to compare these data with the more extensive information gathered from the guinea-pig intestine.
Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Motility; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intestine, Small; Nerve Net; Neural Pathways; Neurons; Species Specificity; Submucous Plexus; Swine
PubMed: 11146430
DOI: 10.1002/1097-0185(20010101)262:1<71::AID-AR1012>3.0.CO;2-A -
The Journal of Laryngology and Otology Oct 2008To identify the nature of Woodruff's plexus, which has been frequently mentioned in the rhinological literature but has never been properly characterised.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the nature of Woodruff's plexus, which has been frequently mentioned in the rhinological literature but has never been properly characterised.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING
A study using 21 cadaveric specimens, combining microdissection of the mucosa of the posterior part of the inferior meatus, Spalteholz 'clearing' of specimens injected with latex ink, and histological analysis of sections of the inferior meatal mucosa.
RESULTS
Microdissection revealed a superficial plexus of thin walled vessels in the inferior meatus, which were also seen in cleared, injected specimens. Histological sections showed these vessels to be large, thin walled veins with very little muscle or fibrous tissue, within a thin mucosa relatively devoid of other structures.
CONCLUSION
Woodruff's plexus is a venous plexus in the posterior part of the inferior meatus.
SIGNIFICANCE
This is the first time Woodruff's plexus has been properly characterised. Whilst the significance of the plexus itself is uncertain, its long overdue identification as a venous plexus provides a platform for further study and discussion.
Topics: Cadaver; Epistaxis; Humans; Microdissection; Nasopharynx; Submucous Plexus
PubMed: 18289456
DOI: 10.1017/S002221510800176X -
Journal of Anatomy Oct 1989The submucous plexus of the human distal colon was studied in order to determine whether or not it contains two or more ganglionated plexuses which can be separately...
The submucous plexus of the human distal colon was studied in order to determine whether or not it contains two or more ganglionated plexuses which can be separately identified. Nerve cells were visualised in sections through the wall of the distal colon, and in wholemount preparations of laminae from the submucous plexus by staining for NADH-diaphorase activity. The submucous plexus appeared to contain three identifiable plexuses: Henle's plexus was located adjacent to the circular muscle layer, Meissner's plexus was located adjacent to the muscularis mucosae and a third intermediate plexus was found which lay closer to the muscularis mucosae than to the circular muscle. In Henle's plexus, there were fewer smaller neurons than in the other plexuses: 15.1% had an area less than 180 microns 2, while in the intermediate plexus and in Meissner's plexus the equivalent figures were 43.1% and 43.2%, respectively. In Meissner's plexus, approximately half the ganglia were associated with single fibre tracts and half with two or more fibre tracts, but in the intermediate plexus and Henle's plexus, approximately three quarters of the ganglia were associated with single fibre tracts and the remaining quarter with multiple tracts.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Colon, Sigmoid; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myenteric Plexus; Neurons; Submucous Plexus
PubMed: 2621148
DOI: No ID Found -
European Journal of Gastroenterology &... Jul 2006Intestinal neuronal dysplasia type B (IND B) is currently defined as a disease of the submucous plexus of the intestine. The aetiology of IND B remains largely obscure.... (Review)
Review
Intestinal neuronal dysplasia type B (IND B) is currently defined as a disease of the submucous plexus of the intestine. The aetiology of IND B remains largely obscure. The congenital origin of IND B is supposed; nevertheless, the findings of IND B associated with chronic intestinal obstruction support the notion that this disease could be caused by a reaction of the enteral nervous system to intestinal obstruction or inflammatory disease either in the fetal or the postnatal period. The treatment of IND type B has no unified concept of treatment. The ultimate clinical diagnosis of IND B should be based on a definitive histological diagnosis relating to clinical symptoms, the course of treatment and long-term follow-up of patients with this dysfunction of intestinal motility, despite the fact that no correlations of the clinical picture, radiological investigation and anorectal manometric studies with IND B have been found so far.
Topics: Adolescent; Biopsy; Child; Constipation; Humans; Intestinal Obstruction; Submucous Plexus
PubMed: 16772824
DOI: 10.1097/01.meg.0000224476.51428.7b -
Seminars in Pediatric Surgery Nov 2003Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) is a clinical condition that resembles Hirschsprung's disease. In the past many years investigators have raised doubts about the... (Review)
Review
Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) is a clinical condition that resembles Hirschsprung's disease. In the past many years investigators have raised doubts about the existence of IND as a distinct histopathologic entity. One strong piece of evidence that IND is a real entity stems from animal models. Recently, two different HOX11L1 knockout mouse models and a heterozygous endothelin B receptor-deficient rat demonstrated abnormalities of the submucous plexus similar to that observed in human IND. This review describes in detail the diagnostic criteria of IND, staining techniques, correlation between histological findings and clinical symptoms, and management of IND.
Topics: Biopsy; Digestive System Abnormalities; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Myenteric Plexus; Submucous Plexus
PubMed: 14655165
DOI: 10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2003.08.007 -
The Journal of Comparative Neurology Sep 1998The distribution of submucous neurons that project to the myenteric plexus of the guinea pig small intestine was established by retrograde transport of the carbocyanine...
The distribution of submucous neurons that project to the myenteric plexus of the guinea pig small intestine was established by retrograde transport of the carbocyanine dye 1,1'-didodecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) from myenteric ganglia in organ culture in combination with immunohistochemistry. Following the application of DiI to the serosal surface of a single myenteric ganglion, from 2 to 15 DiI-labelled nerve cell bodies were labelled in the submucous plexus up to 7.9 mm circumferentially, 4.5 mm orally, and 3.4 mm aborally to the DiI application site. No cells were labelled in preparations in which connections between myenteric and submucous plexuses had been severed prior to DiI application. Cells that were immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) or for substance P (SP) accounted for about 75% and 11% of DiI-labelled cells, respectively. Neither neuropeptide Y- nor calretinin-immunoreactive submucous neurons were labelled by DiI, indicating that these classes of neurons do not project to the myenteric plexus. Retrograde tracing from the myenteric plexus with Neurobiotin revealed that labelled VIP-immunoreactive neurons had several short, filamentous processes and a single long axon that could be followed through the circular muscle to myenteric ganglia without branches to the mucosa. The previously described projection of submucous, SP-immunoreactive putative sensory neurons to the myenteric plexus was confirmed. However, this study has identified a considerably larger population of presumed interneurons that are immunoreactive for VIP that likely transmit information from the submucous plexus to the myenteric plexus and presumably coordinate activity between the two ganglionated plexuses.
Topics: Animals; Biotin; Carbocyanines; Cell Size; Female; Fluorescent Dyes; Guinea Pigs; Interneurons; Intestine, Small; Male; Microscopy, Confocal; Muscle, Smooth; Myenteric Plexus; Organ Culture Techniques; Submucous Plexus
PubMed: 9721907
DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(19980921)399:2<255::aid-cne8>3.0.co;2-# -
Gastroenterology Dec 2011Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are expressed in the enteric nervous system. Excessive release of proteases has been reported in functional and inflammatory bowel... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are expressed in the enteric nervous system. Excessive release of proteases has been reported in functional and inflammatory bowel diseases. Studies in several animal models indicate the involvement of neural PARs. We studied the actions of different PAR-activating peptides (AP) in the human submucous plexus and performed comparative studies in guinea pig submucous neurons.
METHODS
We used voltage- and calcium-sensitive dye recordings to study the effects of PAR1-AP, PAR2-AP, PAR4-AP, the PAR1 activator thrombin, and the PAR2 activator tryptase on neurons and glia in human and guinea pig submucous plexus. Human preparations were derived from surgical resections. Levels of mucosal secretion evoked by PAR-APs were measured in Ussing chambers.
RESULTS
PAR1-AP and thrombin evoked a prominent spike discharge and intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca](i)) transients in most human submucous neurons and glia. PAR2-AP, tryptase, and PAR4-AP caused significantly weaker responses in a minor population. In contrast, PAR2-AP evoked much stronger responses in enteric neurons and glia of guinea pigs than did PAR1-AP or PAR4-AP. PAR1-AP, but not PAR2-AP or PAR4-AP, evoked a nerve-mediated secretion in human epithelium. The PAR1 antagonist SCH79797 inhibited the PAR1-AP, and thrombin evoked responses on neurons, glia, and epithelial secretion. In the submucous layer of human intestine, but not guinea pig intestine, PAR2-AP evoked [Ca](i) signals in CD68(+) macrophages.
CONCLUSIONS
In the human submucous plexus, PAR1, rather than PAR2 or PAR4, activates nerves and glia. These findings indicate that PAR1 should be the focus of future studies on neural PAR-mediated actions in the human intestine; PAR1 might be developed as a therapeutic target for gastrointestinal disorders associated with increased levels of proteases.
Topics: Animals; Calcium Signaling; Female; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroglia; Neurons; Receptor, PAR-1; Receptor, PAR-2; Receptors, Thrombin; Submucous Plexus; Voltage-Sensitive Dye Imaging
PubMed: 21875497
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2011.08.034 -
Cell and Tissue Research Feb 2001In the small intestine of both embryonic birds and mammals, neuron precursors aggregrate first at the site of the myenteric plexus, and the submucous plexus develops...
In the small intestine of both embryonic birds and mammals, neuron precursors aggregrate first at the site of the myenteric plexus, and the submucous plexus develops later. However, in the large intestine of birds, the submucosal region is colonised by neural-crest-derived cells before the myenteric region (Burns and Le Douarin, Development 125:4335-4347, 1998). Using antisera that recognize undifferentiated neural-crest-derived cells (p75NTR) and differentiated neurons (PGP9.5), we examined the colonisation of the murine large intestine by neural-crest-derived cells and the development of the myenteric and submucosal plexuses. At E12.5, when the neural crest cells were migrating through and colonising the hindgut, the hindgut mesenchyme was largely undifferentiated, and a circular muscle layer could not be discerned. Neural-crest-derived cells migrated through, and settled in, the outer half of the mesenchyme. By E14.5, neural-crest-derived cells had colonised the entire hindgut; at this stage the circular muscle layer had started to differentiate. From E14.5 to E16.5, p75NTR- and PGP9.5-positive cells were observed on the serosal side of the circular muscle, in the myenteric region, but not in the submucosal region. Scattered, single neurons were first observed in the submucosal region around E18.5, and groups of neurons forming ganglia were not observed until after birth. The development of the enteric plexuses in the murine large intestine therefore differs from that in the avian large intestine.
Topics: Animals; Antigens, Differentiation; Cell Count; Cell Differentiation; Cell Movement; Desmin; Female; Intestine, Large; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Pregnancy; Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; Submucous Plexus; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
PubMed: 11291776
DOI: 10.1007/s004410000303 -
Bailliere's Clinical Gastroenterology Jan 1988In most mammals (except ruminants) activity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract depends upon the condition or state of the animal, namely, fasted or fed. The fasted state... (Review)
Review
In most mammals (except ruminants) activity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract depends upon the condition or state of the animal, namely, fasted or fed. The fasted state is characterized by a caudally migrating, cycling motor complex, showing periods of intense contractile and secretory activity alternating with periods of quiescence. Although the mechanisms involved in the transition from the fasted to the fed state are not fully understood it seems likely that both states utilize intrinsically located neural control mechanisms and common neuronal pathways to the effector tissues. We have commented on the reported properties of the myenteric neurones and their projections to the muscle layers. The data suggests that there are both cholinergic and non-cholinergic excitatory motor neurones supplying the muscle layers. In the guinea-pig, at least, the projections of the neurones to the circular muscle layer run for relatively short distances in oral-aboral axis of the gut. The non-cholinergic excitatory transmitter substance may be Substance P or a similar tachykinin. Other excitatory nerves may well be present. There are at least two mechanisms used by non-cholinergic non-adrenergic inhibitory nerves supplying the muscle layers. In the guinea-pig ileum, there are at least two distinct projections of inhibitory motor neurones; both have aborally directed projections. The first of these is relatively short and the other long (greater than 10 mm). Individual myenteric neurones appear to contain unique and perhaps identifying groups of peptides. The functional role of many of these peptides, either within the myenteric plexus or their projections to the muscle layers, remains to be elucidated. The projections of the neurones of the submucous plexus run primarily to the mucosa. Both cholinergic and non-cholinergic secretomotor neurones appear to be present. The activation of local neural reflexes, which results in secretomotor activity, may involve submucous sensory neurones containing acetylcholine and Substance P together with cholinergic interneurones. Projections from the myenteric to the submucous plexus are likely to be involved in the coordination of intestinal movement and secretomotor activity. A simplified schematic diagram of some of the neuronal circuitry of the submucous plexus has been developed and includes the findings from immunocytochemical and electrophysiological studies.
Topics: Gastrointestinal Motility; Humans; Intestines; Motor Neurons; Myenteric Plexus; Neurons, Afferent; Submucous Plexus; Synapses
PubMed: 3289636
DOI: 10.1016/0950-3528(88)90018-8 -
Journal of Anatomy Feb 1975Arteriolar patterns of the submucous plexus were studied in all areas of the dog's stomach and in the first inch of the duodenum. There appeared to be no poverty of...
Arteriolar patterns of the submucous plexus were studied in all areas of the dog's stomach and in the first inch of the duodenum. There appeared to be no poverty of plexus, although in some cases the vessels were somewhat smaller in the pyloric part of the lesser curvature than elsewhere. Mucosal arteries arose from the plexus, and none appeared to have an extramural origin. In man, on the other hand, there is a poverty of the submucous plexus in the 'ulcer region', i.e. in the incisural region of the lesser curvature and in the first inch of the duodenum, associated in some cases with mucosal end arteries of extramural origin. The absence of these features in the dog, which does not suffer from spontaneous chronic ulceration, lends further support to the view that they play a role in the aetiology of the disease in man.
Topics: Angiography; Animals; Arteries; Barium Sulfate; Dogs; Duodenum; Gastric Mucosa; Intestinal Mucosa; Pylorus; Stomach; Submucous Plexus
PubMed: 1133082
DOI: No ID Found