Publication
Title
Fine structure of morphologically well-defined type II-neurons in the enteric nervous system of the porcine small intestine revealed by immunoreactivity for CGRP
Author
Abstract
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-containing perikarya and axonal processes were localized by preembedding electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry in the porcine small intestine. Immunoreactive well-defined type II neurons were localized in the plexus myentericus, and plexus submucosus externus and internus. In some cases, they were found in direct contact to the basal lamina surrounding the ganlion, thus being in close apposition to the interstitial space. The perikarya are generally larger than the immunogative nerve cell bodies and have a typical smooth outline. The electron-microscopic features of the labeled nerve processes investigated provide evidence for their axonal nature. These ultrastructural observations confirm previous light-microscopic results which showed that CGRP-containing nerve cells in the porcine small intestine belong to the neuronal population of the type II cells, the processes of which display the ultrastructural features of axons. A large number of reactive varicosities show synaptic specializations on immunonegative nerve cell bodies, suggesting that at least part of the type II neurons have post-synaptic effects on CGRP-negative neurons.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Acta anatomica. - Basel
Publication
Basel : 1991
ISSN
0001-5180
Volume/pages
142 :1 (1991) , p. 236-241
ISI
A1991GY02200007
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.10.2008
Last edited 04.03.2024
To cite this reference