Morphological characterization of the myenteric plexus of the ileum and distal colon of dogs affected by muscular dystrophy

This study analyzed the nitrergic and cholinergic neurons and P2X7 receptor expression in the myenteric plexus of the ileum and distal colon of dogs with muscular dystrophy. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to detect nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and acetylcholine transferase (ChAT) expression and to label all HuC/D‐ and P2X7 receptor‐immunoreactive neurons. Transmission electron microscopy and basic histology were performed for further analysis. The results showed that nitrergic neurons exhibited a Dogiel type I morphology in the ileum and distal colon. The neuronal profile results showed that there were fewer NOS‐, ChAT‐ and HuC/D‐immunoreactive (IR) neurons in the ileum than in the distal colon in the dystrophic dogs. Additionally, there were more NOS‐, ChAT‐ and HuC/D‐IR neurons per ganglion in the distal colon than in the ileum. The P2X7 receptor‐expressing neurons colocalized with nitrergic and cholinergic neurons. Transmission and light microscopy revealed collagen between the muscle fibers, between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers and within the myenteric ganglia of dogs with muscular dystrophy. These findings provide a morphological description of the myenteric neurons in the ileum and distal colon of these dystrophic dogs and may contribute to a better understanding of the gastrointestinal disorders found in patients with DMD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Source: The Anatomical Record Part A: Discoveries in Molecular, Cellular, and Evolutionary Biology - October 23, 2017 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: B árbara Tavares Schäfer, Mariana Póvoa Silveira, Kelly Palombit, Cristina Eusébio Mendes, Ii Sei Watanabe, Maria Angélica Miglino, Patricia Castelucci Tags: Full Length Article Source Type: research