Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
07:41
Video Imaging and Spatiotemporal Maps to Analyze Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice
Published on: February 3, 2016
Notable postnatal alterations in the myenteric plexus of normal human bowel
T Wester1, D S O'Briain, P Puri
1Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland.
Gut
|April 16, 1999
Summary
Neurone density in the developing human gut decreases significantly in the first few years of life. This finding is crucial for interpreting enteric nervous system pathology in children.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Nitric oxide is a key neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system.
- Altered nitrergic innervation is implicated in gastrointestinal disorders like Hirschsprung's disease.
- Limited data exists on normal neuronal density in pediatric gastrointestinal tracts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neurone density, morphology, and nitric oxide synthase distribution in the normal myenteric plexus.
- To analyze these parameters across different pediatric age groups.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem examination of small bowel and colon from 20 children (1 day to 15 years).
- Whole mount preparations of the myenteric plexus.
- Staining with NADPH diaphorase (nitric oxide synthase) and cuprolinic blue (neuronal marker).
Main Results:
- The myenteric plexus becomes less dense with age in early life.
- Ganglion cell density significantly decreases in the first 3-4 years.
- Nitric oxide synthase-positive neurones constitute approximately 34% of the total neurones.
Conclusions:
- Neurone density in the myenteric plexus undergoes significant postnatal development.
- Interpretation of enteric nervous system pathology requires age-specific considerations.
- The enteric nervous system is a dynamic developmental system throughout early childhood.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
01:05Physiology of Enteric Nervous System and Gut Health
The gastrointestinal tract, responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, is safeguarded by the intestinal barrier, which consists of secretory, physical, and immune components. At the forefront is the secretory barrier, composed of essential elements such as mucus, gut microbiota, and defense proteins. They collaborate to break down food particles, facilitate nutrient absorption, and maintain optimal gut health. These secretory components ensure the smooth functioning of the...
01:11Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity
The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) plays a pivotal role in regulating gastrointestinal or GI motor activity. This complex network of nerves, deeply embedded within the gut wall, responds to changes in the gut environment and receives input from both the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system. By doing so, the ENS operates various programs tailored to the body's nutritional status and needs.
During periods of fasting, the ENS initiates the migrating myoelectric complex, a program...
During periods of fasting, the ENS initiates the migrating myoelectric complex, a program...
01:27Nerve Supply of the GI Tract
The neuronal supply to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is essential for regulating various functions, including digestion, absorption, and movement of food. This intricate network of nerves is known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), often referred to as the "second brain" of the body.
The enteric nervous system consists of two major plexuses: the myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus) and the submucosal plexus (Meissner's plexus). These plexuses are located within the layers of the GI tract...
The enteric nervous system consists of two major plexuses: the myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus) and the submucosal plexus (Meissner's plexus). These plexuses are located within the layers of the GI tract...
01:26Feces Formation and Defecation
After spending 3 to 10 hours in the large intestine, chyme loses a lot of water and becomes feces, the final product of digestion. Feces consist of undigested dietary fiber such as cellulose, mucus, sloughed-off epithelial cells, and microbes. The descending and sigmoid colon stores feces and uses haustral contractions to dry it out but retains enough water to give it a semi-solid texture.
The mass peristalsis then pushes the feces into the rectum, which stretches the rectal walls to activate...
The mass peristalsis then pushes the feces into the rectum, which stretches the rectal walls to activate...
01:23Irritable Bowel Syndrome
DefinitionIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent combinations of abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.Pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndromeIts pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving disturbances in motility, sensory processing, microbial balance, barrier integrity, and gut–brain communication. These mechanisms interact to produce symptoms that vary across IBS subtypes.Altered Motility PatternsDisordered...