Projections of chemically-specified neurons in the guinea-pig colon

The arrangement of the enteric nerve plexuses in the colon of the guinea-pig and the distributions and projections of chemically specified neurons in this organ have been studied. Immunoreactivity for neuron specific enolase was used to examine the total population of neurons and individual subpopulations were studied using antibodies raised against calbindin, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), leu-enkephalin, gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), galanin, gamma aminobutyric acid, neurokinin A, neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin, substance P, tyrosine hydroxylase and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Neuronal pathways within the colon were lesioned using myotomy and myectomy operations and extrinsic pathways running between the inferior mesenteric ganglia and the colon were also severed. Each of the antibodies revealed nerve cells and nerve fibres or only nerve fibres within the wall of the colon. VIP, galanin and GRP were in anally projecting pathways in the myenteric plexus, as they are in other species. In contrast, there are differences in the projection directions of enkephalin, substance P, NPY and somatostatin nerve fibres between regions and species. Surprisingly, somatostatin and NPY fibres have opposite projections in the small intestine and colon of the guinea-pig. The majority of nerve fibres that innervate the circular muscle, including fibres with immunoreactivity for VIP, enkephalin, substance P, NPY, galanin and GRP come from the myenteric ganglia. The mucosa is innervated by fibres from both the myenteric and submucous ganglia. The present results suggest that the guinea-pig distal colon is a suitable place in which to determine relations between structure, neurochemistry and functions of enteric neural circuits.