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The myenteric plexus regulates cell growth in rat jejunum
N A See1, M L Epstein, J L Dahl
1School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System
|December 1, 1990
Summary
The myenteric plexus, not extrinsic nerves, controls rat jejunum cell growth. Ablating these nerves increased cell proliferation and tissue growth, highlighting the myenteric plexus's crucial role.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The gastrointestinal tract's nervous system regulates crucial functions.
- The roles of the myenteric and extrinsic nerves in intestinal growth are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of myenteric and extrinsic nerves on cell proliferation and growth in the rat jejunum.
Main Methods:
- Surgical ablation of myenteric plexus and/or extrinsic nerves in rat jejunum.
- Chemical ablation using benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride.
- Assessment of mitotic rate, neuronal size, and mucosal weight.
Main Results:
- Ablation of both myenteric and extrinsic nerves significantly increased crypt-epithelial cell mitotic rate.
- Increased mitotic rate correlated with greater mucosal weight, villus length, and crypt depth.
- Extrinsic nerve ablation alone did not affect these parameters.
Conclusions:
- The myenteric plexus plays a significant role in regulating cell proliferation and growth in the rat jejunum.
- Extrinsic nerves do not appear to exert a similar regulatory influence independently.