[Microtubule-associated protein 2 and nestin expressions in human embryonic and fetal gastric tissues]

To investigate the role of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and nestin in gastric development in human embryos and fetuses.

Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of MAP-2 and nestin proteins in the gastric cardia, pyloric and gastric tissues of human embryos and fetuses during the second, third and fourth month of development.

In the second to fourth months of gestation, MAP-2 and nestin expressions were detected in the neural cells and neural fibers of the intermuscular nerve plexus and submucosal plexus in the gastric cardia, pyloric and gastric tissues. As the gestational age increased, the number of MAP-2- and nestin-positive cells and the expression intensity all increased in the myenteric plexus, but MAP-2 and nestin expressions were negative in the glandular and mucosal tissues of human embryonic and fetal gastric cardia, pylorus or gastric walls.

MAP-2 and nestin participate in the regulation of the development of gastric tissues in human embryos.