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Region-specific differences in the human myenteric plexus: an immunohistochemical study using donated elderly
Si Eun Hwang1, Keisuke Hieda, Ji Hyun Kim
1Department of Surgery, Daejeon Sun Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
International Journal of Colorectal Disease
|April 30, 2014
Summary
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-positive nerves in the myenteric plexus vary significantly by location and individual. Rectal nNOS areas are larger and show extreme interindividual differences, unrelated to age or gender.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neuroscience
- Anatomy
Background:
- The myenteric plexus, a key component of the enteric nervous system, regulates gastrointestinal motility.
- Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is a critical neurotransmitter involved in smooth muscle relaxation within the gut.
- Understanding the distribution and variability of nNOS-positive nerves is essential for comprehending gut function and dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate site-specific and individual variations in nNOS-positive nerve distribution within the myenteric plexus.
- To compare nNOS-positive nerve presence across different segments of the human gastrointestinal tract, from the stomach to the rectum.
Main Methods:
- Examination of full-thickness tissue samples from the stomach, pylorus, duodenum, ileum, colon, and rectum of human cadavers.
- Quantification of areas occupied by nNOS-positive nerve fibers and ganglion cell bodies.
- Analysis of interindividual differences, including potential correlations with age and gender.
Main Results:
- nNOS-positive nerve areas in the myenteric plexus were found to be fragmentary and overlapped with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-positive fibers.
- A clear trend of increasing nNOS-positive areas towards more distal (anal) sites was observed, with the rectum showing approximately four times greater nNOS-positive areas than the stomach.
- Extremely large interindividual variations in rectal nNOS-positive areas and ganglion cell body counts were noted, independent of age or gender.
Conclusions:
- Cadaveric studies offer a unique advantage for comprehensive anatomical analysis of the entire intestine.
- Significant site-dependent and individual variability exists in the myenteric plexus's nNOS-positive innervation, particularly in the rectum.
- Potential causes for rectal myenteric plexus atrophy, such as excessive laxative use for evacuation control, were hypothesized.
