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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

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Development of myenteric plexus in human foetuses: a quantitative study.

Seema Singh1, Ahmadulla Shariff1, Tarasankar Roy1

  • 1Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Anatomy & Cell Biology
|July 4, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Neuronal development in the human fetal sigmoid colon shows increasing cell size and innervation by 23 weeks of gestation. This maturation process is crucial for understanding enteric nervous system development and related disorders.

Keywords:
DevelopmentEnteric nervous systemMyenteric plexus

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • The human fetal sigmoid colon's myenteric plexus (MP) development is less studied than other gut segments.
  • The sigmoid colon is implicated in various gastrointestinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the maturation of neurons in the human fetal sigmoid colon's myenteric plexus.
  • To establish baseline data for normal development to aid in diagnosing pathological conditions.

Main Methods:

  • NADPH histochemistry on sigmoid colon segments from 12 fetuses (14-23 weeks gestation).
  • Stereologic evaluation of neuronal cell profiles, numerical density, neurons per ganglion, and myenteric fraction using ImageJ software.
  • Fetal groups: <17 weeks gestation (n=7) and >17 weeks gestation (n=5).

Main Results:

  • Significant increase in overall neuronal cell profile size (P<0.05) from 14-23 weeks gestation.
  • Increased neuronal cell size, number of neurons per ganglion, and myenteric fraction observed after 17 weeks gestation.
  • Decreased numerical density of neurons noted in fetuses >17 weeks gestation, though not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

  • Neuronal maturation in the fetal sigmoid colon accelerates after 17 weeks gestation.
  • Extensive innervation is established by 23 weeks gestation.
  • Prenatal increases in neuronal cell size indicate a significant maturational process essential for clinical correlation.