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Spinal afferent nerve endings in visceral organs: recent advances
Nick J Spencer1, Vladimir Zagorodnyuk2, Simon J Brookes2
1Discipline of Human Physiology and Centre for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia nicholas.spencer@flinders.edu.au.
American Journal of Physiology. Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology
|November 19, 2016
Summary
Spinal afferent neurons in the large intestine show diverse nerve endings. This study visualizes these sensory neuron terminals, revealing 13 types in mouse intestines, more than previously known.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visceral Sensory Biology
- Gastrointestinal Physiology
Background:
- Spinal afferent neurons detect visceral pain signals.
- Visualizing these sensory nerve endings in organs is challenging due to similar neuron types.
- Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) house sensory neuron cell bodies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To selectively label and visualize spinal afferent axon endings in visceral organs.
- To characterize the morphological diversity of these endings.
- To compare spinal afferent ending diversity with vagal afferent endings.
Main Methods:
- Developed a novel surgical approach in live mice for selective labeling of spinal afferent axons.
- Utilized advanced microscopy to visualize and classify nerve terminal morphology.
- Examined endings in the large intestine, stomach, esophagus, bladder, and uterus.
Main Results:
- Identified 13 distinct morphological types of spinal afferent terminals in the mouse distal large intestine.
- These endings originated from lumbosacral DRG.
- Observed less diversity in spinal afferent endings in the stomach, esophagus, bladder, and uterus compared to the large intestine.
Conclusions:
- Spinal afferent innervation of the large intestine exhibits significant morphological diversity.
- This diversity appears greater than that of vagal afferent endings.
- Findings provide new insights into the organization and function of visceral sensory pathways.
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