Peptidergic nerves persist after jejunal autotransplantation: an experimental study in the piglet

The gut has been shown to contain four types of peptidergic nerves besides the adrenergic and cholinergic ones. They store substance P, enkephalin, somatostatin and VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) respectively. It is not previously known which of the neurons are intrinsic or extrinsic to the gut wall. Jejunal autotransplantation was performed in 10 piglets. This procedure implies degeneration of the extrinsic neurons (extrinsic denervation). The transplants were examined 1 to 4 mo postoperatively with histochemical techniques for demonstration of the intramural adrenergic and the different peptidergic nerves. The distribution of the peptidergic nerves was not changed indicating that they all originate within the gut. Following extrinsic denervation adrenergic nerves on the contrary were completely missing.