About the Respective Roles of Central and Intraorgan Nervous Systems in Regulation of the Gastrointestinal Tract Physiology and Morphology

Abstract

The role played by central nervous system in the general regulation and coordination of organ, tissue and even cell activities does not stop to excite the curiosity of investigators. Recently important data were obtained in the field of new neurotransmitters and other active molecules which mechanisms of actions and interactions were clarified. But the function of intra organ, local nervous system, its relations with the main brain and medullar centers remain a little enigmatic though much is known about tiny paths of afferent, efferent and inter neuronal transmission.In order to isolate the influence of central and intramural nervous system of the intestine, several situations were considered: 1) surgical interruption of nervous reflex links (NRI), which is always present in organ transplantation and often occurs in spinal cord trauma, 2) injury of the intramural nervous system with perfectly conserved links with central nervous system, for instance after intestinal ischemia and in Hirschprung disease. As control a technique of surgical directed re innervation (SDR) of the intestinal graft by suture of the divided mesenteric plexus was elaborated. A model of ontogenetic reconstruction of adult-like organs after syngeneic implantation into an adult organism of a fetal organ containing (intestine) or not (liver, pancreas) an organized intramural nervous system, was also used.The experiences on 101 dogs and 300 rats and 25 mice were conducted by the same team according to the rules of Bioethics.Performed investigations concerned testing nervous connection with central nervous system (Recto-enteric reflex presence, normal reaction to anticholinergic substance), evaluation of motility, secretion, membrane digestion of the intestine, as well as optic and electron microscopy of the target organs.