Age and Sex-Dependent Differences in the Neurochemical Characterization of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide-Like Immunoreactive (CGRP-LI) Nervous Structures in the Porcine Descending Colon

Abstract

Neurons of the enteric nervous system (ENS) may undergo changes during maturation and aging, but knowledge of physiological stimuli-dependent changes in the ENS is still fragmentary. On the other hand, the frequency of many ENS-related intestinal illnesses depends on age and/or sex. The double immunofluorescence technique was used to study the influence of both of these factors on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)—positive enteric nervous structures—in the descending colon in young and adult female and castrated male pigs. The influence of age and gender on the number and neurochemical characterization (i.e., co-localization of CGRP with substance P, nitric oxide synthase, galanin, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide and vesicular acetylcholine transporter) of CGRP-positive nerve structures in the colonic wall has been shown. These observations strongly suggest the participation of CGRP in adaptive processes in the ENS during GI tract maturation. Moreover, although the castration of males may mask some aspects of sex-dependent influences on the ENS, the sex-specific differences in CGRP-positive nervous structures were mainly visible in adult animals. This may suggest that the distribution and exact role of this substance in the ENS depend on the sex hormones.

Aquaporins in the nervous structures supplying the digestive organs – a review

“…In rodents, two kinds of enteric ganglia are distinguished in the digestive tract (Figure 1.A): the myenteric ganglia located in the muscular layer and submucous ganglia placed under the mucosal layer (Bondurand et al, 2016). and stomach is similar to that observed in rodents, while in the intestine there are three types of enteric ganglia forming plexuses ( Figure 2.A): the myenteric plexus, located like in rodents, the outer submucous plexus, placed near the inner surface of the circular muscle layer and the inner submucous plexus located in the same place as the submucous plexus in rodents (Brehmer et al, 2010;Makowska and Gonkowski, 2019). Apart from neurons and nerve fibres, the glial cells are also an integral part of the ENS.…”

Mycotoxins and the Enteric Nervous System

“…In turn, there are three types of the enteric ganglia, which form intramural plexuses in the small and large intestine of large mammal species (for example, in the pig) ( Figure 1 ) [ 44 , 45 , 46 ]. The first of them is the myenteric plexus located (similarly to rodents) between the longitudinal and circular muscle layer [ 45 , 46 ].…”

“…In turn, there are three types of the enteric ganglia, which form intramural plexuses in the small and large intestine of large mammal species (for example, in the pig) ( Figure 1 ) [ 44 , 45 , 46 ]. The first of them is the myenteric plexus located (similarly to rodents) between the longitudinal and circular muscle layer [ 45 , 46 ]. Moreover, two types of submucous plexuses located in the submucous layer of the intestinal wall have been observed: outer submucous plexus—located in close association with the adjacent circular muscle layer (on its inner side) and the inner submucous plexus—positioned closer to the intestinal lumen, near the muscularis mucosae [ 47 , 48 , 49 ].…”

“…The regulation of intestinal activity through the gut–brain axis is more likely since CART is known as an important factor regulating the feeding behavior in the central nervous system [ 185 ]. Moreover, numerous studies in which an increase in CART levels in the ENS has been observed strongly suggest that this peptide also takes part in protective and adaptive reactions in response to pathological, toxicological and physiological factors [ 46 , 166 , 184 ].…”

Somatostatin as an Active Substance in the Mammalian Enteric Nervous System

“…The enteric neurons may undergo modification under (among others) the influence of gastrointestinal or systemic diseases, metabolic disorders, toxic substances in food and mechanical injury of nerves supplying the intestine [9,12,15,88]. Changes in the ENS may also be connected with physiological stimuli, involving the growth, changes in diet and maturation and ageing of the body [89]. Adaptive modifications in the enteric neurons are multidirectional and very differentiated.…”