Decrease in nerve fibre density in human sigmoid colon circular muscle occurs with growth but not aging

Southwell, Bridget R.; Koh, Takashi; Wong, Stephen Q.; King, Sebastian K.; Ong, Sim Yee; Lee, M.; Farmer, Pamela J.; Peck, C. J.; Sutcliffe, Jonathan; Stanton, MP; Keck, James; Cook, David J.; Chow, C. W.; Hutson, John M.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2982.2009.01423.x

Cited by 13 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Preclinical studies in the guinea pig colon have also shown that aging has been associated with a decrease in neurons in the ENS; however, a fall in density rather than the number of myenteric neurons is thought to be the major change with age [8]. Although data from humans to investigate age-related changes in the colon are limited, recent evidence from human sigmoid colon circular muscle suggests that a decrease in nerve fiber density occurs with growth in response to an increase in circular muscle thickness that occurs during early childhood to adolescence; however, this study found no further changes were observed with aging [9]. Moreover, the effect of age on the ENS of the human colon was recently studied in 16 patients (7 females and 9 males) with no underlying colonic disease and aged between 33 and 99 years.…”

Section: Enteric Innervationmentioning

confidence: 64%

The Aging Colon: The Role of Enteric Neurodegeneration in Constipation

Wiskur

Meerveld

2010

Curr Gastroenterol Rep

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Constipation is a common problem in the elderly, and abnormalities in the neural innervation of the colon play a significant role in abnormalities in colonic motility leading to delayed colonic transit. The scope of this review encompasses the latest advances to enhance our understanding of the aging colon with emphasis on enteric neurodegeneration, considered a likely cause for the development of constipation in the aging gut in animal models. Neural innervation of the colon and the effects of aging on intrinsic and extrinsic nerves innervating the colonic smooth muscle is discussed. Evidence supporting the concept that neurologic disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, not only affect the brain but also cause neurodegeneration within the enteric nervous system leading to colonic dysmotility is presented. Further research is needed to investigate the influence of aging on the gastrointestinal tract and to develop novel approaches to therapy directed at protecting the enteric nervous system from neurodegeneration.

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Section: Enteric Innervationmentioning

confidence: 64%

The Aging Colon: The Role of Enteric Neurodegeneration in Constipation

Wiskur

Meerveld

2010

Curr Gastroenterol Rep

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“…Histological assessments of aged baboon colon supports loss of intestinal integrity and barrier function in the absence of clinical of histological evidence of disease (28). Histological quantitation of colonic smooth muscle in people and rats do not show reductions with age (29, 30). We cannot determine whether the loss of normal propulsive activity precedes loss of barrier function, or if barrier dysfunction leads to motility changes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Reduced intestinal motility, mucosal barrier function, and inflammation in aged monkeys

Mitchell

Davis

Brass

et al. 2017

The Journal of nutrition, health and aging

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Objective: We aimed to examine the general health and intestinal physiology of young and old non-human primates with comparable life histories and dietary environments. Design: Vervet monkeys (Chlorcebus aethiops sabaeus) in stable and comparable social and nutritional environments were selected for evaluation. Health phenotype, circulating cytokines and biomarkers of microbial translocation (MT) were measured (n=26–44). Subsets of monkeys additionally had their intestinal motility, intestinal permeability, and fecal microbiomes characterized. These outcomes document age-related intestinal changes present in the absence of nutritional stressors, which are all known to affect gastrointestinal motility, microbiome, and MT. Results: We found that old monkeys have greater systemic inflammation and poor intestinal barrier function as compared to young monkeys. Old monkeys have dramatically reduced intestinal motility, and all changes in motility and MT are present without large differences in fecal microbiomes. Conclusion: We conclude that deteriorating intestinal function is a feature of normal aging and could represent the source of inflammatory burden yet to be explained by disease or diet in normal aging human primate populations. Intestinal changes were seen independent of dietary influences and aging within a consistent environment appears to avoid major microbiome shifts. Our data suggests interventions to promote intestinal motility and mucosal barrier function have the potential to support better health with aging.

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“…3) and in four regions from FAP patient 2. Nerve fibre percentage area in the circular muscle was measured in circular muscle (and therefore nerve fibre bundles) in cross sections as previously described (Peck et al 2009;Southwell et al 2010). The percentage area of nerve fibres was calculated from the number of pixels above threshold/ total number of pixels in the region of interest×100%.…”

Section: Confocal Imagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunoreactivity for high-affinity choline transporter colocalises with VAChT in human enteric nervous system

et al. 2010

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Cholinergic nerves are identified by labelling molecules in the ACh synthesis, release and destruction pathway. Recently, antibodies against another molecule in this pathway have been developed. Choline reuptake at the synapse occurs via the high-affinity choline transporter (CHT1). CHT1 immunoreactivity is present in cholinergic nerve fibres containing vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) in the human and rat central nervous system and rat enteric nervous system. We have examined whether CHT1 immunoreactivity is present in nerve fibres in human intestine and whether it is colocalised with markers of cholinergic, tachykinergic or nitrergic circuitry. Human ileum and colon were fixed, sectioned and processed for fluorescence immunohistochemistry with antibodies against CHT1, class III beta-tubulin (TUJ1), synaptophysin, common choline acetyl-transferase (cChAT), VAChT, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). CHT1 immunoreactivity was present in many nerve fibres in the circular and longitudinal muscle, myenteric and submucosal ganglia, submucosa and mucosa in human colon and ileum and colocalised with immunoreactivity for TUJ1 and synaptophysin confirming its presence in nerve fibres. In nerve fibres in myenteric ganglia and muscle, CHT1 immunoreactivity colocalised with immunoreactivity for VAChT and cChAT. Some colocalisation occurred with SP immunoreactivity, but little with immunoreactivity for VIP or NOS. In the mucosa, CHT1 immunoreactivity colocalised with that for VIP and SP in nerve fibres and was also present in vascular nerve fibres in the submucosa and on epithelial cells on the luminal border of crypts. The colocalisation of CHT1 immunoreactivity with VAChT immunoreactivity in cholinergic enteric nerves in the human bowel thus suggests that CHT1 represents another marker of cholinergic nerves.

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Decrease in nerve fibre density in human sigmoid colon circular muscle occurs with growth but not aging

Cited by 13 publications

References 46 publications

The Aging Colon: The Role of Enteric Neurodegeneration in Constipation

The Aging Colon: The Role of Enteric Neurodegeneration in Constipation

Reduced intestinal motility, mucosal barrier function, and inflammation in aged monkeys

Immunoreactivity for high-affinity choline transporter colocalises with VAChT in human enteric nervous system

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