Size of neurons and glial cells in the enteric ganglia of mice, guinea-pigs, rabbits and sheep

Abstract

A quantitative light microscopic study has been carried out on the myenteric and submucosal ganglia of the stomach, duodenum, ileum, proximal colon and rectum of the guinea-pig; the enteric ganglia of the ileum were studied also in the mouse, rabbit and sheep. The area of the profiles of nerve cells, of nerve cell nuclei and of glial nuclei, and the proportion of the area of ganglia occupied by neuropil were measured, and the relative numbers of neurons and glial cells were estimated. The myenteric ganglia were found to be firmly anchored to the stroma of the muscle coat; their shape and the shape of their component cells varied with contraction and distension of the musculature. The range of neuronal sizes in the myenteric ganglia was extremely wide. In the guinea-pig, the myenteric neurons were on average largest in the stomach and duodenum and smallest in the ileum, with intermediate values in the colon and rectum; the submucosal neurons showed little variation in average size along the length of the gut. The average size of ganglion neurons in the ileum was greatest in the sheep and smallest in the mouse, and had intermediate values in the guinea-pig and rabbit. The percentage volume of neuropil in the myenteric ganglia was 51% in the mouse, 65% in the guinea-pig, 70% in the rabbit, and 74% in the sheep. The number of glial cells relative to the number of neurons was also ranked in the same order. In all the species examined the submucosal ganglia, when compared with the corresponding myenteric ganglia, had a smaller percentage volume of neuropil, a much smaller number of glial cells and (except in the mouse ileum) neurons of smaller average size. In all the ganglia there was a positive correlation between size of neurons and size of glial cells. The results are discussed in the light of possible relations between body size (and length of the intestine), numerical density of ganglion neurons, average size of neurons, amount of musculature, average distance between neurons, and amount of neuropil.

Effects of Oxaliplatin Treatment on the Enteric Glial Cells and Neurons in the Mouse Ileum

“…In the mouse ileum, the submucosal ganglia when compared with the myenteric ganglia have much smaller number of glial cells. 44 Accordingly, the densities of both GFAP-IR and s100β-IR EGCs were different between the myenteric and submucosal plexi of the ileum from control mice observed in our study. Moreover, our results are consistent with previously reported differential expression of s100β and GFAP in the myenteric 38,45 and submucosal 45 plexi of the intestine from control mice and rats.…”

Neurones in the chicken ureter are innervated by substance P- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing nerve fibres: Immunohistochemical and electrophysiological evidence

“…The density of the intramural neurones in the chicken ureter was higher as in the guinea pig gallbladder but lower than in the submucosal plexus (Mawe and Gershon, 1989;Gabella, 1994). Intramural chicken neurones were smaller than in the guinea pig gallbladder but larger than submucosal plexus neurones of guinea pig, rabbit, or sheep ileum (Gabella and Trigg, 1984;Mawe and Gershon, 1989).…”

Effect of Massive Small Bowel Resection on Components of the Peptidergic Innervation of the Rat Small Intestine

“…In a separate study of the guinea pig ileum, a relationship between the number of neurons in the submucosal and myenteric plexi and the extent of the circular muscle has been established [12], An increase in neuronal number was seen with increasing muscle thickness. It was suggested, therefore, that there may be a trophic factor released from the smooth muscle cells which stimu lates neuronal differentiation in both enteric plexi.…”