Galanin-immunoreactive neurons in the guinea-pig small intestine: their projections and relationships to other enteric neurons

Galanin immunoreactivity was observed in nerve cell bodies and nerve fibres, but not in enteroendocrine cells, in the small intestine of the guinea-pig. Nerve terminals were found in the myenteric plexus, in the circular muscle, in submucous ganglia, around submucous arterioles, and in the mucosa. L...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell and tissue research 1987-12, Vol.250 (3), p.607-615
Main Authors: Furness, J B, Costa, M, Rökaeus, A, McDonald, T J, Brooks, B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Female
Galanin
Guinea Pigs
Immunohistochemistry
Intestine, Small - cytology
Intestine, Small - innervation
Male
Neurons - cytology
Neurons - drug effects
Neuropeptide Y - analysis
Neuropeptides - analysis
Peptides - analysis
Peptides - immunology
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - analysis
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Summary:Galanin immunoreactivity was observed in nerve cell bodies and nerve fibres, but not in enteroendocrine cells, in the small intestine of the guinea-pig. Nerve terminals were found in the myenteric plexus, in the circular muscle, in submucous ganglia, around submucous arterioles, and in the mucosa. Lesion studies showed that all terminals were intrinsic to the intestine; those in myenteric ganglia arose from cell bodies in more orally placed ganglia. Myenteric nerve cells were also the source of terminals in the circular muscle. Galanin (GAL) was located in a population of submucous nerve cell bodies that also showed immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and in a separate population that was immunoreactive for neuropeptide Y (NPY). Processes of the GAL/VIP neurons supplied submucous arterioles and the mucosal epithelium. Processes of GAL/NPY neurons ran to the mucosa. It is concluded that galanin immunoreactivity occurs in several functionally distinct classes of enteric neurons, amongst which are neurons controlling (i) motility, (ii) intestinal blood flow, and (iii) mucosal water and electrolyte transport.
ISSN:0302-766X
1432-0878
DOI:10.1007/BF00218954