Axotomy-Induced Changes in the Chemical Coding Pattern of Colon Projecting Calbindin-Positive Neurons in the Inferior Mesenteric Ganglia of the Pig

• Published in: Journal of molecular neuroscience 2013-09, Vol.51 (1), p.99-108
• Main Authors: Wojtkiewicz, Joanna, Równiak, Maciej, Crayton, Robert, Gonkowski, Sławomir, Robak, Anna, Zalecki, Michal, Majewski, Mariusz, Klimaschewski, Lars
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anatomy & physiology; Animals; Axotomy; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Biosynthesis; Calbindins - genetics; Calbindins - metabolism; Catecholamines; Cell Biology; Cell death; Colon; Colon - innervation; Enkephalin, Leucine - genetics; Enkephalin, Leucine - metabolism; Galanin - genetics; Galanin - metabolism; Ganglia, Sympathetic - injuries; Ganglia, Sympathetic - metabolism; Mesentery - innervation; Nervous system; Neurochemistry; Neurology; Neurons - metabolism; Neuropeptide Y - genetics; Neuropeptide Y - metabolism; Neurosciences; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase - genetics; Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism; Peptides; Physiology; Proteomics; Somatostatin - genetics; Somatostatin - metabolism; Substance P - genetics; Substance P - metabolism; Swine; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - genetics; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - metabolism; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - genetics; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - metabolism; Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins - genetics; Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins - metabolism; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 0895-8696; 1559-1166
• DOI: 10.1007/s12031-013-0007-7

The present study examines the response of colon-projecting neurons localized in the inferior mesenteric ganglia (IMG) to axotomy in the pig animal model. In all animals ( n  = 8), a median laparotomy was performed under anesthesia and the retrograde tracer Fast Blue was injected into the descending colon wall. In experimental animals ( n  = 4), the descending colon was exposed and the bilateral caudal colonic nerves were identified and severed. All animals were euthanized and the inferior mesenteric ganglia were harvested and processed for double-labeling immunofluorescence for calbindin-D28k (CB) in combination with either tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SOM), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), Leu-enkephalin (LENK), substance P, vesicular acetylcholine transporter, or galanin. Immunohistochemistry revealed significant changes in the chemical coding pattern of injured inferior mesenteric ganglion neurons. In control animals, Fast Blue-positive neurons were immunoreactive to TH, NPY, SOM, VIP, NOS, LENK, and CB. In the experimental group, the numbers of TH-, NPY-, and SOM-expressing neurons were reduced, whereas the number of neurons immunoreactive to LENK was increased. Our data indicate that the colon-projecting neurons of the porcine IMG react to the axotomy in a similar, but not an identical manner in a comparison to other species, especially rodents. Further studies are needed to elucidate the detailed factors/mechanisms involved in the response to nerve injury.