title: Morphological features of the myenteric plexus of the stomach of the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, revealed by immunocytochemistry.
abstract: The general morphology of the intramural innervation of the myenteric plexus of the axolotl stomach has been investigated using antisera raised against neuron-specific enolase and a microtubule-associated protein. Additionally, the occurrence of serotonin and several peptidergic neurotransmitter/neuromodulator substances was studied. Immunoreactivity for galanin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P and neuromedin U was found in both fibres and intrinsic perikarya, whereas the serotonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like-substance-containing nerve fibres seemed to be of extrinsic origin. The axolotl stomach myenteric plexus appeared to be devoid of enkephalin-, neuropeptide Y-, somatostatin- and bombesin-like immunoreactive nerve fibres and nerve cell bodies. Double labelling experiments revealed the presence of a subpopulation of substance P/calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactive nerve fibres. Contrary to mammals, no coexistence of neuromedin U and substance P was found. Our findings illustrate that besides a number of similarities, considerable species differences exist between urodeles and anurans with regard to the organization of the enteric nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Jozsef Attila University, Széged, Hungary.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Timmermans
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adriaensen
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: De Groodt-Lasseel
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Scheuermann
mesh_terms: D000557:Ambystoma; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000737:chemistry; D019004:Galanin; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D013270:Stomach / Q000737:chemistry / Q000294:innervation*; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; C056900:neuromedin U; D012701:Serotonin; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D019004:Galanin; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide