High density of neuropeptide Y-innervation in the myenteric plexus of the turtle midgut. An immunocytochemical study.
Using an indirect immunocytochemical method, a high density of NPY-containing neural network is revealed in the myenteric plexus of the midgut of the turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans. The labelled elements included strongly stained small nerve cells and generally weakly labelled large ones of the plexus, as well as a substantial proportion of the nerve fibres within both the myenteric plexus and around blood vessels. Pericellular baskets around nonstained nerve cells and in some cases around weakly stained larger nerve cells were common. In the mammalian species the bulk of the NPY-immunoreactive nerve cells is found in the submucous plexus. In the turtle, however, NPY could be found in about 20-30% of the perikarya of the myenteric plexus. The layers of the circular and longitudinal musculature, on the other hand, seem to be hardly innervated by NPY-immunopositive fibres. Thus, NPY may fulfill a key role in the myenteric microcircuitry, but not in the direct regulation of smooth muscle movement, of the turtle small intestine.
Gábriel
R
R
Department of Zoology, József Attila University, Szeged, Hungary.
Timmermans
J P
JP
Adriaensen
D
D
De Groodt-Lasseel
M H
MH
Scheuermann
D W
DW
D000818:Animals; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007422:Intestines / Q000294:innervation*; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000737:chemistry; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*; D014426:Turtles
D009478:Neuropeptide Y