title: Effect of an antioxidant compound (2-mercaptoethanol) on the nerve terminals of the aging small intestine.
abstract: The effect of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) treatment on the nerve elements of the small intestine has been investigated in old mice. In control animals only a few synapses and a very small number of vesicles were found in the nerve terminals. Some of the nerve fibers were observed to be degenerating. After drinking 2-ME daily for 17 months, both the number of synapses and vesicles within the nerve terminals increased. No degenerated fibers were observed. It is assumed that 2-ME has a beneficial influence on the peripheral intestinal nervous system increasing the number of synapses and the vesicle population in the nerve terminals.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fehér
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pénzes
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008623:Mercaptoethanol