Prenatal development of the myenteric plexus in cat stomach.
The prenatal development of the myenteric (Auerbach) plexus in cat stomach has been studied light- and electronmicroscopically. Neuroblasts and axon bundles of the myenteric plexus are found in the gastric wall of the smallest embryos studied (10-15 mm) even before its layers are formed. The plexus elements are not separated from the mesenchyme with a basal membrane. In the larger embryos (40-55 mm) the myenteric plexus is already between two muscle layers. The ganglia are shaped and contain more neuroblasts. A small part of the nerve cells are advanced in their maturation--primary and secondary dendrites are emanated and they are slightly AChE-positive. The maturation of the nerve perikarya is intense during prenatal life. In 95-115 mm long embryos the differentiation of a considerable part of the nerve cells is advanced and it is possible to distinguish some ultrastructural types of myenteric neurones. The number of AChE-positive neuroblasts is increased and there are more dendritic profiles in the neuropile.
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D008938:Mitosis; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013270:Stomach / Q000196:embryology / Q000294:innervation*
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase