title: Distribution of VIP-immunoreactive nerve cells and fibers in the human ileocecal region.
abstract: VIP-containing nerve cells and fibers in the human ileocecal region (pre-junctional ileum, ileocecal and cecocolonic junctions, post-junctional cecum and colon) have been evaluated by immunocytochemistry. A high density of VIP-positive neurons and nerve fibers was found in all layers of the ileum. At all colonic levels examined and at both junctions, the percentage of VIP-containing cells was higher in the submucous plexus than in the myenteric plexus. At both junctions, the muscle wall was devoid of, and the myenteric plexus extremely poor in VIP-positive nerve fibers and cells. These data suggest that motility of these junctions is not--or only to a minor extent--regulated in man by VIP-containing nerves, at variance with other gut sphincteric areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Faussone-Pellegrini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pantalone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cortesini
mesh_terms: D002432:Cecum / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003106:Colon / Q000294:innervation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007080:Ileocecal Valve / Q000294:innervation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007082:Ileum / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013368:Submucous Plexus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide