title: Quantitative comparison of growth-associated protein GAP-43, neuron-specific enolase, and protein gene product 9.5 as neuronal markers in mature human intestine.
abstract: This study was performed to compare GAP-43, PGP 9.5, synaptophysin, and NSE as neuronal markers in the human intestine. GAP-43-immunoreactive nerve fibers were abundant in all layers of the ileum and colon. GAP-43 partially co-localized partially with every neuropeptide (VIP, substance P, galanin, enkephalin) studied. All neuropeptide-immunoreactive fibers also showed GAP-43 reactivity. By blind visual estimation, the numbers of GAP-43-immunoreactive fibers in the lamina propria were greater than those of PGP 9.5, synaptophysin, or NSE. In the muscle layer, visual estimation indicated that the density of GAP-43-immunoreactive fiber profiles was slightly greater than that of the others. The number and intensity of GAP-43-, PGP 9.5-, and NSE-immunoreactive fibers were estimated in sections of normal human colon and ileum using computerized morphometry. In the colon, the numbers of GAP-43-immunoreactive nerve profiles per unit area and their size and intensity were significantly greater than the values for PGP and NSE. A similar trend was observed in the ileum. Neuronal somata lacked or showed only weak GAP-43 immunoreactivity, variable PGP 9.5 immunoreactivity, no synaptophysin immunoreactivity, and moderate to strong NSE immunoreactivity. We conclude that GAP-43 is the superior marker of nerve fibers in the human intestine, whereas NSE is the marker of choice for neuronal somata. (J Histochem Cytochem 47:1405-1415, 1999)
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soinila
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003106:Colon / Q000294:innervation*; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000294:innervation*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000294:innervation*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis*; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000032:analysis; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis*; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D009479:Neuropeptides; D016708:Synaptophysin; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase