title: Pattern of distribution and co-localization of NOS and ATP in the myenteric plexus of human fetal stomach and intestine.
abstract: The pattern of distribution and co-localization of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and quinacrine fluorescence (indicative of vesicular adenosine 5'-triphosphate, ATP), and co-localization of NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity and NOS-immunoreactivity in the myenteric plexus of pre-term human fetal (6-17 weeks of gestation) stomach and small intestine was examined using immunohistochemical and histochemical techniques. In all stages of gestation investigated, NOS-immunoreactive and NADPH-d-reactive myenteric neurons and nerve fibres were seen in the fetal intestine and stomach. However, in fetuses of 6-10 weeks of gestation, only 15% of the NADPH-d-positive myenteric neurons were NOS-immunoreactive, whereas a 100% co-localization was found in samples of 12-17 weeks of gestation. Quinacrine fluorescent myenteric neurons and nerve fibres were found only in the fetal intestine of 12-17 weeks of gestation, of which 25% of the NADPH-d-positive myenteric neurons in these samples were quinacrine fluorescent. These findings demonstrate the presence and co-localization of markers for nitric oxide (NO)- and ATP-utilizing myenteric neurons and nerve fibres in the early stages of gestation, suggesting possible co-transmitter and/or trophic roles of ATP and NO in the process of development and maturity of human myenteric neurons. In addition, the fact that only a small percentage of NADPH-d-reactive myenteric neurons express NOS immunoreactivity at 6-10 weeks of gestation confirms that NADPH-d-reactivity does not always represent NOS activity.
authors.affiliation: Autonomic Neuroscience Institute, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belai
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burnstock
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D011247:Pregnancy; D011796:Quinacrine; D013270:Stomach / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C496320:NOS1 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase; D011796:Quinacrine