title: [A study on the development of the nitrergic neurons in the large intestine of human fetus].
abstract: By using histochemical methed of NADPH-diaphorse, the development of the nitrergic neurons in the large intestine of human fetus were studied. The results showed: At the fifth month of gestation, weak positive reaction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) appeared in part of the round cells of intermuscular ganglia. The round cells differentiated into the nitrergic nerve cells. At the sixth month, the bodies of nitrergic neurons were obviously enlarged, the processes of which were lengthened. The nitrergic nerve fibers were seen in the muscle layer, the submucosa and the base of the intestinal gland. The growth and development of nitrergic neurons reached its peak at the seventh month. The number of intermuscular ganglionic cells was increased. The density of nitrergic nerve fibers was increased in the inner circular muscle layer, and have bead-like structures. At the eighth to tenth month, the staining intensity of nitrergic neurons was increased. The myenteric plexus was densely distributed with nitrergic nerve cell bodies, whereas the submucosa and the inner circular muscle layers contained only a few neurons. The nitrergic nerve fibers were observed in all layer of large intestine, the density of the distribution of nitrergic nerve fibers was by far the highest in the inner circular muscle layer, less in the submucosa and outer longitudinal muscle layer, and only a few were found in the mucous layer. To our knowledge, it is the first time that the development of nitrergic neurons in the large intestine of human fetus was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Histopathology, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241001.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Xin
mesh_terms: D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology; D026602:Nitrergic Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase