Anatomical relationship between enkephalin-containing neurones and caecum-projecting neurones in the chicken intestinal nerve.
The anatomical relationship between enkephalin-immunoreactive neurones and caecum-projecting neurones in the intestinal nerve of Remak (INR) of the chicken was investigated using retrograde transport of cholera toxin subunit B and immunohistochemistry with anti-enkephalin serum. After injection of cholera toxin into the base or body of the caecum, labelled neurones were mainly observed in the cranial part of the rectal INR. Enkephalin-immunoreactive neuronal cell bodies were found in the caudal part of the rectal INR and their fibres closely surrounded caecum-projecting neurones in the cranial part of the rectal INR. Diameters of caecum-projecting neurones surrounded with enkephalin-containing terminals were significantly larger than those of caecum- projecting neurones without enkephalin-terminals (P < 0.01). From these results, it is suggested that enkephalin-containing neurones are able to affect large-sized caecum-projecting neurones. This pathway may be involved with unique motility of the rectum and caeca that uric acid is retrogradely carried from the cloaca to the caeca.
Ohmori
Y
Y
Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Function, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan. ohmori@agr.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Suzuki
M
M
Fukuta
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000294:innervation; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007422:Intestines / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000662:veterinary; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000662:veterinary; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*
D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D002772:Cholera Toxin