[Qualitative and quantitative analyses on the development of NKA-immunoreactivity in the esophagus of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression and change of neurokinin A (NKA) in rat esophagus during development.


METHODS
PAP immunocytochemistry method and image analysis were used to detect systematically the expression of NKA in rat esophagus from the 13th day of embryo to adult stage.


RESULTS
In rat esophagus, the positive varicosities and fibres could be observed in the circular muscle layer and the muscularis mucosae layer at the 21st day before birth. With the development of rat digestive tract, the neurokinin A-immunoreactivity (NKA-IR) positive nerves could be observed gradually in the epithelium, submucosa, longitudinal muscle layer, myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus, while mature nerve fibres could be seen at one month after birth. The results of quantitative analysis are in accord with the developmental change of NKA-IR in esophagus.


CONCLUSIONS
The ontogeny and development of NKA in rat esophagus proceeds from the last day before birth to 4 weeks after birth. NKA may play an important role in the development of rat esophagus.
Department of Histology and Embryology of Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650031, China.
Li-yan
LY
Li
Jian-hui
JH
Guo
Ting-hua
TH
Wang
Juan-juan
JJ
Li
D000818:Animals; D004947:Esophagus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D015288:Neurokinin A