title: Serotonin-containing cells in the gastrointestinal tract of newborn foals and adult horses.
abstract: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), a regulatory amine of mucosal enterochromaffin cells plays an important role in the control of gastrointestinal smooth muscle contraction and epithelial secretion. Serotonin has also been associated with gastric ulcers, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. In spite of the high incidence of these gastrointestinal disorders in newborn foals and adult horses, no data are available regarding 5-HT immunoreactive cells (i.c.) in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of foals, and for adult horses, data are incomplete and contradictory. In this study, the distribution and relative frequency of 5-HT i.c. in the GIT of newborn foals and adult horses were determined immunohistochemically. In foals as in adults, a relatively large number of 5-HT i.c. were detected in all portions of the GIT. In foals, a significantly higher amount of cells was found in the pyloric region and margo plicatus of the stomach, as well as in the caecum and colon ascendens compared with adults. Our results provided rationale for further research concerning the role of 5-HT i.c. during the milk diet or in the regulation of gastrointestinal growth/cell proliferation, and in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcers, especially in newborn foals.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 95, D-35392 Giessen, Germany. cornelia.fink@vetmed.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Failing
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hospes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kressin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klisch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin