title: Neurochemical coding of the enteric nervous system in chagasic patients with megacolon.
abstract: Neuronal destruction has been considered the hallmark of pathogenic mechanisms in chagasic megacolon. Characterization of neuropeptides in the enteric nervous system from chagasic patients with megacolon could elucidate some aspects of the development of this syndrome. In the present work we demonstrate the changes in expression of neuropeptides and neurochemical markers present in neuronal plexuses from the colons of chagasic patients with megacolon. Sections of frozen tissue samples were immunohistochemically labeled for anticalretinin, cChaT, substance P, VIP, NOS, and NPY. Immunoreactivity was observed using a confocal microscope. Our results demonstrate that in chagasic patients with megacolon, inhibitory motor neurons (VIP and NOS immunoreactive) are preferentially destroyed by Trypanosoma cruzi and/or the inflammatory process. These results suggest a selective destruction of enteric neurons in the colon of chagasic patients with megacolon, pointing to an important discovery in the mechanism of pathogenesis of Chagas' disease.
authors: Department of Morphology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP, 31270-901, Brazil. alec@icb.ufmg.br
authors: A B M
authors: AB
authors: da Silveira
authors: D
authors: D
authors: D'Avila Reis
authors: E C
authors: EC
authors: de Oliveira
authors: S G
authors: SG
authors: Neto
authors: A O
authors: AO
authors: Luquetti
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Poole
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Correa-Oliveira
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Furness
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008531:Megacolon / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013368:Submucous Plexus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides