Effects of combined pre- and post-natal protein deprivation on the myenteric plexus of the esophagus of weanling rats: a histochemical, quantitative and ultrastructural study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of protein deprivation on the myenteric plexus of the esophagus of weanling rats.


METHODS
Pregnant female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups: nourished (N), receiving normal diet, and undernourished (D), receiving a protein-deprived diet, which continued after birth. At twenty-one days of age, 13 esophagi from each group were submitted to light microscopy and morphometrical analysis employing the NADH diaphorase, NADPH diaphorase and acetylcholinesterase techniques. Three other esophagi from each group were evaluated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM).


RESULTS
In both the NADH- and the NADPH-reactive mounts, the neurons of the N mounts were more intensely stained, while in the D esophagi only the larger neurons were reactive. Many myenteric neurons of N were intensely reactive for AChE activity but only a few neurons of D exhibited these aspects. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the granular reticulum of N showed large numbers of ribosomes aligned on the outer surface of its regularly arranged membrane while the ribosomes of D were disposed in clusters. The chromatin was more homogeneously scattered inside the neuron nucleus of N as well as the granular component of the nucleolus was evidently more developed in this group. Statistically significant differences between N and D groups were detected in the total estimated number of neurons stained by the NADPH technique.


CONCLUSIONS
The morphological and quantitative data shows that feeding with protein-deprived diet in 21-d old rats induces a delay in the development of the myenteric neurons of the esophagus.
Autonomic Nervous System Laboratory (VQM), Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. ealibert@icb.usp.br
Edson A
EA
Liberti
Ricardo B V
RB
Fontes
Verginia M
VM
Fuggi
Laura B M
LB
Maifrino
Romeu R
RR
Souza
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000818:Animals; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase; D004947:Esophagus / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014886:Weaning
D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase