The development of avian enteric nervous system: distribution of artemin immunoreactivity.
Among the factors that control neural crest cell precursors within the enteric nervous system, the ligands of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family (GFL) seem to be the most influential. Artemin, a member of the GFLs, was previously described only in the oesophagus and stomach of mouse embryos. In this study, the presence and distribution of artemin is reported in duck embryos and adults. Artemin immunoreactivity was apparent in the intestinal tract at embryonic day 7 (d7), firstly in the myenteric plexus and then in the submucous plexus. Later, artemin immunoreactive nerve fibres were also seen in the longitudinal muscle plexus, the circular muscle plexus, the plexus of the muscularis mucosa and in the mucosal plexus. Furthermore, at d7, weak labeling of artemin was detected in neurons and glial cells in the oesophagus, gastric region and duodenum. Subsequently, artemin was also detected in all other intestinal segments. Moreover, during development of the gut in the domestic duck, artemin immunoreactivity decreased in neuronal cell bodies, whilst it increased in neuronal fibres and glial cells. These findings suggest an involvement of artemin in the development and biology of the gut of the domestic duck.
Dipartimento di Strutture, Funzioni e Tecnologie Biologiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Naples, Italy. lmaruccio@virgilio.it
Lucianna
L
Maruccio
Carla
C
Lucini
Finizia
F
Russo
Rosanna
R
Antonucci
Luciana
L
Castaldo
D000818:Animals; D004372:Ducks / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007106:Immune Sera; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism
D007106:Immune Sera; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins