title: Age-related changes of calbindin D-28k-immunoreactive neurons in the myenteric plexus of gerbil duodenum.
abstract: We examined the age-related changes of calbindin D-28k (CB)-immunoreactive neurons and overall populations of neurons in the myenteric plexus of gerbil duodenum using whole mount preparations and immunohistochemistry. The circumference of duodenum increased age-dependently. CB-immunoreactive neurons were observed in all groups, and most of them had the Dogiel type II morphology. The fully developed cobweb-like structures were observed in the myenteric plexus of duodenum at postnatal month (PM) 3 to 24. Although the highest numbers of CB-immunoreactive neurons and overall population were observed in PM 1.5, it is related with significant increase of the size of circumference between PM 1.5 to PM 3. CB-immunoreactive neurons were slightly decreased with age between PM 3 to PM 24. We have also found that whole numbers of myenteric neurons were also significantly decreased in PM 24 group. These results suggest that loss of overall numbers of myenteric neurons and CB-immunoreactive neurons may be related with age-related neurodegeneration and functional loss of duodenum in the gerbil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Choong Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dae Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: In Koo
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Moo Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Je Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Yeo Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: In Se
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D064026:Calbindins; D004386:Duodenum / Q000294:innervation*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D064026:Calbindins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G