title: Aqueous Extract of Agaricus blazei Murrill Prevents Age-Related Changes in the Myenteric Plexus of the Jejunum in Rats.
abstract: This study evaluated the effects of the supplementation with aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) on biometric and blood parameters and quantitative morphology of the myenteric plexus and jejunal wall in aging Wistar rats. The animals were euthanized at 7 (C7), 12 (C12 and CA12), and 23 months of age (C23 and CA23). The CA12 and CA23 groups received a daily dose of ABM extract (26 mg/animal) via gavage, beginning at 7 months of age. A reduction in food intake was observed with aging, with increases in the Lee index, retroperitoneal fat, intestinal length, and levels of total cholesterol and total proteins. Aging led to a reduction of the total wall thickness, mucosa tunic, villus height, crypt depth, and number of goblet cells. In the myenteric plexus, aging quantitatively decreased the population of HuC/D(+) neuronal and S100(+) glial cells, with maintenance of the nNOS(+) nitrergic subpopulation and increase in the cell body area of these populations. Supplementation with the ABM extract preserved the myenteric plexus in old animals, in which no differences were detected in the density and cell body profile of neurons and glial cells in the CA12 and CA23 groups, compared with C7 group. The supplementation with the aqueous extract of ABM efficiently maintained myenteric plexus homeostasis, which positively influenced the physiology and prevented the death of the neurons and glial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá (UEM), 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: de Santi-Rampazzo
authors.affiliation: Center of Biological Sciences, State University of the North of Paraná (UENP), Bandeirantes, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Paulo Ferreira
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schoffen
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá (UEM), 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla Possani
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cirilo
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá (UEM), 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Cristina Vicente Umada
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zapater
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá (UEM), 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Augusto
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Vicentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, State University of Maringá (UEM), 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréia Assunção
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, State University of Maringá (UEM), 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosane Marina
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, State University of Maringá (UEM), 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adelar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bracht
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá (UEM), 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nilza Cristina
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Buttow
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá (UEM), 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Raquel Marçal
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Natali