Zinc Transporter 3 (ZnT3) in the Enteric Nervous System of the Porcine Ileum in Physiological Conditions and during Experimental Inflammation.
Zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) is a member of the solute-linked carrier 30 (SLC 30) zinc transporter family. It is closely linked to the nervous system, where it takes part in the transport of zinc ions from the cytoplasm to the synaptic vesicles. ZnT3 has also been observed in the enteric nervous system (ENS), but its reactions in response to pathological factors remain unknown. This study, based on the triple immunofluorescence technique, describes changes in ZnT3-like immunoreactive (ZnT3-LI) enteric neurons in the porcine ileum, caused by chemically-induced inflammation. The inflammatory process led to a clear increase in the percentage of neurons immunoreactive to ZnT3 in all "kinds" of intramural enteric plexuses, i.e., myenteric (MP), outer submucous (OSP) and inner submucous (ISP) plexuses. Moreover, a wide range of other active substances was noted in ZnT3-LI neurons under physiological and pathological conditions, and changes in neurochemical characterisation of ZnT3⁺ cells in response to inflammation depended on the "kind" of enteric plexus. The obtained results show that ZnT3 is present in the ENS in a relatively numerous and diversified neuronal population, not only in physiological conditions, but also during inflammation. The reasons for the observed changes are not clear; they may be connected with the functions of zinc ions and their homeostasis disturbances in pathological processes. On the other hand, they may be due to adaptive and/or neuroprotective processes within the pathologically altered gastrointestinal tract.
Department of Clinical Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Oczapowskiego 13, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland. slawomir.gonkowski@uwm.edu.pl.
Sławomir
S
Gonkowski
Department of Comparative Anatomy, Faculty of Biology, Plac Łódzki 3, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-727 Olsztyn, Poland. maciek@matman.uwm.edu.pl.
Maciej
M
Rowniak
Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Warszawska 30, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland. asiawoj@uwm.edu.pl.|Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland. asiawoj@uwm.edu.pl.|Foundation for Nerve Cells Regeneration, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland. asiawoj@uwm.edu.pl.
Joanna
J
Wojtkiewicz
D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059329:Cholinergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D007079:Ileitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007082:Ileum / Q000502:physiology*; D013368:Submucous Plexus / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D027682:Cation Transport Proteins
enteric nervous system (ENS); inflammation; pigs; zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3)