Original Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2010; 16(5): 563-570
Published online Feb 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i5.563
Effects of perinatal protein deprivation and recovery on esophageal myenteric plexus
Flavio M Greggio, Ricardo BV Fontes, Laura B Maifrino, Patricia Castelucci, Romeu Rodrigues de Souza, Edson A Liberti
Flavio M Greggio, Ricardo BV Fontes, Laura B Maifrino, Patricia Castelucci, Romeu Rodrigues de Souza, Edson A Liberti, Autonomic Nervous System Laboratory (VQM), Department of Anatomy, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas da Universidade de Sao Paulo, 2415 Av Prof Lineu Prestes, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Author contributions: Greggio FM and de Souza RR performed and evaluated the NADPH reactions; Castelucci P performed and evaluated the immunohistochemistry; Maifrino LB and Fontes RBV analyzed qualitative data concerning the NADH and AChE reactions; Liberti EA designed the research and evaluated the transmission electron microscopy.
Supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico - CNPq and FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo) grant, No. 04/00746-3
Correspondence to: Ricardo BV Fontes, MD, Autonomic Nervous System Laboratory (VQM), Department of Anatomy, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas da Universidade de Sao Paulo, 2415 Av Prof Lineu Prestes, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil. rbvfontes@yahoo.com.br
Telephone: +55-11-30917226 Fax: +55-11-30917366
Received: October 15, 2009
Revised: December 5, 2009
Accepted: December 12, 2009
Published online: February 7, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate effects of pre- and postnatal protein deprivation and postnatal recovery on the myenteric plexus of the rat esophagus.

METHODS: Three groups of young Wistar rats (aged 42 d) were studied: normal-fed (N42), protein-deprived (D42), and protein-recovered (R42). The myenteric neurons of their esophagi were evaluated by histochemical reactions for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), nitrergic neurons (NADPH)-diaphorase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), immunohistochemical reaction for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS: The cytoplasms of large and medium neurons from the N42 and R42 groups were intensely reactive for NADH. Only a few large neurons from the D42 group exhibited this aspect. NADPH detected in the D42 group exhibited low reactivity. The AChE reactivity was diffuse in neurons from the D42 and R42 groups. The density of large and small varicosities detected by immunohistochemical staining of VIP was low in ganglia from the D42 group. In many neurons from the D42 group, the double membrane of the nuclear envelope and the perinuclear cisterna were not detectable. NADH and NADPH histochemistry revealed no group differences in the profile of nerve cell perikarya (ranging from 200 to 400 μm2).

CONCLUSION: Protein deprivation causes a delay in neuronal maturation but postnatal recovery can almost completely restore the normal morphology of myenteric neurons.

Keywords: Esophagus, Enteric nervous system, Myenteric plexus, Proteins, Light microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy