Enteric glial cells and their role in gastrointestinal motor abnormalities: Introducing the neuro-gliopathies

Figure 1 A: Human colonic myenteric plexus showing that neurons (white arrows) are less numerous with respect to EGC (black arrows) (NSE immunostaining, x 40); B: Semithin section of human colonic submucosal plexus, showing the preponderance of EGC (black arrows) with respect to the enteric neurons (white arrows) (Toluidine blue, x 40).

Figure 2 A: Full thickness section of the human colon, showing the submucosal (black arrow) and the myenteric plexus (white arrow) (HE, x10); B: Human myenteric ganglion, showing numerous EGC (black arrows) and an enteric neuron (white arrow) (HE, x 100).

Figure 3 EGC (arrows) tightly packed around enteric neurons in a submucosal (A) and a myenteric ganglion (B) (S100 immunostaining, x 40).

Figure 4 Electron microscopic image of glial cells (arrows) in a human colonic myenteric ganglion (x 1900).

Figure 5 Putative mechanisms linked to the decrease of enteric glial cells (EGC), leading to abnormal gut motility. EN: enteric neurons; ICC: interstitial cells of Cajal.