Dataset Information

Relationship between interstitial cells of Cajal, fibroblast-like cells and inhibitory motor nerves in the internal anal sphincter.

ABSTRACT: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) have been shown to participate in nitrergic neurotransmission in various regions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Recently, fibroblast-like cells, which are positive for platelet-derived growth factor receptor ? (PDGFR?(+)), have been suggested to participate additionally in inhibitory neurotransmission in the GI tract. The distribution of ICC and PDGFR?(+) cell populations and their relationship to inhibitory nerves within the mouse internal anal sphincter (IAS) are unknown. Immunohistochemical techniques and confocal microscopy were therefore used to examine the density and arrangement of ICC, PDGFR?(+) cells and neuronal nitric-oxide-synthase-positive (nNOS(+)) nerve fibers in the IAS of wild-type (WT) and W/W ( v ) mice. Of the total tissue volume within the IAS circular muscle layer, 18% consisted in highly branched PDGFR?(+) cells (PDGFR?(+)-IM). Other populations of PDGFR?(+) cells were observed within the submucosa and along the serosal and myenteric surfaces. Spindle-shaped intramuscular ICC (ICC-IM) were present in the WT mouse IAS but were largely absent from the W/W ( v ) IAS. The ICC-IM volume (5% of tissue volume) in the WT mouse IAS was significantly smaller than that of PDGFR?(+)-IM. Stellate-shaped submucosal ICC (ICC-SM) were observed in the WT and W/W ( v ) IAS. Minimum surface distance analysis revealed that nNOS(+) nerve fibers were closely aligned with both ICC-IM and PDGFR?(+)-IM. An even closer association was seen between ICC-IM and PDGFR?(+)-IM. Thus, a close morphological arrangement exists between inhibitory motor neurons, ICC-IM and PDGFR?(+)-IM suggesting that some functional interaction occurs between them contributing to inhibitory neurotransmission in the IAS.

SUBMITTER: Cobine CA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3192126 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Relationship between interstitial cells of Cajal, fibroblast-like cells and inhibitory motor nerves in the internal anal sphincter.

Cobine Caroline A CA Hennig Grant W GW Kurahashi Masaaki M Sanders Kenton M KM Ward Sean M SM Keef Kathleen D KD

Cell and tissue research 20110222 1

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) have been shown to participate in nitrergic neurotransmission in various regions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Recently, fibroblast-like cells, which are positive for platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα(+)), have been suggested to participate additionally in inhibitory neurotransmission in the GI tract. The distribution of ICC and PDGFRα(+) cell populations and their relationship to inhibitory nerves within the mouse internal anal sphincter ( ...[more]

PMID: 21337122

Similar Datasets

Project description:The morphology of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the circular muscle layer of the cynomolgus monkey internal anal sphincter (IAS) and rectum and their relationship to sympathetic and nitrergic nerves were compared by dual-labeling immunohistochemistry. Contractile studies confirmed that nitrergic nerves participate in neural inhibition in both regions whereas sympathetic nerves serve as excitatory motor nerves only in the IAS. Muscle bundles extended from myenteric to submucosal edge in rectum but in the IAS bundles were further divided into "minibundles" each surrounded by connective tissue. Dual labeling of KIT and smooth muscle myosin revealed KIT-positive stellate-shaped ICC (ICC-IAS) within each minibundle. In the rectum intramuscular ICC (ICC-IM) were spindle shaped whereas stellate-shaped ICC were located at the myenteric surface (ICC-MY). ICC were absent from both the myenteric and submucosal surfaces of the IAS. Nitrergic nerves (identified with anti-neuronal nitric oxide synthase antibodies or NADPH diaphorase activity) and sympathetic nerves (identified with anti-tyrosine hydroxylase antibody) each formed a plexus at the myenteric surface of the rectum but not the IAS. Intramuscular neuronal nitric oxide synthase- and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibers were present in both regions but were only closely associated with ICC-IM in rectum. Minimal association was also noted between ICC-IAS and cells expressing the nonspecific neuronal marker PGP9.5. In conclusion, the morphology of rectal ICC-IM and ICC-MY is similar to that described elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract whereas ICC-IAS are unique. The distribution of stellate-shaped ICC-IAS throughout the musculature and their absence from both the myenteric and submucosal surfaces suggest that ICC-IAS may serve as pacemaker cells in this muscle whereas their limited relationship to nerves suggests that they are not involved in neuromuscular transmission. Additionally, the presence of numerous minibundles, each containing both ICC-IAS and nerves, suggests that this muscle functions as a multiunit type muscle.

Dataset Information

Relationship between interstitial cells of Cajal, fibroblast-like cells and inhibitory motor nerves in the internal anal sphincter.

Publications

Relationship between interstitial cells of Cajal, fibroblast-like cells and inhibitory motor nerves in the internal anal sphincter.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets