Regional differences in the number and type of myenteric neurons in the descending colon of rats

Araújo, Eduardo José de Almeida; Sant'Ana, Débora de Mello Gonçales; Molinari, Sônia Lucy; Miranda Neto, Marcílio Hubner de

doi:10.1590/S0004-282X2003000200011

Abstracts

The purpose of this study was to analyze the neuronal density of the myenteric plexus of the intermediate and antimesocolic regions of the descending colon of rats. Whole-mounts were stained with three different techniques of neuronal evidenciation. Through counts of the number of neurons in an area of 6.64 mm² under light microscopy, we found 1,271 ± 227.54 neurons with Giemsa in the intermediate region and 1,234 ± 225.92 neurons in the antimesocolic region; with the NADH-diaphorase technique we found 530 ± 92.97 neurons in the intermediate region and 539 ± 146.72 neurons in the antimesocolic region; and through the NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry, we found 417 ± 34.42 neurons in the intermediate region and 547 ± 84.01 neurons in the antimesocolic region. We conclude that there is a variation in the density of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in the intestinal circumference; that the NADH-diaphorase positive neuronal subpopulation represented 42.7% of that stained with Giemsa; and that the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons represented 37.8% of the whole myenteric population.

myenteric plexus; Giemsa; NADH-diaphorase; NADPH-diaphorase; rat; descending colon

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a densidade neuronal do plexo mioentérico das regiões intermediária e antimesocólica do colo descendente de ratos. Preparados de membrana foram corados com três técnicas diferentes de evidenciação neuronal. Através da contagem do número de neurônios, em uma área de 6,64 mm², sob microscopia de luz, encontramos com a coloração de Giemsa: 1271 ± 227,54 neurônios na região intermediária e 1234 ± 225,92 na região antimesocólica. Utilizando a técnica de marcação da NADH-diaforase, encontramos 530 ± 92,97 neurônios na região intermediária e 539 ± 146,72 na região antimesocólica. Através da histoquímica da NADPH-diaforase, encontramos 417 ± 34,42 neurônios na região intermediária e 547 ± 84,01 na região antimesocólica. Concluímos que há uma variação da densidade de neurônios NADPH-diaforase positivos ao redor da circunferência intestinal; que a subpopulação neuronal NADH-diaforase positivos representou 42,7% da população evidenciada no Giemsa e que os neurônios NADPH-diaforase positivos representam 37,8% do total.

plexo mioentérico; Giemsa; NADH-diaforase; NADPH-diaforase; rato; colo descendente

Regional differences in the number and type of myenteric neurons in the descending colon of rats

Diferenças regionais no número e tipo de neurônios mioentéricos do colo descendente de ratos

Eduardo José de Almeida Araújo^I; Débora de Mello Gonçales Sant'Ana^I; Sônia Lucy Molinari^II; Marcílio Hubner de Miranda Neto^III

Este trabalho é parte da dissertação de mestrado apresentada ao Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás do primeiro autor ^IProfessor da Universidade Paranaense (UNIPAR) - Umuarama PR, Brasil

^IIProfessora associada da Universidade Estadual de Maringá - (UEM) Maringá PR, Brasil

^III Professor titular da UEM. Apoio financeiro: UNIPAR, CAPES, UFG, UEM

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to analyze the neuronal density of the myenteric plexus of the intermediate and antimesocolic regions of the descending colon of rats. Whole-mounts were stained with three different techniques of neuronal evidenciation. Through counts of the number of neurons in an area of 6.64 mm² under light microscopy, we found 1,271 ± 227.54 neurons with Giemsa in the intermediate region and 1,234 ± 225.92 neurons in the antimesocolic region; with the NADH-diaphorase technique we found 530 ± 92.97 neurons in the intermediate region and 539 ± 146.72 neurons in the antimesocolic region; and through the NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry, we found 417 ± 34.42 neurons in the intermediate region and 547 ± 84.01 neurons in the antimesocolic region. We conclude that there is a variation in the density of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in the intestinal circumference; that the NADH-diaphorase positive neuronal subpopulation represented 42.7% of that stained with Giemsa; and that the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons represented 37.8% of the whole myenteric population.

Key words: myenteric plexus, Giemsa, NADH-diaphorase, NADPH-diaphorase, rat, descending colon.

RESUMO

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a densidade neuronal do plexo mioentérico das regiões intermediária e antimesocólica do colo descendente de ratos. Preparados de membrana foram corados com três técnicas diferentes de evidenciação neuronal. Através da contagem do número de neurônios, em uma área de 6,64 mm², sob microscopia de luz, encontramos com a coloração de Giemsa: 1271 ± 227,54 neurônios na região intermediária e 1234 ± 225,92 na região antimesocólica. Utilizando a técnica de marcação da NADH-diaforase, encontramos 530 ± 92,97 neurônios na região intermediária e 539 ± 146,72 na região antimesocólica. Através da histoquímica da NADPH-diaforase, encontramos 417 ± 34,42 neurônios na região intermediária e 547 ± 84,01 na região antimesocólica. Concluímos que há uma variação da densidade de neurônios NADPH-diaforase positivos ao redor da circunferência intestinal; que a subpopulação neuronal NADH-diaforase positivos representou 42,7% da população evidenciada no Giemsa e que os neurônios NADPH-diaforase positivos representam 37,8% do total.

Palavras-chave: plexo mioentérico, Giemsa, NADH-diaforase, NADPH-diaforase, rato, colo descendente.

For most mammals, the large intestine is very versatile, once it contributes to the hydroelectrolytic balance, is a potential site of nutrient absorption, controls the velocity of formation and elimination of feces, and is the habitat of billions of microorganisms¹. The large intestine of rats has the capacity to mix, store and propel feces, as well as absorb fluids². It is composed of cecum, ascending colon, descending colon and rectum. In the ascending colon the feces are temporarily stored, favoring the absorption of the excess fluid^1-3. The descending colon, on the other hand, expels the fecal matter and exhibits a pattern of intense peristaltic movements, controlled trough reflexes triggered by the action of the dehydrated faces^2-5, so that it stores them for a short period^1,2. The colonic activities are coordinated mainly by the nervous system and modulated by secretions such as hormones, bacterial enterotoxins, long-chain fatty acids, and endogenous stimulants¹.

The intrinsic nervous control of the colon is made by the Enteric Nervous System, the control of motility being carried out by the myenteric plexus. When we analyze the literature on the myenteric plexus, we verify that many studies approach only the descriptive aspects^6-9, and a smaller number of authors were concerned with the quantitative features^10-12. It is scarce the number of authors who observed the neuronal density considering the regional differences in the circumference of an organ when carrying out their quantitative analyses^13-18. Still smaller is the number of studies directed to the quantification in the descending colon. In these studies, 359 neurons/cm² were found in the descending colon of cats¹⁹, and in the descending colon of guinea pigs it was found that 25% of the enteric neurons are positive to the technique of the NADPH-diaphorase¹¹. Studies carried out in rats evidenced 2,227 neurons in an unreported area¹⁰.

Considering the importance of knowing the enteric neurons of the descending colon and the paucity of studies on this organ, as well as aiming at providing support for physiological and pharmacological investigations, we propose to analyze, in both qualitative and quantitative terms, the distribution of the population of enteric neurons, in addition to subpopulations stained with NADH-diaphorase and NADPH-diaphorase, in the intermediate and antimesocolic regions of the descending colon.

METHOD

We used 14 male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) in age of seven months (body weight 456.03 ± 33.48 g). The animals were handled according to the rules of ethic conduct in animal experimentation²⁰.

The rats were killed through inhalation of ethylic ether. All the experiments were made at the same daily hour and season of the year. The large intestine was removed, measured with millimeter ruler and the descending colon was collected.

The descending colon of five animals was washed in 0.9% saline solution, filled and immersed in fixative solution of acetic formol for 48 hr. After that the segments were dissected and stained with Giemsa (methylene blue) staining solution in Sorensen phosphate buffer (pH 7.0)²¹.

The descending colon of other five animals was filled with Krebs solution (pH 7.3), washed twice (10 min. each) in the same solution and immersed for 5 min. in 0.3% Triton X-100 in Krebs solution. They were again washed twice (10 min. each) in Krebs solution and immersed for 45 min. for evidenciation of the NADH-diaphorase enzyme. This incubation medium contained in each 100 ml: 25 ml of a 0.5% Nitro Blue Tetrazolium stock solution (NBT: Sigma, St. Louis, USA); 25 ml of phosphate buffer 0.1M pH 7.3; 50 ml of distilled water and 50 mg of b-NADH (Sigma, Steinheim, Germany). After incubation the segments were opened at the mesocolic border and immersed in 10% buffered formol solution²².

The descending colon of four animals was washed and filled with phosphate buffer (PB; pH 7.4), fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde in PB 0.1M for 30 min, immersed in 0.3% Triton X-100 (Sigma, St. Louis, USA) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS pH7.4) for 10 min. and washed 10 times (10 min. each) in PBS. Next they were immersed in incubation medium for neuronal evidenciation of the NADPH-diaphorase enzyme for 2 hours. This medium contained in each 100 ml: 25 mg of NBT; 50 mg de b-NADPH (Sigma, Steinheim, Germany), 0.3% Triton X-100 in Tris-HCl buffer (GibcoBRL, New York, USA) 0.1M (pH 6.0). After incubation the segments were opened at the mesocolon and washed three times in PBS (5 min. each) and immersed in 5% paraformaldehyde solution²³.

The whole-mounts of the different techniques were prepared under stereomicroscope with trans-illumination through dissection of the mucosa and submucosa. Then they were dehydrated in ascending series of ethylic alcohol, cleared in xylene and mounted between slide and cover glass with synthetic resin Permount (Fischer Chemical, New Jersey, USA).

The quantitative analysis was carried out with all techniques in the antimesocolic (120^o-240^o) and intermediate regions (60^o-120^o and 240^o-300^o, with 0^o being the insertion of the mesocolon) of the descending colon^14,17. The neurons were counted in an Olympus BX40 microscope with 40X objective. In each whole-mount, 40 microscopic fields were counted in each region^14,17. Half-seen neurons were counted in alternate fields. The area of each microscopic field was of 0.1735 mm².

The mean and standard deviation of the obtained data were calculated. To compare the neuronal incidence between the antimesocolic and intermediate regions in each technique, the unpired test t of Student was employed at the significance level of 5%. To compare the neuronal incidence with Giemsa, NADH-diaphorase and NADPH-diaphorase in each region, the test of Kruskal-Wallis was used at the significance level of 5%.

The photographic documentation was obtained with an Olympus BX50 photomicroscope and PM 10AK photographic equipment.

RESULTS

When we compared the intermediate and antimesocolic regions of the intestinal circumference with different techniques, we did not notice large differences in the morphology of the myenteric plexus between the regions of the descending colon. In addition, we notice that the neurons of this plexus are found in ganglia which are often elongated with the major axis oriented longitudinally in relation to the circular layer of the smooth muscle tunica (Figs 1-3).

With the histoenzymelogic technique of the NADPH-diaphorase we verified that in both regions of the intestinal circumference there are thick bundles of nerve fibers (primary bundles) forming a network linking the ganglia both transversally and longitudinally. Thinner bundles (secondary bundles) connecting the primary bundles to each other, and several fine bundles and isolated nerve fibers (tertiary bundles) connecting different elements of the myenteric plexus (Fig 1) were also observed.

The incidence of neurons stained with the different techniques is presented in Table 1.

Thumbnail

The Giemsa stain revealed a distribution of about 18,314 neurons/cm² in the intermediate region and 17,780 neurons/cm² in the antimesocolic region. With the NADH-diaphorase technique we verified some 7,636 neurons/cm² in the intermediate region and 7,766 neurons/cm² in the antimesocolic region. As for the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons, we counted about 6,008 neurons/cm² in the intermediate region and 7,636 neurons/cm² in the antimesocolic region.

DISCUSSION

The apparently regular distribution of the myenteric plexus in the intestinal circumference of the descending colon of rats differs from that in guinea pigs, where there is a sparse plexus in the region corresponding to the antimesocolon and a dense arrangement in the regions corresponding to the intermediate region⁸. In our study, the analysis of the plexus was made with the NADPH-diaphorase technique, while in guinea pigs it was made with the NADH-diaphorase, thus revealing different neuronal subpopulations. It must be stated that the NADPH-diaphorase clearly stains neuronal cell bodies and nerve fibers and has been used to describe the arrangement of the plexus by other authors⁹.

In all the techniques employed here we observed the location of the cell bodies in ganglia, which are predominantly elongated with the major axis longitudinal to the circular smooth muscle. The location of the neurons in ganglia is a common finding in the colon^13,24,25,8. As for the ganglion shape, in the guinea pig colon they were found with irregular sizes^13,24, and polygonal, oval²⁵ and elongated shapes²⁶, the largest most often in the mesocolic region⁸. In the descending colon of mice, the ganglia are also elongated²⁷ and in the ascending colon of rats ganglia of varied shapes were found^12,14. As for the ganglionar orientation, a similar distribution was found in other instances: in the jejunum-ileum of mice, guinea pigs and sheeps⁸; jejunum¹⁸ and ileum¹⁶ of rats; and ascending and descending colon of mice²⁷. However, our results disagree with the perpendicular orientation relative to the circular smooth muscle described in the colon of guinea pigs²⁶.

When comparing the neuronal density around the circumference of the descending colon, we verified with Giemsa that the nerve cells are evenly distributed, similarly to the pattern described in the ascending colon¹⁴. On the other hand, in the ileum of rats there is a greater density of neurons in the mesenteric and intermediate regions than in the antimesenteric¹⁶.

The comparison of the neuronal density in the ascending and descending colon with the Giemsa technique shows that there are 30,968 neurons/cm² in the intermediate region and 29,046 neurons/cm² in the antimesocolic region of the ascending colon, while there are 18.314 neurons/cm² and 17,780 neurons/cm² in these regions, respectively, in the descending colon. As the Giemsa stain reveals all the neurons^14,16, we verified that the populations of myenteric neurons of the descending colon are 40.9% (intermediate region) and 38.8% (antimesocolic region) smaller than those of the ascending colon. A smaller neuronal density in the final colon in comparison to the ascending colon was also observed in a quantitative analysis in transverse sections of the rat intestine¹⁰. In whole-mounts of guinea pigs¹³, mice²⁷ and humans²⁸ stained with methylene blue, a denser plexus was seen in the proximal colon.

The NADH-diaphorase positive neurons are evenly distributed in the descending colon circumference, contrary to early findings in the ascending colon with this technique, in which a larger number of neurons was found in the antimesocolic region¹⁴. Differences in the distribution of the neuronal subpopulation were also observed in the small intestine circumference. In the rat ileum it was observed a greater density in the intermediate than in the antimesenteric region¹⁶. In the jejunum the comparison of the mesenteric and antimesenteric regions showed a greater density on the first¹⁸.

When comparing the density of NADH-diaphorase positive neurons between the ascending and descending colon, we found on the former first 8,798 neurons/cm² in the intermediate region and 12,308 neurons/cm² in the antimesocolic region; and on the latter 7,636 neurons/cm² and 7,766 neurons/cm² in the intermediate and antimesocolic regions, respectively. As with the total neuronal population, this subpopulation is less evident in the descending than in the ascending colon, with a neuronal density 13.2% smaller in the intermediate region and 36.9% smaller in the antimesocolic region.

The NADH-diaphorase positive neurons of the descending colon, when compared to those stained with Giemsa, represent 43.7% of the neuronal population in the intermediate and 41.7% in the antimesocolic region. In the ascending colon, this subpopulation represents 42.4% and 28.2% of the total neuronal population of the antimesocolic and intermediate regions, respectively. It was observed that the proportion of myenteric neurons which is NADH-diaphorase positive é greater in the descending than in the ascending colon of rats, despite being less numerous. Our data agree with those authors which state that the NADH-diaphorase technique does not stain all the neurons^14,16, but only those with greater metabolic activity^14,17. The greater proportion of NADH-diaphorase positive neurons in the descending colon could be linked to distinct functional demands, reflecting the difference of action of these two organs. In spite of the total number of neurons being smaller, there is evidence that the incidence of muscle contractions is greater in the descending colon⁵, which could explain the greater proportion of metabolically active neurons in this organ. The fact that we did not encounter differences in this subpopulation in the intestinal circumference, as well as in the general neuronal population, allow us to suggest that the fecal propulsion in the descending colon is made in a circularly uniform way, as evidenced by fluoroscopy in the descending colon of humans⁴.

When we compared the density of the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in the descending colon circumference, we noticed a greater concentration in the antimesocolic region relative to the intermediate region. The opposite was observed in the ileum, that is, a greater density in the intermediate region¹⁶.

In the ascending colon the NADPH-diaphorase positive neuronal density was of 8,970 neurons/cm², while in the descending colon it was of 6,822 neurons/cm². Similar to what occurred with the total neuronal population, the incidence of this subpopulation was 23.9% smaller in the descending that in the ascending colon. Another investigation, also in rats, showed agreement with our results².

In proportion to the neurons stained with Giemsa, the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons represented 29.9% in the ascending and 37.8% in the descending colon. Thus, the proportion of NADPH-diaphorase positive myenteric neurons is greater in the descending colon of rats. A greater proportion of these neurons was also observed in the descending colon of guinea pigs, compared to oral segments of the intestine¹¹.

The studies have been demonstrating that the neurons stained with the NADPH-diaphorase technique are nitric oxide-producers through the nitric oxide synthase²⁹. Nitric oxide is one of the inhibitory neurotransmitters of the intestinal muscle³⁰, e therefore the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons are inhibitory motor neurons. Despite the greater proportion of these neurons in the descending than in the ascending colon, physiological studies comparing these segments have shown that there is a greater propulsive activity of the luminal content in the descending colon, once the dehydrated feces are denser and harder to propel^2-5. Possibly the greater proportion of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons is related to the need of a greater relaxation in the segment distal to that where strong propulsive movements are taking place, so as to warrant fecal propulsion. In this way this intestinal segment must have a well-developed musculature, subjected to an efficient neural control to promote intense contractions spaced by equally intense relaxations.

The balance of these contractions and relaxations would be related not only to the density of subpopulations, but also to the capacity of producing and/or respond to specific neurotransmitters. In the descending colon, although there is a large population of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons, studies revealed that the catalytic activity of the nitric oxide synthase can be smaller in this organ², and this, to an extent, reduces the inhibitory ability. On the other hand, studies in guinea pigs showed a greater contraction response in the descending colon relative to the ascending colon, due to an increase in the cholinergic neuronal response and in the muscle sensitivity to acetilcholine⁵.

In situations in which the defecation reflex must be inhibited, even when the colon is plenty, the inhibitory neurons are possibly put into action and, as this situation may last for relatively long periods, there is enough time to produce and store nitric oxide precursors, making the action of these neurons more efficient. The return of the reflex of propulsive movements would represent the reactivation of the intrinsic and extrinsic cholinergic neuronal responses.

Received 24 June 2002, received in final form 14 September 2002

Accepted 17 October 2002

Dra. Débora de Mello Gonçalves Sant.Ana - Instituto de Pesquisa, Estudos e Ambiência Científica (IPEAC), Universidade Paranaense - Praça Mascarenhas de Moraes s/n - 87502-210 Umuarama PR - Brasil.

1. Phillips SF. Functions of the large bowel: an overview. Scand J Gastroenterol 1984;93:1-12.
2. Takahashi T, Owyang C. Regional differences in the nitrergic innervation between the proximal and the distal colon in rats. Gastroenterology 1998;115:1504-1512.
3. Kerlin P, Zinsmeister A, Phillips S. Motor responses to food of the ileum, proximal colon, and distal colon of healthy humans. Gastroenterology 1983;84:762-770.
4. Ritchie JA. Colonic motor activity and bowel function. Gut 1968;9:442-456.
5. Hasler WL, Kurosawa S, Owyang C. Regional cholinergic differences between distal and proximal colonic myenteric plexus. Am J Physiol 1990;258:G404-G410.
6. Komuro T, Baluk P, Burnstock G. An ultrastructural study of nerves profiles in the myenteric plexus of the rabbit colon. Neuroscience 1982;7:295-305.
7. Christensen J, Stiles MJ, Rick GA, Sutherland J. Comparative anatomy of the myenteric plexus of the distal colon in eight mammals. Gastroenterology 1984;86:706-713.
8. Gabella G. On the plasticity of form and structure of enteric ganglia. J Auton Nerv Syst 1990;30:59-66.
9. Krammer HJ, Zhang M, Kühnel W. Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons in the enteric system of the human colon. Ann Anat 1994; 176:137-141.
10. Alcântara FG, Oliveira JAM. Estudo quantitativo dos neurônios do plexo de Auerbach e sua distribuição no tubo digestivo do rato wistar. Rev Bras Med 1964;21:369-371.
11. Furness JB, Li ZS, Young HM, Förstermann U. Nitric oxide synthase in the enteric nervous system of the guinea-pig: a quantitative description. Cell Tissue Res 1994;277:139-149.
12. Mello EVSL, Stabille SR, Miranda-Neto MH. Effect of maternal protein deprivation on morphological and quantitative aspects of the myenteric plexus neurons of proximal colon in rats. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 1995; 55:106-113.
13. Irwin DA. The anatomy of Auerbach's plexus. Am J Anat 1931;49:141-165.
14. Sant'ana DMG, Miranda-Neto MH, Souza RR, Molinari SL. Morphological and quantitative study of the myenteric plexus of the ascending colon of rats subjected to proteic desnutrition. Arq Neuropsquiatr 1997;55:687-695.
15. Miranda-Neto MH, Furlan MMDP, Sant'Ana DMG, Molinari SL, Souza JA. Evaluation of the areas of neuronal cell bodies and nuclei in the myenteric plexus of the duodenum of adult rats. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2000;58:246-251.
16. Miranda-Neto MH, Molinari SL, Natali MRM, Sant'Ana DMG. Regional differences in the number and type of myenteric neurons of the ileum of rats. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2001;59:54-59.
17. Sant'Ana DMG, Molinari, SL, Miranda-Neto, MH. Effects of protein and vitamin B deficiency on blood parameters and myenteric neurons of the colon of rats. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2001;59:493-498.
18. Zanin SMT, Molinari SL, Sant`Ana DMG, Miranda-Neto MH. Densidade dos neurônios mioentéricos NADH-diaforase positivos do jejuno de ratos (Rattus norvegicus). Arq. Ciênc. Saúde Unipar 2001;5:3-7.
19. Christensen J, Rick GA. Nerve cell density in submucous plexus throughout the gut of cat and opossum. Gastroenterology 1985;89:1064-1069.
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Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
22 Sept 2008
Date of issue
June 2003

History

Accepted
17 Oct 2002
Reviewed
14 Sept 2002
Received
24 June 2002

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. Phillips SF. Functions of the large bowel: an overview. Scand J Gastroenterol 1984;93:1-12.

[2] 2. Takahashi T, Owyang C. Regional differences in the nitrergic innervation between the proximal and the distal colon in rats. Gastroenterology 1998;115:1504-1512.

[3] 3. Kerlin P, Zinsmeister A, Phillips S. Motor responses to food of the ileum, proximal colon, and distal colon of healthy humans. Gastroenterology 1983;84:762-770.

[4] 4. Ritchie JA. Colonic motor activity and bowel function. Gut 1968;9:442-456.

[5] 5. Hasler WL, Kurosawa S, Owyang C. Regional cholinergic differences between distal and proximal colonic myenteric plexus. Am J Physiol 1990;258:G404-G410.

[6] 6. Komuro T, Baluk P, Burnstock G. An ultrastructural study of nerves profiles in the myenteric plexus of the rabbit colon. Neuroscience 1982;7:295-305.

[7] 7. Christensen J, Stiles MJ, Rick GA, Sutherland J. Comparative anatomy of the myenteric plexus of the distal colon in eight mammals. Gastroenterology 1984;86:706-713.

[8] 8. Gabella G. On the plasticity of form and structure of enteric ganglia. J Auton Nerv Syst 1990;30:59-66.

[9] 9. Krammer HJ, Zhang M, Kühnel W. Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons in the enteric system of the human colon. Ann Anat 1994; 176:137-141.

[10] 10. Alcântara FG, Oliveira JAM. Estudo quantitativo dos neurônios do plexo de Auerbach e sua distribuição no tubo digestivo do rato wistar. Rev Bras Med 1964;21:369-371.

[11] 11. Furness JB, Li ZS, Young HM, Förstermann U. Nitric oxide synthase in the enteric nervous system of the guinea-pig: a quantitative description. Cell Tissue Res 1994;277:139-149.

[12] 12. Mello EVSL, Stabille SR, Miranda-Neto MH. Effect of maternal protein deprivation on morphological and quantitative aspects of the myenteric plexus neurons of proximal colon in rats. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 1995; 55:106-113.

[13] 13. Irwin DA. The anatomy of Auerbach's plexus. Am J Anat 1931;49:141-165.

[14] 14. Sant'ana DMG, Miranda-Neto MH, Souza RR, Molinari SL. Morphological and quantitative study of the myenteric plexus of the ascending colon of rats subjected to proteic desnutrition. Arq Neuropsquiatr 1997;55:687-695.

[15] 15. Miranda-Neto MH, Furlan MMDP, Sant'Ana DMG, Molinari SL, Souza JA. Evaluation of the areas of neuronal cell bodies and nuclei in the myenteric plexus of the duodenum of adult rats. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2000;58:246-251.

[16] 16. Miranda-Neto MH, Molinari SL, Natali MRM, Sant'Ana DMG. Regional differences in the number and type of myenteric neurons of the ileum of rats. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2001;59:54-59.

[17] 17. Sant'Ana DMG, Molinari, SL, Miranda-Neto, MH. Effects of protein and vitamin B deficiency on blood parameters and myenteric neurons of the colon of rats. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2001;59:493-498.

[18] 18. Zanin SMT, Molinari SL, Sant`Ana DMG, Miranda-Neto MH. Densidade dos neurônios mioentéricos NADH-diaforase positivos do jejuno de ratos (Rattus norvegicus). Arq. Ciênc. Saúde Unipar 2001;5:3-7.

[19] 19. Christensen J, Rick GA. Nerve cell density in submucous plexus throughout the gut of cat and opossum. Gastroenterology 1985;89:1064-1069.

[20] 20. Brasil, Lei n. 6.638, de 8 de maio de 1979. Normas para a prática didático-científica da vivissecção de animais e determinação de outras providências. Lex 1979;43:416.

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