Toma H, Nakamura K, Emson P C, Kawabuchi M
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Maidashi, Fukuoka, Japan.
J Auton Nerv Syst. 1999 Feb 15;75(2-3):93-9. doi: 10.1016/s0165-1838(98)00167-2.
Anatomical relationships between c-Kit-positive cells and nitric oxide synthase-positive nerves in the small intestine were examined by double-labeling immunohistochemistry. Cryosections and whole mount preparations of the guinea-pig small intestine were double-immunolabeled using anti-c-Kit and neuronal nitric oxide synthase antibodies, and were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The c-Kit-like immunoreactivity constituted dense reticular networks in the deep muscular plexus and myenteric plexus of the intestinal wall. The nitric oxide synthase-like immunoreactivity occurred in the circular muscle layer, most densely at the deep muscular plexus, as well as within the ganglion strands or connecting strands of the myenteric plexus. Close association between c-Kit-like immunoreactivity and nitric oxide synthase-like immunoreactivity was evident in the deep muscular plexus. Specimens immunolabeled with the anti-nitric oxide synthase antibody were further examined under transmission electron microscopy. Axon profiles with nitric oxide synthase-like immunoreactivity lay closely adjacent to the interstitial cells in the deep muscular plexus as well as to smooth muscle cells of the circular muscle layer, whereas there was a considerable distance (> 500 nm) between interstitial cells and axon profiles with nitric oxide synthase-like immunoreactivity in the myenteric plexus. These results suggest that the interstitial cells in the deep muscular plexus serve as mediators of the nitrergic neurotransmission to the musculature in the small intestine, playing a role in the regulation of intestinal movement.
通过双重免疫组织化学法研究小肠中c-Kit阳性细胞与一氧化氮合酶阳性神经之间的解剖学关系。使用抗c-Kit和神经元型一氧化氮合酶抗体对豚鼠小肠的冰冻切片和整装标本进行双重免疫标记，并利用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜进行观察。c-Kit样免疫反应性在肠壁的深肌丛和肌间神经丛中构成密集的网状结构。一氧化氮合酶样免疫反应性出现在环肌层，在深肌丛处最为密集，也出现在肌间神经丛的神经节链或连接链内。在深肌丛中，c-Kit样免疫反应性与一氧化氮合酶样免疫反应性之间存在明显的紧密关联。用抗一氧化氮合酶抗体免疫标记的标本进一步在透射电子显微镜下检查。具有一氧化氮合酶样免疫反应性的轴突轮廓与深肌丛中的间质细胞以及环肌层的平滑肌细胞紧密相邻，而在肌间神经丛中，间质细胞与具有一氧化氮合酶样免疫反应性的轴突轮廓之间存在相当大的距离（>500 nm）。这些结果表明，深肌丛中的间质细胞作为小肠中向肌肉组织的氮能神经传递的介质，在肠道运动调节中发挥作用。
