scholarly journals The age-related alerations in the enteric nervous system and their impact on peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Szymaszkiewicz ◽  
Kamil Szymaszkiewicz ◽  
Jakub Fichna ◽  
Marta Zielińska
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Intestinal Hormones ◽  
Old Patients ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Intestinal Peristalsis ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Constipation occurs more often in old patients, because the intestinal peristalsis decreases with aging. Constipation is caused due to impaired motility of the intestines, intestinal barrier damage and the imbalance between the absorption and secretion of water and electrolytes, as well as disturbed production and release of intestinal hormones, infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract with immune cells, excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the alterations in the functions of enteric nervous system. In this review we will discuss the most important issues associated with the process of aging of the digestive tract, focusing on the enteric nervous system.

scholarly journals Alterations in Small Intestine and Liver Morphology, Immunolocalization of Leptin, Ghrelin and Nesfatin-1 as Well as Immunoexpression of Tight Junction Proteins in Intestinal Mucosa after Gastrectomy in Rat Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
Iwona Puzio ◽  
Siemowit Muszyński ◽  
Piotr Dobrowolski ◽  
Małgorzata Kapica ◽  
Marta Pawłowska-Olszewska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Small Intestine ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Intestinal Mucosa ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Hormonal Responses ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
Liver Morphology

The stomach is responsible for the processing of nutrients as well as for the secretion of various hormones which are involved in many activities throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Experimental adult male Wistar rats (n = 6) underwent a modified gastrectomy, while control rats (n = 6) were sham-operated. After six weeks, changes in small intestine (including histomorphometrical parameters of the enteric nervous plexuses) and liver morphology, immunolocalization of leptin, ghrelin and nesfatin-1 as well as proteins forming adherens and tight junctions (E-cadherin, zonula occludens-1, occludin, marvelD3) in intestinal mucosa were evaluated. A number of effects on small intestine morphology, enteric nervous system ganglia, hormones and proteins expression were found, showing intestinal enteroplasticity and neuroplasticity associated with changes in gastrointestinal tract condition. The functional changes in intestinal mucosa and the enteric nervous system could be responsible for the altered intestinal barrier and hormonal responses following gastrectomy. The results suggest that more complicated regulatory mechanisms than that of compensatory mucosal hypertrophy alone are involved.

Astrocytes in multiple sclerosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1114-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel K Ludwin ◽  
Vijayaraghava TS Rao ◽  
Craig S Moore ◽  
Jack P Antel
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Physical Structure ◽  
Trophic Factors ◽  
Tissue Loss ◽  
Structural Support ◽  
Specific Stage ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Recent experimental and clinical studies on astrocytes are unraveling the capabilities of these multi-functional cells in normal homeostasis, and in central nervous system (CNS) disease. This review focuses on understanding their behavior in all aspects of the initiation, evolution, and resolution of the multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion. Astrocytes display remarkable flexibility and variability of their physical structure and biochemical output, each aspect finely tuned to the specific stage and location of the disease, participating in both pathogenic and beneficial changes seen in acute and progressive forms. As examples, chemo-attractive or repulsive molecules may facilitate the entry of destructive immune cells but may also aid in the recruitment of oligodendrocyte precursors, essential for repair. Pro-inflammatory cytokines may attack pathogenic cells and also destroy normal oligodendrocytes, myelin, and axons. Protective trophic factors may also open the blood–brain barrier and modulate the extracellular matrix to favor recruitment and persistence of CNS-specific immune cells. A chronic glial scar may confer structural support following tissue loss and inhibit ingress of further noxious insults and also inhibit migration of reparative cells and molecules into the damaged tissue. Continual study into these processes offers the therapeutic opportunities to enhance the beneficial capabilities of these cells while limiting their destructive effects.

scholarly journals Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis of the maturing larval zebrafish enteric nervous system reveals the formation of a neuropil pattern

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip A. Baker ◽  
Matthew D. Meyer ◽  
Ashley Tsang ◽  
Rosa A. Uribe
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Myenteric Plexus ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Stem Cell Population ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Enteric Ganglia

AbstractThe gastrointestinal tract is constructed with an intrinsic series of interconnected ganglia that span its entire length, called the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS exerts critical local reflex control over many essential gut functions; including peristalsis, water balance, hormone secretions and intestinal barrier homeostasis. ENS ganglia exist as a collection of neurons and glia that are arranged in a series of plexuses throughout the gut: the myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus. While it is known that enteric ganglia are derived from a stem cell population called the neural crest, mechanisms that dictate final neuropil plexus organization remain obscure. Recently, the vertebrate animal, zebrafish, has emerged as a useful model to understand ENS development, however knowledge of its developing myenteric plexus architecture was unknown. Here, we examine myenteric plexus of the maturing zebrafish larval fish histologically over time and find that it consists of a series of tight axon layers and long glial cell processes that wrap the circumference of the gut tube to completely encapsulate it, along all levels of the gut. By late larval stages, complexity of the myenteric plexus increases such that a layer of axons is juxtaposed to concentric layers of glial cells. Ultrastructurally, glial cells contain glial filaments and make intimate contacts with one another in long, thread-like projections. Conserved indicators of vesicular axon profiles are readily abundant throughout the larval plexus neuropil. Together, these data extend our understanding of myenteric plexus architecture in maturing zebrafish, thereby enabling functional studies of its formation in the future.

Brain-Gut Communication: Vagovagal Reflexes Interconnect the Two "Brains"

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry L. Powley
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Dorsal Vagal Complex

The gastrointestinal tract has its own "brain", the enteric nervous system or ENS, that executes routine housekeeping functions of digestion. The dorsal vagal complex in the CNS brainstem, however, organizes vagovagal reflexes and establishes interconnections between the entire neuroaxis of the CNS and the gut. Thus, the dorsal vagal complex links the "ENS brain" to the "CNS brain". This brain-gut connectome provides reflex adjustments that optimize digestion and assimilation of nutrients and fluid. Vagovagal circuitry also generates the plasticity and adaptability needed to coordinate among organs, to maintain homeostasis, and to react to environmental situations. Arguably, this dynamic flexibility provided by the connectome may, in some circumstances, lead to or complicate maladaptive disorders.

scholarly journals Recent developments in cell-based ENS regeneration – a short review

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-99
Author(s):  
Florian Obermayr ◽  
Guido Seitz
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Cell Sources

AbstractTherapeutic options to treat neurogenic motility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are usually limited to symptomatic treatment. The capacity of the enteric nervous system (ENS) to regenerate and the fact that progenitor cells of the enteric nervous system reside in the postnatal and adult gut led to the idea to develop cell-based strategies to treat ENS related disorders. This short review focuses on recent developments in cell-based ENS regeneration, discussing advantages and disadvantages of various cell sources, functional impact of transplanted cells and highlights the challenges of translation of small animal studies to human application.

scholarly journals Mycotoxins and the Enteric Nervous System

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sławomir Gonkowski ◽  
Magdalena Gajęcka ◽  
Krystyna Makowska
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Harmful Effects

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various fungal species. They are commonly found in a wide range of agricultural products. Mycotoxins contained in food enter living organisms and may have harmful effects on many internal organs and systems. The gastrointestinal tract, which first comes into contact with mycotoxins present in food, is particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of these toxins. One of the lesser-known aspects of the impact of mycotoxins on the gastrointestinal tract is the influence of these substances on gastrointestinal innervation. Therefore, the present study is the first review of current knowledge concerning the influence of mycotoxins on the enteric nervous system, which plays an important role, not only in almost all regulatory processes within the gastrointestinal tract, but also in adaptive and protective reactions in response to pathological and toxic factors in food.

scholarly journals Loss of UCHL1 promotes age-related degenerative changes in the enteric nervous system

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josée Coulombe ◽  
Prasanna Gamage ◽  
Madison T. Gray ◽  
Mei Zhang ◽  
Matthew Y. Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Degenerative Changes ◽  
Age Related
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