Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 148, Issues 1–2, 14 December 1992, Pages 121-125
Neuroscience Letters

Projections and chemical coding of neurons with immunoreactivity for nitric oxide synthase in the guinea-pig small intestine

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(92)90819-SGet rights and content
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Abstract

The distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) immunoreactivity was investigated in the guinea-pig small intestine. There were many immunoreactive nerve cell bodies in the myenteric plexus but very few in submucous ganglia. NOS immunoreactivity was not found in non-neuronal cells except for rare mucosal endocrine cells. Abundant immunoreactive nerve fibres in both myenteric and submucous ganglia, and in the circular muscle, arose from myenteric nerve cells whose axons projected anally along the intestine. NOS immunoreactivity coexisted with VIP-immunoreactivity, but not with substance P immunoreactivity. We conclude that nitric oxide synthase is located in a sub-population of enteric neurons, amongst which are inhibitory motor neurons that supply the circular muscle layer.

Keywords

Nitric oxide synthase
Enteric nervous system
Guinea-pig
Small intestine
Myenteric plexus
Submucous plexus

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