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Ricci MF, Béla SR, Barbosa JL, Moraes MM, Mazzeti AL, Bahia MT, Horta LS, Santiago HDC, Cruz JS, Capettini LDSA, Arantes RME. A Potential Role of Cholinergic Dysfunction on Impaired Colon Motility in Experimental Intestinal Chagas Disease. J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2022; 28:483-500. [PMID: 35799242 PMCID: PMC9274474 DOI: 10.5056/jnm21074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims Chagasic megacolon is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which promotes in several cases, irreversible segmental colonic dilation. This alteration is the major anatomic-clinical disorder, characterized by the enteric nervous system and muscle wall structural damage. Herein, we investigate how T. cruzi-induced progressive colonic structural changes modulate the colonic contractile pattern activity. Methods We developed a murine model of T. cruzi-infection that reproduced long-term modifications of the enlarged colon. We evaluated colonic and total intestinal transit time in animals. The patterns of motor response at several time intervals between the acute and chronic phases were evaluated using the organ bath assays. Enteric motor neurons were stimulated by electric field stimulation. The responses were analyzed in the presence of the nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists. Western blot was performed to evaluate the expression of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. The neurotransmitter expression was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results In the chronic phase of infection, there was decreased intestinal motility associated with decreased amplitude and rhythmicity of intestinal contractility. Pharmacological tests suggested a defective response mediated by acetylcholine receptors. The contractile response induced by acetylcholine was decreased by atropine in the acute phase while the lack of its action in the chronic phase was associated with tissue damage, and decreased expression of choline acetyltransferase, nicotinic subunits of acetylcholine receptors, and neurotransmitters. Conclusions T. cruzi-induced damage of smooth muscles was accompanied by motility disorders such as decreased intestinal peristalsis and cholinergic system response impairment. This study allows integration of the natural history of Chagasic megacolon motility disorders and opens new perspectives for the design of effective therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra F Ricci
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Samantha R Béla
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Joana L Barbosa
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Michele M Moraes
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Ana L Mazzeti
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Maria T Bahia
- Escola de Medicina & Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Laila S Horta
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Helton da C Santiago
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Jader S Cruz
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Luciano dos S A Capettini
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Rosa M E Arantes
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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2
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Martins PR, Fakhry J, de Oliveira AJ, Moreira TB, Fothergill LJ, de Oliveira EC, Reis DD, Furness JB. The distribution and chemical coding of enteroendocrine cells in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals with chagasic megacolon. Histochem Cell Biol 2021; 155:451-462. [PMID: 33404704 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-020-01947-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi that causes chronic cardiac and digestive dysfunction. Megacolon, an irreversible dilation of the left colon, is the main feature of the gastrointestinal form of Chagas disease. Patients have severe constipation, a consequence of enteric neuron degeneration associated with chronic inflammation. Dysmotility, infection, neuronal loss and a chronic exacerbated inflammation, all observed in Chagas disease, can affect enteroendocrine cells (EEC) expression, which in turn, could influence the inflammatory process. In this study, we investigated the distribution and chemical coding of EEC in the dilated and non-dilated portion of T. cruzi-induced megacolon and in non-infected individuals (control colon). Using immunohistochemistry, EECs were identified by applying antibodies to chromogranin A (CgA), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), peptide YY (PYY) and somatostatin (SST). Greater numbers of EEC expressing GLP-1 and SST occurred in the dilated portion compared to the non-dilated portion of the same patients with Chagas disease and in control colon, but numbers of 5-HT and PYY EEC were not significantly different. However, it was noticeable that EEC in which 5-HT and PYY were co-expressed were common in control colon, but were rare in the non-dilated and absent in the dilated portion of chagasic megacolon. An increase in the number of CgA immunoreactive EEC in chagasic patients reflected the increases in EEC numbers summarised above. Our data suggests that the denervation and associated chronic inflammation are accompanied by changes in the number and coding of EEC that could contribute to disorders of motility and defence in the chagasic megacolon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Rocha Martins
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Josiane Fakhry
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | | | - Thayse Batista Moreira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Linda J Fothergill
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | | | | | - John B Furness
- Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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3
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Machado CCA, Watanabe PDS, Mendes JDDL, Pupim ACE, Ortigoza SM, Bergoc HG, Nino BDSL, Góis MB, Garcia JL, Blackshaw LA, Sant Ana DDMG, Araújo EJDA. Toxoplasma gondii infection impairs the colonic motility of rats due to loss of myenteric neurons. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2021; 33:e13967. [PMID: 32812313 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii infection causes intestinal inflammation and diarrhea indicating possible intestinal motor dysfunction. Anatomical studies have shown alterations in the colonic myenteric plexus, but it is unknown whether this impacts motility and therefore whether motility is a target for treatment. We determined whether colonic coordinated movements are compromised by toxoplasmic infection and how it is associated with anatomical changes. METHODS Male Wistar rats were evaluated at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours and 30 days postinfection (dpi) and controls. Infected rats received orally 5 × 103 sporulated oocysts of strain ME-49 (genotype II) of T gondii. The colon was collected for anatomical analysis (including the myenteric plexus immunolabeled with HuC/D, nNOS, and ChAT) and motility analysis in vitro (conventional manometry). Fecal output was measured daily. KEY RESULTS At 12 hours postinfection, T gondii caused hypertrophy of the muscularis externa layer of the distal colon. There was loss of total, nitrergic, and cholinergic myenteric neurons in the proximal colon at 30 day postinfection (dpi); however, only loss of cholinergic neurons was found in the distal colon. Contractile complexes in the middle and distal colon were longer in duration in infected animals, which was associated with slower migration of the colonic motor complex. However, gastrointestinal transit time and fecal pellet output remained unchanged during the T gondii infection. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES Toxoplasma gondii caused myenteric neuronal loss in the proximal and distal colon and altered the motility pattern in the middle and distal colon to a more propulsive phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marcelo Biondaro Góis
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.,Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Santo Antonio de Jesus, Brazil
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4
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Ricci MF, Béla SR, Moraes MM, Bahia MT, Mazzeti AL, Oliveira ACS, Andrade LO, Radí R, Piacenza L, Arantes RME. Neuronal Parasitism, Early Myenteric Neurons Depopulation and Continuous Axonal Networking Damage as Underlying Mechanisms of the Experimental Intestinal Chagas' Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:583899. [PMID: 33178632 PMCID: PMC7597600 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.583899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing consensus that the balance between the persistence of infection and the host immune response is crucial for chronification of Chagas heart disease. Extrapolation for chagasic megacolon is hampered because research in humans and animal models that reproduce intestinal pathology is lacking. The parasite-host relationship and its consequence to the disease are not well-known. Our model describes the temporal changes in the mice intestine wall throughout the infection, parasitism, and the development of megacolon. It also presents the consequence of the infection of primary myenteric neurons in culture with Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). Oxidative neuronal damage, involving reactive nitrogen species induced by parasite infection and cytokine production, results in the denervation of the myenteric ganglia in the acute phase. The long-term inflammation induced by the parasite's DNA causes intramuscular axonal damage, smooth muscle hypertrophy, and inconsistent innervation, affecting contractility. Acute phase neuronal loss may be irreversible. However, the dynamics of the damages revealed herein indicate that neuroprotection interventions in acute and chronic phases may help to eradicate the parasite and control the inflammatory-induced increase of the intestinal wall thickness and axonal loss. Our model is a powerful approach to integrate the acute and chronic events triggered by T. cruzi, leading to megacolon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra Fernanda Ricci
- Departament of Pathology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Samantha Ribeiro Béla
- Departament of Pathology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Departament of Biological and Exact Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Michele Macedo Moraes
- Departament of Pathology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Maria Terezinha Bahia
- Departament of Biological and Exact Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Ana Lia Mazzeti
- Departament of Biological and Exact Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | | | | | - Rafael Radí
- Departament of Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Center for Free Radical and Biomedical Research, Universidad de La Republica Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Lucía Piacenza
- Departament of Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Center for Free Radical and Biomedical Research, Universidad de La Republica Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
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5
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NOD2 receptor is crucial for protecting against the digestive form of Chagas disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008667. [PMID: 32986710 PMCID: PMC7553797 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Digestive and cardiodigestive forms of Chagas’ disease are observed in 2% to 27% of the patients, depending on their geographic location, Trypanosoma cruzi strain and immunopathological responses. The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of NOD2 innate immune receptor in the pathogenesis of the digestive system in Chagas’ disease. Patients with digestive form of the disease showed lower mRNA expression of NOD2, higher expression of RIP2 and α-defensin 6, compared to indeterminate form, detected by Real-time PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In addition, there was a negative correlation between the expression of NOD2 and the degree of dilation of the esophagus, sigmoid and rectum in those patients. The infection of NOD2-/- mice with T. cruzi strain isolated from the digestive patient induced a decrease in intestinal motility. Histopathological analysis of the colon and jejunum of NOD2-/- and wild type C57BL/6 animals revealed discrete inflammatory foci during the acute phase of infection. Interestingly, during the chronic phase of the infection there was inflammation and hypertrophy of the longitudinal and circular muscular layer more pronounced in the colon and jejunum from NOD2-/- animals, when compared to wild type C57BL/6 mice. Together, our results suggest that NOD2 plays a protective role against the development of digestive form of Chagas’ disease. Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, during the chronic phase of infection 2–27% of patients develop digestive form of the disease (megaesophagus and megacolon) that contributes to patient morbidity and mortality, generating costs for public health services, and especially affecting significantly the life quality of the patients. Although is known that many factors inherent of the parasite (tropism, genetics, virulence and antigenicity), host (age, gender, nutritional status, genetics and immune response) and geographical distribution may influence the development of the different clinical forms of Chagas disease, the exact mechanism that leads to megacolon and megaesophagus development are unknown. Here we showed that patients with digestive form of Chagas’ disease do not express the innate immune receptor NOD2. By isolating a parasite from a digestive patient and infecting NOD2-deficient mice we observed a reduced intestinal motility, chronic development of colon and jejunum wall thickness associated with increased inflammatory mediators in the organ, when compared to wild type animals. Our results indicate that the NOD2 receptor protects against the development of the digestive form of Chagas disease and could be used as a biomarker for the development of gastrointestinal changes during T. cruzi infection in patients.
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6
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Souza NDDE, Belin BS, Massocatto CL, Araújo SMDE, Sant'ana DMG, Araújo EJA, P Filho P, Nihei OK, Moreira NM. Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on total myenteric neurons in mice experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2019; 91:e20180389. [PMID: 31141012 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201920180389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on the total myenteric neuronal population in the descending colon in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice. Thirty-five male Swiss mice, 60 days old, were divided into a control group (C group), control group treated with ASA (CA group), infected group (I group), and infected group treated with ASA (IA group). A total of 1300 trypomastigotes of the Y strain of T. cruzi were intraperitoneally inoculated in the IA and I groups. The CA and IA groups were treated with ASA intraperitoneally. At 75 days post-infection (dpi), all of the animals were sacrificed. Neurons in the colon were stained with Giemsa, quantified, and measured. No difference in the course of infection was observed between the IA and I groups, reflected by the parasitemia curve. Acetylsalicylic acid treatment in the CA and IA groups did not alter the total number of myenteric neurons compared with the C and I groups. The CA and IA groups exhibited an increase in the nuclear area, cytoplasmic area, and neuronal body area compared with the C and I groups. Future studies should elucidate the mechanism of action of ASA against Chagas' disease in the chronic phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi D DE Souza
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Saúde Coletiva em Enfermagem/GPSCE, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná/UNIOESTE, Avenida Tarquínio Joslin dos Santos, 1300, 85870-650 Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brazil
| | - Bruna S Belin
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Saúde Coletiva em Enfermagem/GPSCE, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná/UNIOESTE, Avenida Tarquínio Joslin dos Santos, 1300, 85870-650 Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brazil
| | - Cristina L Massocatto
- Curso de Farmácia, Faculdade Integrado de Campo Mourão, Rodovia BR 158, Km 207, 87300-970 Campo Mourão, PR, Brazil
| | - Silvana M DE Araújo
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá/UEM, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Zona 07, 08020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil
| | - Débora M G Sant'ana
- Graduação em Biociências Aplicadas à Farmácia, Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá/UEM, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Zona 07, 08020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil
| | - Eduardo J A Araújo
- Departamento de Histologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina/UEL, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Km 380, 86051-970 Sabará, PR, Brazil
| | - Phileno P Filho
- Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina/UEL, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Km 380, 86051-970 Sabará, PR, Brazil
| | - Oscar K Nihei
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Saúde Coletiva em Enfermagem/GPSCE, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná/UNIOESTE, Avenida Tarquínio Joslin dos Santos, 1300, 85870-650 Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brazil
| | - Neide M Moreira
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Saúde Coletiva em Enfermagem/GPSCE, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná/UNIOESTE, Avenida Tarquínio Joslin dos Santos, 1300, 85870-650 Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brazil
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7
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Ng KS, Montes-Adrian NA, Mahns DA, Gladman MA. Quantification and neurochemical coding of the myenteric plexus in humans: No regional variation between the distal colon and rectum. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2018; 30. [PMID: 28836741 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It remains unclear whether regional variation exists in the human enteric nervous system (ENS) ie, whether intrinsic innervation varies along the gut. Recent classification of gastrointestinal neuropathies has highlighted inadequacies in the quantification of the human ENS. This study used paired wholemounts to accurately quantify and neurochemically code the hindgut myenteric plexus, comparing human distal colon and rectum. METHODS Paired human descending colonic/rectal specimens were procured from 15 patients undergoing anterior resection. Wholemounts of myenteric plexi were triple-immunostained with anti-Hu/NOS/ChAT antibodies. Images were acquired by motorized epifluorescence microscopy, allowing assessment of ganglionic density/size, ganglionic area density, and neuronal density. 'Stretch-corrected' values were calculated using stretched/relaxed tissue dimensions. KEY RESULTS Tile-stitching created a collage with average area 99 300 000 μm2 . Stretch-corrected ganglionic densities were similar (colon: median 510 ganglia/100 mm2 [range 386-1170], rectum: 585 [307-923]; P = .99), as were average ganglionic sizes (colon: 57 593 μm2 [40 301-126 579], rectum: 54 901 [38 701-90 211], P = .36). Ganglionic area density (colon: 11.92 mm2 per 100 mm2 [7.53-18.64], rectum: 9.84 [5.80-17.19], P = .10) and stretch-corrected neuronal densities (colon: 189 neurons/mm2 [117-388], rectum: 182 [89-361], P = .31) were also similar, as were the neurochemical profiles of myenteric ganglia, with comparable proportions of NOS+ and ChAT+ neurons (P > .10). CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES This study has revealed similar neuronal and ganglionic densities and neurochemical profiles in human distal colon and rectum. Further investigation of other components of the ENS, incorporating additional immunohistochemical markers are required to confirm that there is no regional variation in the human hindgut ENS.
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Affiliation(s)
- K-S Ng
- Academic Colorectal Unit, Sydney Medical School - Concord, University of Sydney, Concord, New South Wales, Australia
| | - N A Montes-Adrian
- Academic Colorectal Unit, Sydney Medical School - Concord, University of Sydney, Concord, New South Wales, Australia
| | - D A Mahns
- Department of Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M A Gladman
- Academic Colorectal Unit, Sydney Medical School - Concord, University of Sydney, Concord, New South Wales, Australia.,Enteric Neuroscience and Gastrointestinal Research Group, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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8
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Massocatto CL, Martins Moreira N, Muniz E, Marques de Araújo S, Pinge-Filho P, Rossi RM, de Almeida Araújo EJ, de Mello Gonçales Sant'ana D. Treatment with low doses of aspirin during chronic phase of experimental Chagas' disease increases oesophageal nitrergic neuronal subpopulation in mice. Int J Exp Pathol 2018; 98:356-362. [PMID: 29349896 DOI: 10.1111/iep.12259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with Chagas' disease may develop dysfunctions of oesophageal and colonic motility resulting from the degeneration or loss of the myenteric neurons of the enteric nervous system. Studies have shown that the use of aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), influences the pathogenesis of the disease. However, this remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consequences of treatment with low doses of aspirin during the chronic phase of Chagas' disease on oesophageal function. Twenty male Swiss mice, 60 days of age, were used. The animals were infected with Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi, injected intraperitoneally. Aspirin was given at a dose of 50 mg/kg to some of the infected animals, from the 55th to 63rd day after inoculation on consecutive days, and from the 65th to 75th day on alternate days. We investigated food passage of time, wall structure and nitrergic neuronal population of the distal oesophagus. Our data revealed that the use of low doses of aspirin in chronic Chagas' disease caused an increase in the number of nitrergic neurons and partially prevented hypertrophy of the oesophagus. In addition, the aspirin administration impeded Chagas' diseases associated changes in intestinal transit time. Thus treatment with aspirin in the chronic phase of Chagas' disease changes the natural history of the disease and raises the possibility of using it as a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of this aspect of Chagas' disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neide Martins Moreira
- Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Eliane Muniz
- Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Phileno Pinge-Filho
- Department of Pathological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
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9
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Oda JY, Belém MO, Carlos TM, Gouveia R, Luchetti BFC, Moreira NM, Massocatto CL, Araújo SM, Sant Ana DMG, Buttow NC, Pinge-Filho P, Araújo EJA. Myenteric neuroprotective role of aspirin in acute and chronic experimental infections with Trypanosoma cruzi. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2017; 29:1-13. [PMID: 28524628 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental and clinical studies have shown that myenteric neuron cell death during infection with Trypanosoma cruzi mainly occurs in the esophagus and colon, resulting in megaesophagus and megacolon, respectively. Evidence suggests that the cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX) is involved in the T. cruzi invasion process. The use of low-dose aspirin (ASA), a COX-1/COX-2 inhibitor, has been shown to reduce infection with T. cruzi. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of treatment with low-dose ASA on myenteric colonic neurons during murine infection with T. cruzi. METHODS Swiss mice were assigned into groups treated with either phosphate-buffered saline or low doses of ASA during the acute phase (20 mg/kg ASA) and chronic phase (50 mg/kg ASA) of infection with the Y strain of T. cruzi. Seventy-five days after infection, colon samples were collected to quantify inflammatory foci in histological sections and also general (myosin-V+ ), nitrergic, and VIPergic myenteric neurons in whole mounts. Gastrointestinal transit time was also measured. KEY RESULTS Aspirin treatment during the acute phase of infection reduced parasitemia (P<.05). Aspirin treatment during the acute or chronic phase of the infection reduced the intensity of inflammatory foci in the colon, protected myenteric neurons from cell death and plastic changes, and recovered the gastrointestinal transit of mice infected with T. cruzi (P<.05). CONCLUSION & INFERENCES Early and delayed treatment with low-dose ASA can reduce the morphofunctional damage of colonic myenteric neurons caused by murine T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Y Oda
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.,Department of Pathological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - M O Belém
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - T M Carlos
- Department of Histology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - R Gouveia
- Department of Histology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - B F C Luchetti
- Department of Pathological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - N M Moreira
- Center for Education, Letters and Health, State University of Western Paraná, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil
| | - C L Massocatto
- Department of Morphological Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - S M Araújo
- Department of Basic Health Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - D M G Sant Ana
- Department of Morphological Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - N C Buttow
- Department of Morphological Science, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - P Pinge-Filho
- Department of Pathological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - E J A Araújo
- Department of Histology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
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10
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Epithelial cell types and their proposed roles in maintaining the mucosal barrier in human chagasic-megacolonic mucosa. Histochem Cell Biol 2017; 148:207-216. [PMID: 28357579 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-017-1563-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Patients suffering from chagasic megacolon must have an intact mucosal barrier as they survive this chronic disease for decades. A key structure of the mucosal barrier are epithelial cells. Vasoactive-intestinal-peptide (VIP)-positive nerve fibres are involved in influencing, e.g., epithelial cell proliferation, mucus secretion (e.g., mucin 2 and trefoil factor 3 of goblet cells) and inflammation or autoimmunity, all putative and/or known factors altered in chagasic megacolon. We analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively goblet cells, their specific markers, such as mucin 2 (MUC2) and trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) and enterocytes, the relation of VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibres to the epithelia, the distribution of gelsolin, a protein involved in chronic inflammation processes in the epithelia, and the proliferation rate of epithelial cells by combined 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and phosphohistone-H3 (PHH3) staining. Goblet cells were the dominating epithelial cell type. They accounted for 38.4% of all epithelial cells in controls and changed to 58.9% in the megacolonic parts. In contrast to the overall expression in goblet cells of control epithelia, TFF3 was confined to goblet cells at the base of the crypts whereas MUC2 was found only in luminal goblet cells. Gelsolin-positive goblet cells were predominantly recognized within the controls. Finally, the mean value of mitosis increased from 1.5% within the controls up to 2.6% in the anal parts of the chagasic sepcimens. Taken together, increased cell proliferation, preponderance of goblet cells, differential MUC 2, and TFF 3 expression might all be factors maintaining an intact mucosal barrier within chagasic megacolon.
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Massocatto CL, Moreira NM, Muniz E, Pinge-Filho P, Rossi RM, Araújo EJDA, Sant'Ana DDMG. Aspirin prevents atrophy of esophageal nitrergic myenteric neurons in a mouse model of chronic Chagas disease. Dis Esophagus 2017; 30:1-8. [PMID: 26725535 DOI: 10.1111/dote.12449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The consequences of using aspirin (ASA) for the pathogenesis of Chagas disease are unclear. This study evaluated the effects of treatment of Chagas disease with ASA on the esophageal nitrergic myenteric neuron population and esophageal wall in mice. We observed that treatment of chagasic infection with ASA protects the esophageal myenteric neurons from the atrophy caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The mice were infected with 1300 trypomastigotes of Y strain T. cruzi intraperitoneally. Part of infected mice was treated with ASA from fifth to twelfth day after inoculation. Our data support the hypothesis that eicosanoids given during the acute phase of the chagasic infection may act as immunomodulators aiding the transition to and maintenance of the chronic phase of the disease. Besides, ASA treatment did not provoke alterations in the esophageal wall and the myenteric neurons in infected mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Massocatto
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - N M Moreira
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - E Muniz
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - P Pinge-Filho
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - R M Rossi
- Department of Statistics, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - E J de A Araújo
- Department of Histology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - D de M G Sant'Ana
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
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Jabari S, da Silveira ABM, de Oliveira EC, Quint K, Wirries A, Neuhuber W, Brehmer A. Interstitial cells of Cajal: crucial for the development of megacolon in human Chagas' disease? Colorectal Dis 2014; 15:e592-8. [PMID: 23810202 DOI: 10.1111/codi.12331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/02/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM Megacolon, chronic dilation of a colonic segment,is accompanied by extensive myenteric neuron loss. However, this fails to explain unequivocally the formation of megacolon. We aimed to study further enteric structures that are directly or indirectly involved in colonic motility. METHOD From surgically removed megacolon segments of seven Chagasic patients, three sets of cryosections from oral, megacolonic and anal zones were immunohistochemically quadruple-stained for smooth-muscle actin (SMA), synaptophysin (SYN, for nerve fibres), S100 (glia) and c-Kit (interstitial cells of Cajal, ICCs). Values of area measurements were related to the appropriate muscle layer areas and these proportions were compared with those of seven non-Chagasic control patients. RESULTS Whereas nerve and glia profile proportions did not mirror unequivocally the changes of Chagasic colon calibre (nondilation/dilation/nondilation), the proportions of SMA (i.e. muscle tissue density) and c-Kit (i.e. ICC density) did so: they decreased from the oral to the megacolonic segment but increased to the anal zones (muscle tissue density: control 68.3%, oral 54.3%, mega 42.1%, anal 47.6%; ICC-density: control 1.8%, oral 1.1%, mega 0.4, anal 0.8%). CONCLUSION Of the parameters evaluated, muscle tissue and ICC densities may be involved in the formation of Chagasic megacolon, although the mechanism of destruction cannot be deduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Jabari
- Institute of Anatomy I, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Di Martino C, Nesi G, Tonelli F. Surgical Treatment of Chagasic Megacolon with Duhamel–Habr-Gama Technique Modulated by Frozen-Section Examination. Surg Infect (Larchmt) 2014; 15:454-7. [DOI: 10.1089/sur.2012.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriella Nesi
- Division of Pathological Anatomy, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Abstract
Megacolon, the irreversible dilation of a colonic segment, is a structural sign associated with various gastrointestinal disorders. In its hereditary, secondary form (e.g. in Hirschsprung's disease), dilation occurs in an originally healthy colonic segment due to an anally located, aganglionic zone. In contrast, in chronic Chagas' disease, the dilated segment itself displays pathohistological changes, and the earliest and most prominent being found was massive loss of myenteric neurons. This neuron loss was partial and selective, i.e. some neurons containing neuronal nitric oxide synthase and/or vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were spared from neuron death. This disproportionate survival of inhibitory neurons, however, did not completely correlate with the calibre change along the surgically removed, megacolonic segments. A better correlation was observed as to potentially contractile muscle tissue elements and the interstitial cells of Cajal. Therefore, the decreased densities of α-smooth muscle actin- and c-kit-immunoreactive profiles were estimated along resected megacolonic segments. Their lowest values were observed in the megacolonic zones itself, whereas less pronounced decreases were found in the non-dilated, transitional zones (oral and anal to dilation). In contrast to the myenteric plexus, the submucosal plexus displayed only a moderate neuron loss. Neurons co-immunoreactive for VIP and calretinin survived disproportionately. As a consequence, these neurons may have contributed to maintain the epithelial barrier and allowed the chagasic patients to survive for decades, despite their severe disturbance of colonic motility. Due to its neuroprotective and neuroeffectory functions, VIP may play a key role in the development and duration of chagasic megacolon.
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Jabari S, da Silveira ABM, de Oliveira EC, Quint K, Wirries A, Neuhuber W, Brehmer A. Mucosal layers and related nerve fibres in non-chagasic and chagasic human colon--a quantitative immunohistochemical study. Cell Tissue Res 2014; 358:75-83. [PMID: 24962547 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-014-1934-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/26/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chagasic megacolon is accompanied by extensive myenteric and, simultaneously, moderate submucosal neuron loss. Here, we examined changes of the innervation pattern of the lamina propria (LP) and muscularis mucosae (MM). Two alternating sets of cryosections were taken from seven non-chagasic colonic and seven chagasic megacolonic specimens (the latter included both the dilated megacolonic and the non-dilated transitional oral and anal zones) and were immunohistochemically triple-stained for smooth-muscle actin (SMA), synaptophysin (SYN) and glial acid protein S100 and, alternatively, for SMA, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin (SOM). Subsequent image analysis and statistical evaluation of nervous tissue profile areas revealed that, in LP, the most extreme differences (i.e. increase in thickness or decrease in nerve, glia and muscle tissue profile area, respectively) compared with control values occurred in the dilated megacolonic zone itself. In contrast, the most extreme differences in the MM were in the anal-to-megacolonic zone (except the profile area of muscle tissue, which was lowest in the megacolonic zone). This parallels our previous results in the external muscle coat. A partial and selective survival of VIP-immunoreactive in contrast to SOM-immunoreactive nerve fibres was observed in both mucosal layers investigated. Thus, VIPergic nerve elements might be crucial for the maintenance of the mucosal barrier. The differential changes of neural tissue parameters in LP and MM might reflect a multifactorial rather than a pure neurogenic development of megacolon in chronic Chagas' disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Jabari
- Institute of Anatomy I, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 91054, Erlangen, Germany,
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Preponderance of inhibitory versus excitatory intramuscular nerve fibres in human chagasic megacolon. Int J Colorectal Dis 2012; 27:1181-9. [PMID: 22729712 DOI: 10.1007/s00384-012-1500-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Megacolon, chronic dilation of a colonic segment, is a frequent sign of Chagas disease. It is accompanied by an extensive neuron loss which, as shown recently, results in a partial, selective survival of nitrergic myenteric neurons. Here, we focused on the balance of intramuscular excitatory (choline acetyltransferase [ChAT]-immunoreactive) and inhibitory (neuronal nitric oxide synthase [NOS]- as well as vasoactive intestinal peptide [VIP]-immunoreactive) nerve fibres. MATERIALS AND METHODS From surgically removed megacolonic segments of seven patients, three sets of cryosections (from non-dilated oral, megacolonic and non-dilated anal parts) were immunhistochemically triple-stained for ChAT, NOS and VIP. Separate area measurements of nerve profiles within the circular and longitudinal muscle layers, respectively, were compared with those of seven non-chagasic control patients. Additionally, wholemounts from the same regions were stained for NOS, VIP and neurofilaments (NF). RESULTS The intramuscular nerve fibre density was significantly reduced in all three chagasic segments. The proportions of inhibitory (NOS only, VIP only, or NOS/VIP-coimmunoreactive) intramuscular nerves were 68 %/58 % (circular/longitudinal muscle, respectively) in the controls and increased to 75 %/69 % (oral parts), 84 %/76 % (megacolonic) and 87 %/94 % (anal) in chagasic specimens. In the myenteric plexus, NF-positive neurons co-staining for NOS and VIP also increased proportionally. The almost complete lack of dendritic structures in ganglia of chagasic specimens hampered morphological identification. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION We suggest that preponderance of inhibitory, intramuscular nerve fibres may be one factor explaining the chronic dilation. Since the nerve fibre imbalance is most pronounced in the anal, non-dilated segment, other components of the motor apparatus (musculature, interstitial cells, submucosal neurons) have to be considered.
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Jabari S, da Silveira ABM, de Oliveira EC, Neto SG, Quint K, Neuhuber W, Brehmer A. Selective survival of calretinin- and vasoactive-intestinal-peptide-containing nerve elements in human chagasic submucosa and mucosa. Cell Tissue Res 2012; 349:473-81. [PMID: 22555304 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-012-1406-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Chronic Chagas' disease is frequently characterized by massive myenteric neuron loss resulting in megacolon with severely and irreversibly disturbed motility. Here, we focused on two submucosal neuron populations, immunoreactive for calretinin (CALR) or somatostatin (SOM), and their respective mucosal nerve fibres in chagasic megacolon. Surgically removed megacolonic segments of seven chagasic patients were compared with seven age- and region-matched non-chagasic control segments. Evaluation included immunohistochemical triple-staining of cryosections for CALR, SOM and peripherin or for CALR and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and of submucosal whole-mounts for CALR, SOM and the pan-neuronal marker anti-HuC/D. Submucosal neuron counts in chagasic tissue revealed neuron numbers reduced to 51.2 % of control values. In cryosections, nerve fibre area measurements revealed 8.6 % nerve fibre per mucosal area in control segments, but this value decreased to 1.5 % in megacolonic segments. In both evaluations, a disproportionate decrease of SOM-reactive nerve elements was observed. The proportions of SOM-positive neurons related to the total neuron number declined to 2 % (control 10 %) and the proportion of SOM-reactive mucosal nerve fibres related to the whole mucosal area to 0.014 % (control 1.8 %)in chagasic tissue. The second set of cryosections revealed extensive colocalization of CALR with VIP in both surviving submucosal perikarya and mucosal nerve fibres. We suggest that VIP, a neuroprotective and neuroeffectory peptide typically contained in submucosal neurons, allows both the VIP-containing neurons to endure and the patients to survive by maintaining their mucosal barrier, despite the almost complete loss of colonic motility for decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Jabari
- Institute of Anatomy I, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Krankenhausstr. 9, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
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Hübner S, Efthymiadis A. Recent progress in histochemistry and cell biology. Histochem Cell Biol 2012; 137:403-57. [PMID: 22366957 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-012-0933-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Studies published in Histochemistry and Cell Biology in the year 2011 represent once more a manifest of established and newly sophisticated techniques being exploited to put tissue- and cell type-specific molecules into a functional context. The review is therefore the Histochemistry and Cell Biology's yearly intention to provide interested readers appropriate summaries of investigations touching the areas of tissue biology, developmental biology, the biology of the immune system, stem cell research, the biology of subcellular compartments, in order to put the message of such studies into natural scientific-/human- and also pathological-relevant correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Hübner
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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Current world literature. Curr Opin Neurol 2011; 24:511-6. [PMID: 21900773 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0b013e32834be5c1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Kramer K, da Silveira ABM, Jabari S, Kressel M, Raab M, Brehmer A. Quantitative evaluation of neurons in the mucosal plexus of adult human intestines. Histochem Cell Biol 2011; 136:1-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00418-011-0807-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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