ABSTRACT

The neural crest cell-derived enteric nervous system (ENS) is the intrinsic innervation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) which consists of neurons and enteric glia cells in the myenteric ganglia and forming plexus. The ENS consists mainly of submucosal and myenteric plexuses. It has various functions on the GIT, which include control of local blood flow, motility, mucosal transport, secretions, immune modulation as well as endocrine functions and coordinated contractile activity of smooth muscle. The knowledge on the development of the innervations at different segments of the gut in humans from 11 to 26 weeks of gestation (WG) may help in understanding the pathophysiology of various congenital diseases affecting the ENS. The aim of this study is to determine the morphology of the myenteric plexus in the esophagus, ascending colon and sigmoid colon at various weeks of gestation. Tissue samples from 10 naturally terminated fetuses aged 11–26 WG were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry assay. The neurons, enteric glia, the smooth muscle were visualized using PGP9.5, Vimentin and S-100 antibodies. The number of neurons and enteric glial cells appeared lowest in the esophagus than the ascending and sigmoid colon. The myenteric ganglion was closely apposed to each other, forming a continuous arch along the entire circumference of gut sections of ascending and sigmoid colon but the myenteric ganglia in the esophagus was thinly populated and widely spread in the fetus at 13 WG. As the fetal gastrointestinal tract grew in diameter and length, the myenteric ganglia became discernible.

摘要

源自神经-细胞的肠神经系统（ENS）是胃肠道（GIT）的固有神经支配，其由肌层神经节中的神经元和肠神经胶质细胞组成，并形成神经丛。ENS主要由粘膜下层和肌间神经丛组成。它对GIT具有多种功能，包括控制局部血流量，运动性，粘膜运输，分泌，免疫调节以及内分泌功能和协调的平滑肌收缩活动。妊娠11至26周（WG）的人类肠道不同部位神经支配发展的知识可能有助于了解影响ENS的各种先天性疾病的病理生理。这项研究的目的是确定食道中的肌间神经丛的形态，在妊娠的各个星期升结肠和乙状结肠。对来自10个年龄在11-26 WG的自然终止胎儿的组织样本进行苏木精和曙红染色以及免疫组织化学分析。使用PGP9.5，波形蛋白和S-100抗体观察神经元，肠神经胶质，平滑肌。食道中神经元和肠神经胶质细胞的数量最少，而升结肠和乙状结肠的数量最少。支气管神经节彼此紧密并列，在升结肠和乙状结肠的肠段的整个圆周上形成连续的弓形，但是食道的支气管神经节稀疏并在胎儿中以13 WG广泛分布。随着胎儿胃肠道直径和长度的增长，肌间神经节变得可辨别。对来自10个年龄在11-26 WG的自然终止胎儿的组织样本进行苏木精和曙红染色以及免疫组织化学分析。使用PGP9.5，波形蛋白和S-100抗体观察神经元，肠神经胶质，平滑肌。食道中神经元和肠神经胶质细胞的数量最少，而升结肠和乙状结肠的数量最少。支气管神经节彼此紧密并列，在升结肠和乙状结肠的肠段的整个圆周上形成连续的弓形，但是食道的支气管神经节稀疏并在胎儿中以13 WG广泛分布。随着胎儿胃肠道直径和长度的增长，肌间神经节变得可辨别。对来自10个年龄在11-26 WG的自然终止胎儿的组织样本进行苏木精和曙红染色以及免疫组织化学分析。使用PGP9.5，波形蛋白和S-100抗体观察神经元，肠神经胶质，平滑肌。食道中神经元和肠神经胶质细胞的数量最少，而升结肠和乙状结肠的数量最少。支气管神经节彼此紧密并列，在升结肠和乙状结肠的肠段的整个圆周上形成连续的弓形，但是食道的支气管神经节稀疏并在胎儿中以13 WG广泛分布。随着胎儿胃肠道直径和长度的增长，肌间神经节变得可辨别。