Age-Dependent Changes of Myenteric Nervous Plexus Histoarchitectonics in Proximal and Distal Colon of Wistar Rats

The aim of the study was to investigate the changes of the histoarchotectonics of the myenteric nervous plexus (MNP) in proximal and distal parts of colon in Wistar rats. Material and methods. The study was performed on 24 Wistar male rats (n=6 in each age group): newborns (3-4 days), prepubertal age (25-30 days), mature (3 months) and old (18-24 months). The colon was devided into proximal and distal sections. Histological, immunofluorescent and morphometric methods were used. Results. With the anti-βIII-tubulin immunofluorescence labeling we found an extensive growth of the myenteric plexus in the age period from the newborn to prepubertal animals, which was characterized with an increase in area of interganglionic spaces and an increase in thickness of interganglionic tracts. Age-related changes of the MNP, revealed with the anti-HuC/D and anti-S100b labeling, were characterized with a decrease in the relative number of ganglia and a proportional increase of their size, which was due to an increase in number of the axons or glial cells. There were no regional differences of histoarchitectonics of the MNP between the proximal and distal colon. Conclusions. In the period from newborn to prepubertal in male Wistar rats, intensive MNP growth is noted, characterized by an increase in the area of interganglionic spaces and thickness of the nerve tracts. Age changes in MNP are characterized by a decrease in the relative number of ganglia and a proportional increase in their size, which is obviously associated with an increase in the number of axons of neurons and glial cells. Histoarchitectonics of the MNP in the proximal and distal colon does not differ.

миентеральное нервное сплетение, ганглии, нервные волокна, гистоархитектоника, толстая кишка, крыса, возрастные изменения, постнатальное развитие, enteric nervous plexus, ganglia, nerve fibers, histoarchiteconics, colon, rat, age-related changes, postnatal development

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