Despite numerous investigations on the enteric nervous system, the knowledge about the mucosal innervation of the human rectum and colon is very shallow and mainly based on ultrastructural studies. We performed an enzyme (NADH-Ach) and immunohistochemical (NF, synaptophysin, anti-Leu-19) study on cryostat sections of the human rectal mucosa in order to study the possible additional characteristics of the mucosal innervation in depth. Enzyme histochemistry reveals positively staining fibers in the muscularis mucosae. Staining with antibodies against neurofilaments and synaptophysin reveals positively staining fibers in the lamina propria and muscularis mucosae. The latter staining is comparable with the findings obtained with anti-Leu-19. The monoclonal antibody anti-Leu-19 is characterized by a nerve-like staining in the mucosa revealed by nerve-like fibers from the plexus submucosus internus (Meissner) penetrating the muscularis mucosae, and creating a real plexus of fine twisted fibers in the lamina propria, around the crypts and underneath the epithelium. The distribution of the mucosal nerve-like pattern in the areas with mucosa-associated lymphoid follicles differs from the pattern observed in the lamina propria in between. Since the monoclonal antibody anti-Leu-19 and the monoclonal antibody NKHla show a great similarity, we were interested also in the possible relation between the nerve like mucosal staining pattern and the lymphocytic population. Comparing the distribution pattern of anti-Leu-19 with other lymphocytic markers, there was an apparent similarity with the distribution of the T-helper subgroup. Our data indicate that the monoclonal antibody anti-Leu-19 shows a nerve-like staining pattern in the mucosa.

Keywords:
Rectum, Nervous tissue, Anti-Leu-19, Enzyme histochemistry, Immunohistochemistry
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1995 S. Karger AG, Basel
1995
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.