Structure of Enteric Neurons (Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology (186))

1 Introduction The plexuses of Auerbach and Meissner are peculiar to the gut; they extend from the beginning of the unstriated portion of the oesophagus to the end of the rectum. They have usually been considered to belong to the sympathetic system, but it appears to me preferable to place them in a class by themselves. We may speak of them as forming the enteric nervous system. (Langley 1900) In this context,itislessimportant that Langleyexcludedthe striated part of the oesophagus from his de?nition of the enteric nervous system (ENS). Much more remarkable seems to be that for Langley, a physiologist, structural reasons were the most decisive for taking the nervous system within the wall of the gastrointestinal tract as an entity unto itself. On the one hand, he argued that enteric nerve cells differ in their histological character from those in para- and prevertebral ganglia. On the other hand, there were few connections of enteric nerve plexuses with the central nervous system (CNS) through sympathetic or other autonomic nerves (which had already been described, however; Auerbach 1862). In his later, more famous monograph, he divided the autonomic nerves into three groups: sympathetic, parasympathetic and intestinal nerves (Langley 1921). This division seems to be all the more modern considering that, during the following decades, many authors and textbooks moved away from this division. The signi?cance of enteric neurons was reduced to that of postganglionic relay stations of vegetative nerves (Müller 1921; Lawrentjew 1929; Botár et al. 1942). Introduction -- Enteric Nervous System -- Ganglionated Enteric Plexuses -- Myenteric Plexus -- Submucosal Plexuses -- Non-ganglionated Enteric Plexuses -- Morphological Classifications Of Enteric Neurons -- Dogiel's Classification -- Type I Neurons -- Type Ii Neurons -- Type Iii Neurons -- 80 Years After Dogiel -- Stach's Classification In The Pig: General Remarks -- Classification In The Guinea Pig -- Classifications In Other Species -- Material And Methods -- Immunohistochemistry -- Immunocytochemistry -- Double Labelling Post-mortem Tracing -- Image Acquisition Of Immunofluorescent Specimens, Morphometry -- Three-dimensional Reconstructions -- Chemical Coding Of Stach's Neuron Types In The Pig -- Preliminary Note: Cholinergic And Nitrergic Neurons -- Type I Neurons -- Type Ii Neurons -- Type Iii Neurons -- Type Iv Neurons -- Type V Neurons -- Type Vi Neurons -- Type Vii Neurons -- Dendritic Type Ii Neurons, Mini Neurons, Giant Neurons -- Morphological Neuron Types And Their Chemical Coding In The Human -- Nomenclature Used For Human Enteric Neurons -- Type Ii Neurons -- Stubby (type I) Neurons -- Spiny (type I) Neurons -- Type V Neurons -- Type Iii Neurons -- Dendritic Type Ii Neurons -- Spiny Neurons With Main Dendrites Or Human Type Vii Neurons? -- Discussion -- What Does Nf Immunohistochemistry Achieve? -- General Remarks On Equivalent Neurons Of Different Species -- Putative Functional Categories Of Human Enteric Neurons -- Human Intrinsic Primary Afferent Neurons -- Human Interneurons -- Human Muscle Motor Neurons -- Other Human Effector Neurons -- Plasticity -- Summary. A. Brehmer. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [74]-91) And Index. Mode Of Access: World Wide Web. "This monograph presents a basis for the classification of human enteric neurons by specifying and extending earlier concepts of different authors in various mammalian species. Among other aspects, the different definitions of type I neurons given by Dogiel and Stach are emphasized and the need for more precise morphological criteria is pointed out in order to deduce from the morphology of human "type I" neurons their possible functions. Furthermore, identification of putative intrinsic primary afferent neurons in human intestine is at present only possible on the basis of their morphology, i.e. they are, in contrast to other neurons, multiaxonal, non-dendritic type II neurons."--BOOK JACKET This book first presents an overview on the chemical coding of the morphological neuron types described by Stach in the pig intestine. In doing so, we have pointed out the difference between the definitions of type I neurons given by Dogiel and Stach. Secondly, it provides a basis for the morpho-chemical classification of human enteric neurons as revealed by their immunoreactivity for neurofilaments and several neuroactive substances or related markers. Introduction....Pages 1-18 Material and Methods....Pages 18-23 Chemical Coding of Stach’s Neuron Types in the Pig....Pages 23-46 Morphological Neuron Types and Their Chemical Coding in the Human....Pages 46-64 Discussion....Pages 64-73 Summary....Pages 73-73