Expression and regulation of reelin and its receptors in the enteric nervous system.

Background & Aims: In the central nervous system (CNS), reelin coordinates migration and lamination of neurons and regulates synaptic plasticity, whereas its role in the enteric nervous system (ENS) remains enigmatic. Thus we determined the expression pattern and localization of reelin in the human ENS and monitored the time course of mRNA expression of the reelin signaling system in the rat intestine as well as in GDNF treated ENS cultures.

Results: Reelin, its receptors and Dab1 were expressed in all intestinal layers as well as in isolated myenteric ganglia.

Alterations of the enteric smooth musculature in diverticular disease.

Background: The pathogenesis of diverticular disease (DD) is considered to be multifactorial and involves intestinal motor disturbances and an underlying enteric neuromuscular pathology. While an enteric neuropathy has been well documented, actual studies on concomitant alterations of the enteric musculature are limited. This study is aimed at reassessing the smooth muscle tissue by histological, ultrastructural and molecular-biological approaches.

The GDNF System Is Altered in Diverticular Disease - Implications for Pathogenesis.

Background & Aims: Absence of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) leads to intestinal aganglionosis. We recently demonstrated that patients with diverticular disease (DD) exhibit hypoganglionosis suggesting neurotrophic factor deprivation. Thus, we screened mRNA expression pattern of the GDNF system in DD and examined the effects of GDNF on cultured enteric neurons.

A novel endoscopic prototype device for gastric full-thickness biopsy for the histopathologic diagnosis of GI neuromuscular pathology: in vivo porcine long-term survival study (with videos).

Background: Many GI motility disorders are associated with underlying GI neuromuscular pathology, which requires full-thickness biopsies (FTB) for histopathologic diagnosis. Currently, none of the endoscopy-based attempts to obtain FTB specimens have proven suitable for routine use. This study evaluated a novel endoscopic prototype device (ED) for this purpose.

The enteric serotonergic system is altered in patients with diverticular disease.

Objective: Disturbances of the enteric serotonergic system have been implicated in several intestinal motility disorders. Patients with diverticular disease (DD) have been reported to exhibit abnormal intestinal motility and innervation patterns. Gene expression profiles of the serotonergic system and distribution of the serotonin type 4 receptor (5HT-4R) were thus studied in patients with DD.

Expression pattern and localization of alpha-synuclein in the human enteric nervous system.

Background: Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is abundantly expressed in the central nervous system and involved in the regulation of neurotransmission. Insoluble fibrils of phosphorylated α-synuclein (p-α-syn) have been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases (e.g.