Evaluation of myenteric neurons in the colon of rats exposed to 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide.

The assessment of the enteric nervous system provides a better understanding of the effects that contaminants can have on the health and well-being of organisms. It has been reported that 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a highly persistent herbicide in the environment that is responsible for neurotoxic changes in different myenteric neuronal subpopulations. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of 2,4-D on myenteric neurons in the colon of for the first time.

Balanced Caloric Restriction Minimizes Changes Caused by Aging on the Colonic Myenteric Plexus.

Aging can promote significant morphofunctional changes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Regulation of GIT motility is mainly controlled by the myenteric neurons of the enteric nervous system. Actions that aim at decreasing the aging effects in the GIT include those related to diet, with caloric restriction (CR).

Supplementation action with ascorbic acid in the morphology of the muscular layer and reactive acetylcholinesterase neurons of ileum of mdx mice.

The Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the absence of dystrophin protein, causing severe myopathy from increases of oxidative stress. Injuries of intestinal muscle can compromise the myenteric plexus. This study aimed to evaluate the disorders occurred in the muscular layer and in the acetylcholinesterase myenteric neurons (ACHE-r) of ileum of mdx mice, and the effects of supplementation with ascorbic acid (AA) in both components.

Benefits of caloric restriction in the myenteric neuronal plasticity in aging rats.

Aging is a biologic process characterized by progressive damage of structures and functions of organic systems. In gastrointestinal tract, it can involve enteric nervous system, which plays an important role in digestion and absorption of nutrients, causing hastening of intestinal transit thus reducing its absorptive function. Caloric restriction has been used in several studies with the intention of delaying deleterious effects of aging.

Morphological effects of autoclaved diet on the myenteric neurons of rats.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of autoclaved diet on the jejunum neurons of the myenteric plexus of rats during their growth.

Methods: The experimental groups were made up of rats going through weaning whose mothers received either an autoclaved or a non-autoclaved diet during gestation and lactation, and rats that were fed the same diet as their mothers during the post-weaning period. In order to measure the neurons' body profile and to quantify the number of neurons per area, preparations were stained by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-diaphorase method.

Exercise reduces inhibitory neuroactivity and protects myenteric neurons from age-related neurodegeneration.

The practice of regular exercise is indicated to prevent some motility disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, such as constipation, during aging. The motility alterations are intimately linked with its innervations. The goal of this study is to determine whether a program of exercise (running on the treadmill), during 6 months, has effects in the myenteric neurons (NADH- and NADPH-diaphorase stained neurons) in the colon of rats during aging.