Summary
The localisation of monoamine oxidase (MAO) was examined in lamina preparations of the myenteric plexus of guinea-pig stomach, small intestine and proximal colon and in the submucous plexus of the small intestine. MAO is associated with most neurones in these parts of the enteric plexuses. In the myenteric plexus of the small intestine, cells corresponding to Dogiel's type II were prominent whereas type I cells appeared less reactive for MAO. However, both type I and type II cells of the proximal colon were heavily stained. In the stomach and in the submucous plexus of the small intestine, most positive cells were type II. There were many small positively stained cells throughout the myenteric plexus. Interstitial cells were lightly stained. The intensity of stain in many enteric neurones was similar to that of cells of the sympathetic ganglia.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ambache, N., Freeman, M. A.: Atropine-resistant longitudinal muscle spasms due to excitation of non-cholinergic neurones in Auerbach's plexus. J. Physiol. (Lond.)199, 705–727 (1968).
—, Zar, M. A.: An inhibitory action of histamine on the guinea-pig ileum. Brit. J. Pharmacol.38, 229–240 (1970).
Bhagvat, K., Blaschko, H., Richter, D.: Amine oxidase. Biochem. J.33, 1338–1341 (1939).
Blaschko, H.: Amine oxidase and amine metabolism. Pharmacol. Rev.4, 415–458 (1952).
Botting, J. H., Turmer, A. D.: Studies on the mode of action of vasopressin on the isolated proximal colon of the guinea-pig. Brit. J. Pharmacol.37, 306–313 (1969).
Cajal, S. Ramony: Histologie du systéme nerveaux de l'homme et des vertébrés. Paris: Maloine 1911.
Campbell, G.: The inhibitory nerve fibres in the vagal supply to the guinea-pig stomach. J. Physiol. (Lond.)185, 600–612 (1966).
Chessin, M., Dubnick, B., Leeson, G., Scott, C. C.: Biochemical and pharmacological studies ofβ-phenylethylhydrazine and selected related compounds. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.80, 597–608 (1959).
Consolo, S., Giacobini, E., Karjalainen, K.: Monoamine oxidase in sympathetic ganglia of the cat. Acta physiol. scand.74, 513–520 (1968).
Costa, M., Furness, J. B.: Storage, uptake and synthesis of catecholamines in the intrinsic adrenergic neurones in the proximal colon of the guinea-pig. Z. Zellforsch.120, 364–385 (1971a).
— —: The innervation of the proximal colon of the guinea-pig. Proc. Aust. Physiol. Pharmacol. Soc.2, 29–30P (1971b).
— —, Gabella, G.: Catecholamine containing nerve cells in the mammalian myenteric plexus. Histochemie25, 103–106 (1971).
Dogiel, A. S.: Über den Bau der Ganglien in den Geflechten des Darmes und der Gallenblase des Menschen und der Säugetiere. Arch. Anat. Physiol. (Lpz.) 130–158 (1899).
Eder, M.: Der histochemische Nachweis des Fermentes Monoaminoxidase. Entwicklung einer Nachweismethode und deren Anwendung. Beitr. path. Anat.117, 343–396 (1957).
Falck, B.: Observations on the possibilities of the cellular localization of monoamines by a fluorescence method. Acta Physiol. scand.56, Suppl. 197, 1–26 (1962).
Furness, J. B.: Secondary excitation of intestinal smooth muscle. Brit. J. Pharmacol.41, 213–226 (1971).
—, Costa, M.: The morphology and distribution of intrinsic adrenergic neurones of the guinea-pig proximal colon. Z. Zellforsch.120, 346–363 (1971).
Gabella, G.: Detection of nerve cells by a histochemical technique. Experentia (Basel)25, 218–219 (1969).
Gey, K. F., Pletscher, A.: Activity of monoamine oxidase in relation to the 5-hydroxytryptamine and norepinephrine content of the rat brain. J. Neurochem.6, 239–243 (1961).
Giacobini, E., Kerpel-Fronius, S.: Histochemical and biochemical correlations of monoamine oxidase activity in autonomic and sensory ganglia of the cat. Acta physiol. scand.78, 522–528 (1970).
Glenner, G. C., Burtner, H. J., Brown, G. W.: The histochemical demonstration of monoamine oxidase activity by tetrazolium salts. J. Histochem. Cytochem.5, 591–600 (1957).
Gunn, M.: Histological and histochemical observations on the myenteric and submucous plexuses of mammals. J. Anat. (Lond.)102, 223–239 (1968).
Hill, C. J.: A contribution to our knowledge of the enteric plexuses. Phil. Trans. B215, 355–387 (1927).
Honjin, R.: Studies on the nerve endings in the small intestine. Cytol. Neurol. Stud. (University of Kanazawa)9, 1–14 (1951).
—, Izumi, S., Osugi, H.: The distribution and morphology of argentophile and argentophobe nerve cells in the myenteric plexus of the digestive tube of the mouse: a quantitative study. J. comp. Neurol.111, 291–319 (1959).
Jacobowitz, D.: Histochemical studies of the autonomic innervation of the gut. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.149, 358–364 (1965).
Jarrott, B.: Occurrence and properties of monoamine oxidase in adrenergic neurons. J. Neurochem.18, 7–16 (1971).
Koelle, G. B.: The histochemical identification of acetylcholinesterase in cholinergic, adrenergic, and sensory neurons. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.114, 167–184 (1955).
—, Koelle, E. S., Friedewald, J. S.: The effect of inhibition of specific and non-specific cholinesterase on the motility of the isolated ileum. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.100, 180–191 (1950).
—, Valk, A. de T.: Physiological implications of the histochemical localization of monoamine oxidase. J. Physiol. (Lond.)126, 434–447 (1954).
Kopin, I. J.: Storage and metabolism of catecholamines: the role of monoamine oxidase. Pharmacol. Review.16, 179–191 (1964).
—, Gordon, E. K.: Metabolism of administered and drug-released norepinephrine -7 -H3 in the rat. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.140, 207–216 (1963).
Kopin, I. J.: Hertting, G., Gordon, E. K.: Fate of norepinephrine-H3 in the isolated perfused rat heart. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.138, 34–40 (1962).
Kosterlitz, H. W., Lydon, R. J.: Spontaneous electrical activity and nerve-mediated inhibition in the innervated longitudinal muscle strip of the guinea-pig ileum. J. Physiol. (Lond.)200, 126–128P (1968).
Leaming, D. B., Cauna, M.: A qualitative and quantitative study of the myenteric plexus of the small intestine of the cat. J. Anat. (Lond.)95, 160–169 (1961).
Levine, R. J., Sjoerdsma, A.: Estimation of monoamine oxidase activity in man: techniques and applications. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.107, 966–974 (1963).
Malmfors, T.: Studies on adrenergic nerves. Acta physiol. scand.64, Suppl. 248, 1–93 (1965).
Morrison, A. R., Habel, R. E.: A quantitative study of the distribution of vagal nerve endings in the myenteric plexus of the ruminant stomach. J. comp. Neurol.122, 297–309 (1964).
Niemi, M., Kouvalainen, K., Hjelt, L.: Cholinesterases and monoamine oxidase in congenital megacolon. J. Path. Bact.82, 363–366 (1961).
Pletscher, A., Gey, K. F., Burkard, W. P.: Inhibitors of monoamine oxidase and decarboxylase of aromatic amino acids. Handb. exp. Pharmacol., vol. 19, pp. 593–735. Berlin-Heidelberg New York: Springer 1966.
Rintoul, J. R.: The comparative morphology of the enteric nerve plexuses. Ph. D. Thesis, University of St. Andrews, 1960.
Sanan, S., Vogt, M.: Effect of drugs on the noradrenaline content of brain and peripheral tissues and its significance. Brit. J. Pharmacol.18, 109–127 (1962).
Tjälve, H.: Catechol- and indolamines in some endocrine cell systems. An autoradiographical, histochemical and radioimmunological study. Acta physiol. scand.81, Suppl. 360, 1–122 (1971).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by grants from the Australian Research Grants Council Commitee and the National Health and Medical Research Council. We thank Prof. G. Burnstock for his continued support.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Furness, J.B., Costa, M. Monoamine oxidase histochemistry of enteric neurones in the guinea-pig. Histochemie 28, 324–336 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702638
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702638