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Neurochemical Coding of the Enteric Nervous System in Chagasic Patients with Megacolon

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Abstract

Neuronal destruction has been considered the hallmark of pathogenic mechanisms in chagasic megacolon. Characterization of neuropeptides in the enteric nervous system from chagasic patients with megacolon could elucidate some aspects of the development of this syndrome. In the present work we demonstrate the changes in expression of neuropeptides and neurochemical markers present in neuronal plexuses from the colons of chagasic patients with megacolon. Sections of frozen tissue samples were immunohistochemically labeled for anticalretinin, cChaT, substance P, VIP, NOS, and NPY. Immunoreactivity was observed using a confocal microscope. Our results demonstrate that in chagasic patients with megacolon, inhibitory motor neurons (VIP and NOS immunoreactive) are preferentially destroyed by Trypanosoma cruzi and/or the inflammatory process. These results suggest a selective destruction of enteric neurons in the colon of chagasic patients with megacolon, pointing to an important discovery in the mechanism of pathogenesis of Chagas’ disease.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by funds from CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), Ministério da Educação, Brazil, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Grant 400020).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Morphology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP, 31270-901, Brazil

    A. B. M. da Silveira & D. D’Avila Reis

  2. Department of Surgery, Medical School, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, Brazil

    E. C. de Oliveira & S. G. Neto

  3. Chagas’ Disease Research Laboratory, IPTSP, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, Brazil

    A. O. Luquetti

  4. Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology and Centre for Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    D. Poole & J. B. Furness

  5. Research Center Rená Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    R. Correa-Oliveira

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  1. A. B. M. da Silveira
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  2. D. D’Avila Reis
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  3. E. C. de Oliveira
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  4. S. G. Neto
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  5. A. O. Luquetti
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  6. D. Poole
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  7. R. Correa-Oliveira
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  8. J. B. Furness
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Correspondence to A. B. M. da Silveira.

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da Silveira, A.B.M., D’Avila Reis, D., de Oliveira, E.C. et al. Neurochemical Coding of the Enteric Nervous System in Chagasic Patients with Megacolon. Dig Dis Sci 52, 2877–2883 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9680-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9680-5

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