Neuropathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders

The investigative evidence and emerging concepts in neurogastroenterology implicate dysfunctions at the levels of the enteric and central nervous systems as underlying causes of the prominent symptoms of many of the functional gastrointestinal disorders. Neurogastroenterological research aims for improved understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of the digestive subsystems from which the arrays of functional symptoms emerge. The key subsystems for defecation-related symptoms and visceral hyper- sensitivity are the intestinal secretory glands, the musculature and the nervous system that controls and integrates their activity. Abdominal pain and discomfort arising from these systems adds the dimension of sensory neurophysiology. This review details current concepts for the underlying pathophysiology in terms of the physiology of intestinal secretion, motility, nervous control, sensing function, immuno-neural communication and the brain-gut axis.

Hu蛋白作为豚鼠小肠肌间丛神经元标志物的研究

比较 5种神经元标志物在小肠肌间丛神经元中的特异性。应用新发现的神经元标志物Hu蛋白 ,对豚鼠肠神经系统 (ENS)的小肠肌间丛神经元进行免疫荧光染色研究 ,并与其他神经元标志物MAP 2 ,PGP 9 5 ,NSE ,TUJ 1进行比较。结果表明 :Hu蛋白主要分布于神经元胞浆中 ,神经元核也有较浅的染色 ,尤其在whole mount上 ,每个神经元都清晰可见。MAP 2作为神经元标志物 ,也能显示完好的细胞形态 ,但由于粗大神经纤维的强染色 ,使神经元计数不准确。PGP 9 5 ,NSE和TUJ 1对体外培养的小肠肌间丛神经元染色良好 ,但在whole mount上 ,神经纤维强染色 ,无法计数分析。结果提示在豚鼠肠神经系统小肠肌间丛神经元的计数研究中 ,Hu蛋白是理想的神经元标志物。