Effects of combined pre- and post-natal protein deprivation on the myenteric plexus of the esophagus of weanling rats: a histochemical, quantitative and ultrastructural study (original) (raw)

World Journal of Gastroenterology

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of protein deprivation on the myenteric plexus of the esophagus of weanling rats. Pregnant female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups: nourished (N), receiving normal diet, and undernourished (D), receiving a protein-deprived diet, which continued after birth. At twenty-one days of age, 13 esophagi from each group were submitted to light microscopy and morphometrical analysis employing the NADH diaphorase, NADPH diaphorase and acetylcholinesterase techniques. Three other esophagi from each group were evaluated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In both the NADH- and the NADPH-reactive mounts, the neurons of the N mounts were more intensely stained, while in the D esophagi only the larger neurons were reactive. Many myenteric neurons of N were intensely reactive for AChE activity but only a few neurons of D exhibited these aspects. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the granular reticulum of N showed large numbers of ribosomes aligned on the o...

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