Structural and functional changes in the ileum of Parkinsonian cynomolgus monkeys / 中华老年心脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the changes in intestinal structure and function of Parkinson's dis-ease(PD)model in cynomolgus monkeys so as to provide scientific basis for exploring the mecha-nism and intervention of constipation and other intestinal symptoms in PD patients.Methods Six male cynomolgus monkeys were subjected,and three of them received intracarotid injection of MPTP for manifestations of typical PD motor symptoms.The monkeys with the Kurlan score reached 10 and persisting for over 3 months without abrogation were identified as PD model(PD group).The other three monkeys served as control group.The brain and ileum tissue samples were collected from the two groups of monkeys.Immunohistochemical staining with tyrosine hydroxy-lase(TH)was used to determine the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain and the changes in peripheral TH of the intestine.HE staining was employed to observe the structure of the intestine.Intestinal permeability was evaluated by atresia occlusive zone pro-tein 1(ZO-1),and intestinal peristalsis function was assessed with intestinal pacemaker cell bio-markers oncogene c-kit and protein gene product 9.5(PGP9.5).Results When compared with the control group,the PD group had significantly less number of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in the left and right sides(133.13±108.63 vs 957.21±225.56,t=5.705,P=0.005;155.74±62.48 vs 917.52±161.14,t=7.611,P=0.002),lower expression of TH in the ileal intermuscular plexus(0.79±0.01 vs 0.73±0.01,t=5.149,P=0.007),reduced villus density with irregular arrange-ment,scattered structure,and detachment of goblet cells,and increased expression of ZO-1(0.28± 0.01 vs 0.22±0.02,P=0.006)and c-kit(0.21±0.01 vs 0.18±0.01,P=0.007)in the ileum muco-sa,but there was no such difference in the expression of PGP9.5 between the two groups(0.31± 0.08 vs 0.38±0.06,P=0.322).Conclusion Intestinal barrier integrity is damaged in PD mon-keys,with damaged villi,increased intestinal permeability and decreased peristalsis,and peristaltic function related intermuscular neurons are not involved.