Distribution of ghrelin-producing cells in stomach and the effects of ghrelin administration in the house musk shrew (Suncus murinus).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of ghrelin, an important appetite regulatory factor related to obesity, in the stomach of Suncus murinus, and attempted to elucidate the ghrelin-mediated regulatory effect in this animal. METHODS: The stomachs of Suncus murinus were divided into 5 sections, cardia, fundus, greater curvature, lesser curvature, and pylorus, for investigating the ghrelin-producing cells by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Then Suncus murinus were randomized into two groups with ghrelin intraperitoneal injection (ghrelin-ip group) and saline intraperitoneal injection (control group), respectively. The effects of food intake and body weight were measured, and furthermore, the distribution of ghrelin in stomach was also investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS: The immunolocalization and protein levels of ghrelin differed significantly in different regions of the stomach of Suncus murinus. Furthermore, ghrelin administration did not change the rate of food intake, but resulted in an increase in body weight compared with the control group. In this study, we elucidated the distribution of ghrelin-producing cells in the stomach of Suncus murinus in detail for the first time. Ghrelin intraperitoneal administration was found to induce an increase in body weight without changing food intake in this species. CONCLUSION: Our study implied ghrelin showed a different regulatory function in Suncus murinus from other species. It is considered that ghrelin may be associated with obesity-resistance phenomenon in Suncus murinus.

Effects of splenectomy on spontaneously chronic pancreatitis in aly/aly mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mice with alymphoplasia (aly/aly) mutation characterized by a lack of lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, and well-defined lymphoid follicles in the spleen were found. In this study, we used splenectomized aly/aly mice to elucidate the effects of secondary lymphoid organs in the development of aly/aly autoimmune pancreatitis. METHODS: Forty-eight 10-week-old aly/aly mice were divided into two groups for splenectomy and sham operation. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the pancreas were performed at the ages of 20, 30, and 40 weeks old after operation, respectively. RESULTS: Our results showed that mononuclear cell infiltration was restricted to the interlobular connective tissues at the age of 20 weeks, and not increase obviously at the age of 30 and 40 weeks in splenectomized aly/aly mice. Furthermore, an apparent decrease in the expressions of CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, and B cells was detected in the pancreatic tissues compared with sham aly/aly mice, however, no significant difference in macrophage expression between mice with and without a splenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation infiltration and development of the pancreatitis in aly/aly mice were suppressed effectively after splenectomy, which was, at least partly, correlated to inhibition of the infiltration of T and B cells in pancreatic tissues but not to macrophages.

Absence of the celiac trunk: case report and review of the literature.

The authors report a rare variation of the absence of the celiac trunk in a Japanese cadaver, with the left gastric, splenic, common hepatic, and superior mesenteric arteries arising independently from the abdominal aorta in the routine dissection of a 95-year-old Japanese male cadaver. The incidence and developmental and clinical significance of this variation is discussed with a detailed review of the literature. Knowledge of such case has important clinical significance in an abdominal operation or invasive arterial procedure, that is, Appleby procedure and liver transplantation, laparoscopic surgery, and radiological procedures in the upper abdomen.

Surgical anatomy of innervation of the gallbladder in humans and Suncus murinus with special reference to morphological understanding of gallstone formation after gastrectomy.

AIM: To clarify the innervation of human gallbladder, with special reference to morphological understanding of gallstone formation after gastrectomy. METHODS: The liver, gallbladder and surrounding structures were immersed in a 10 mg/L solution of alizarin red S in ethanol to stain the peripheral nerves in cadavers (n=10). Innervation in the areas was completely dissected under a binocular microscope. Similarly, innervation in the same areas of 10 Suncus murinus (S. murinus) was examined employing whole mount immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Innervation of the gallbladder occurred predominantly through two routes. One was from the anterior hepatic plexus, the innervation occurred along the cystic arteries and duct. Invariably this route passed through the hepatoduodenal ligament. The other route was from the posterior hepatic plexus, the innervation occurred along the cystic duct ventrally. This route also passed through the hepatoduodenal ligament dorsally. Similar results were obtained in S. murinus. CONCLUSION: The route from the anterior hepatic plexus via the cystic artery and/or duct is crucial for preserving gallbladder innervation. Lymph node dissection specifically in the hepatoduodenal ligament may affect the incidence of gallstones after gastrectomy. Furthermore, the route from the posterior hepatic plexus via the common bile duct and the cystic duct to the gallbladder should not be disregarded. Preservation of the plexus may attenuate the incidence of gallstone formation after gastrectomy.

Surgical anatomy of the innervation of pylorus in human and Suncus murinus, in relation to surgical technique for pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy.

AIM: To clarify the innervation of the antro-pyloric region in humans from a clinico-anatomical perspective. METHODS: The stomach, duodenum and surrounding structures were dissected in 10 cadavers, and immersed in a 10mg/L solution of alizarin red S in ethanol to stain the peripheral nerves. The distribution details were studied to confirm innervations in the above areas using a binocular microscope. Similarly, innervations in 10 Suncus murinus were examined using the method of whole-mount immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The innervation of the pyloric region in humans involved three routes: One arose from the anterior hepatic plexus via the route of the suprapyloric/supraduodenal branch of the right gastric artery; the second arose from the anterior and posterior gastric divisions, and the third originated from the posterior-lower region of the pyloric region, which passed via the infrapyloric artery or retroduodenal branches and was related to the gastroduodenal artery and right gastroepiploic artery. For Suncus murinus, results similar to those in humans were observed. CONCLUSION: There are three routes of innervation of the pyloric region in humans, wherein the route of the right gastric artery is most important for preserving pyloric region innervation. Function will be preserved by more than 80% by preserving the artery in pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD). However, the route of the infrapyloric artery should not be disregarded. This route is related to several arteries (the right gastroepiploic and gastroduodenal arteries), and the preserving of these arteries is advantageous for preserving pyloric innervation in PPPD. Concurrently, the nerves of Latarjet also play an important role in maintaining innervation of the antro-pyloric region in PPPD. This is why pyloric function is not damaged in some patients when the right gastric artery is dissected or damaged in PPPD.