Immunohistochemistry for intermediate filaments in the enteric nervous system of the porcine small intestine.

ABSTRACT

Antibodies against the cytoskeletal neurofilament protein 200 and gliafilament acidic protein were used for an immunohistochemical staining of nerve and glia cells in porcine small intestine. In sections as well as in whole mount preparations, the morphological and topographical features of the enteric nerve plexus could be demonstrated. The enteric glia cells are characterized by an abundance of immunoreactive GFAP, which allows a subsequent staining of the plexus. NFP 200 is immunohistochemically recognized only in a part of the neurons. This immunoreactive neuronal population can be identified morphologically as Typ II-neurons, which are defined as adendritic and pseudouniaxonal to multiaxonal. The immunostaining of intermediate filaments is an easy and reproducible means for studying the enteric nervous system and invaluable for the histopathological diagnosis of its morphological abnormalities.