|
|
||||||||
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada 89557
Electrical and mechanical activity of the circular muscle layer in the rectoanal region of the gastrointestinal tract undergoes considerable changes in the site of dominant pacemaking activity, frequency, and waveform shape. The present study was performed to determine whether changes in the structural organization of the circular layer or in the density, distribution, and ultrastructure of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) could account for this heterogeneity in electrical and mechanical activities. Light microscopy revealed that the structural organization of the circular muscle layer underwent dramatic morphological changes, from a tightly packed layer with poorly defined septa in the proximal rectum to one of discrete muscle bundles separated by large septae in the internal anal sphincter. Kit immunohistochemistry revealed a dense network of ICC along the submucosal and myenteric borders in the rectum, whereas in the internal anal sphincter, ICC were located along the periphery of muscle bundles within the circular layer. Changes in electrical activity within the circular muscle layer can be partially explained by changes in the structure of the muscle layer and changes in the distribution of ICC in the rectoanal region of the gastrointestinal tract.
enteric nervous system; Kit immunoreactivity; internal anal sphincter; smooth muscle
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
B. McDonnell, R. Hamilton, M. Fong, S. M. Ward, and K. D. Keef Functional evidence for purinergic inhibitory neuromuscular transmission in the mouse internal anal sphincter Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, April 1, 2008; 294(4): G1041 - G1051. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. Kojima, T. Nakagawa, R. Katsui, H. Fujii, Y. Nakajima, and M. Takaki A 5-HT4 agonist, mosapride, enhances intrinsic rectorectal and rectoanal reflexes after removal of extrinsic nerves in guinea pigs Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, August 1, 2005; 289(2): G351 - G360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. N. Mutafova-Yambolieva, K. O'Driscoll, A. Farrelly, S. M. Ward, and K. D. Keef Spatial localization and properties of pacemaker potentials in the canine rectoanal region Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, May 1, 2003; 284(5): G748 - G755. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Visit Other APS Journals Online |