Changes in substance P-immunoreactive innervation of human colon associated with ulcerative colitis

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 40; no. 10; p. 2250
• Main Authors: Keränen, U, Kiviluoto, T, Järvinen, H, Bäck, N, Kivilaakso, E, Soinila, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.1995
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Colitis, Ulcerative - metabolism; Colitis, Ulcerative - pathology; Colon - innervation; Colon - metabolism; Colon - pathology; Female; Humans; Ileum - innervation; Ileum - metabolism; Ileum - pathology; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Substance P - metabolism
• ISSN: 0163-2116
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02209015

The amount of colonic substance P and substance P-receptors is increased in ulcerative colitis, which may denote that substance-P is involved as a neurogenic mediator in the inflammatory process of ulcerative colitis. We studied the anatomical distribution of elevated colonic substance P in ulcerative colitis and assessed morphometrically whether the changes in substance P correlate with alterations in colonic innervation. Full-thickness specimens of colonic wall were obtained from normal human colons (N = 9) and the most and least affected regions of ulcerative colitis colons (N = 10) and immunostained for substance P. Substance P immunoreactivity index was calculated by multiplying each intensity value by the number of pixels exhibiting this intensity value. The numbers of substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the lamina propria were markedly increased, and their fluorescence intensity was enhanced in ulcerative colitis. The longitudinal muscle layer contained substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers in ulcerative colitis, but not in the controls. The substance P-immunoreactive index (= number x intensity of nerve fibers) was 3.42 +/- 1.49 in controls, 21.19 +/- 7.79 in mild ulcerative colitis regions (P < 0.05), and 29.68 +/- 9.81 in severe ulcerative colitis regions (P < 0.01). Increase in the number of substance P nerve fibers is in accordance with the hypothesis that substance P contributes to neurogenic mediation of inflammation in ulcerative colitis.