Neurochemical coding of the enteric nervous system in chagasic patients with megacolon

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 52; no. 10; pp. 2877 - 2883
• Main Authors: DA SILVEIRA, A. B. M, D'AVILA REIS, D, DE OLIVEIRA, E. C, NETO, S. G, LUQUETTI, A. O, POOLE, D, CORREA-OLIVEIRA, R, FURNESS, J. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.10.2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Chagas Disease - classification; Chagas Disease - complications; Chagas Disease - metabolism; Colon - innervation; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Human protozoal diseases; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Megacolon - classification; Megacolon - etiology; Megacolon - metabolism; Microscopy, Confocal; Middle Aged; Neuropeptides - metabolism; Other diseases. Semiology; Parasitic diseases; Protozoal diseases; Severity of Illness Index; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Submucous Plexus - chemistry; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosomiasis; Human; Neurochemical markers . Neuropeptides; Protozoal disease; Chagas disease; Parasitosis; Neuropeptide; Chagasic megacolon . Enteric nervous system; Infection; Enteric nervous system; Coding; Megacolon; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Chagas' disease; Trypanosomiasis
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-006-9680-5

Neuronal destruction has been considered the hallmark of pathogenic mechanisms in chagasic megacolon. Characterization of neuropeptides in the enteric nervous system from chagasic patients with megacolon could elucidate some aspects of the development of this syndrome. In the present work we demonstrate the changes in expression of neuropeptides and neurochemical markers present in neuronal plexuses from the colons of chagasic patients with megacolon. Sections of frozen tissue samples were immunohistochemically labeled for anticalretinin, cChaT, substance P, VIP, NOS, and NPY. Immunoreactivity was observed using a confocal microscope. Our results demonstrate that in chagasic patients with megacolon, inhibitory motor neurons (VIP and NOS immunoreactive) are preferentially destroyed by Trypanosoma cruzi and/or the inflammatory process. These results suggest a selective destruction of enteric neurons in the colon of chagasic patients with megacolon, pointing to an important discovery in the mechanism of pathogenesis of Chagas' disease.