Expressions of Neurexin and Neuroligin in the human and rodent enteric nervous system

Abstract

Objective To detect the expressions of neurexin and neuroligin in the human and ro-dent enteric nervous system (ENS) and intestine tissues of the patients with Hischsprung's disease (HD). Methods Longitudinal muscle with adherent myenteric plexus (LMMP) were dissected from the intestines of mice,rats,guinea pigs and humans. The myenteric plexus was identified by staining neuron markers of neurexin-1 and Hu,prepsynaptic markers of neurexin-1 and synaptophysin and postsynaptic markers of neuroligin-1 and PSD95. The expressions of the Neurexin and Neurelogin in 20 HD cases were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Neurexin-1,neuroligin-1-4 and Hu were detected in the some cells of the myenteric plexus of both rodents and humans. The expressions of Neurexin-1 and synaptophysin,and Neuroligin-1 and PSD95 were co-localized in the same tissues. The expressions of neurexin and neuroligin were prominent in the ganglionic colonic segment of HD,they were decreased in the transitional segments,and negative in the aganglionic colonic segment. In the same HD tissue,no difference was found between neurexin and neuroligin expression. Conclusions Neurexin and Neuroligin are expressed in the ENS of both rodents and humans. Dysregulated ex-pressions of Neurexin and Neuroligin may play important roles in the pathogenesis of HD. Key words: Enteric nervous system; Synapses; Hirschsprung disease