Abstract
Zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) is a member of the solute-linked carrier 30 (SLC 30) zinc transporter family. It is closely linked to the nervous system, where it takes part in the transport of zinc ions from the cytoplasm to the synaptic vesicles. ZnT3 has also been observed in the enteric nervous system (ENS), but its reactions in response to pathological factors remain unknown. This study, based on the triple immunofluorescence technique, describes changes in ZnT3-like immunoreactive (ZnT3-LI) enteric neurons in the porcine ileum, caused by chemically-induced inflammation. The inflammatory process led to a clear increase in the percentage of neurons immunoreactive to ZnT3 in all “kinds” of intramural enteric plexuses, i.e., myenteric (MP), outer submucous (OSP) and inner submucous (ISP) plexuses. Moreover, a wide range of other active substances was noted in ZnT3-LI neurons under physiological and pathological conditions, and changes in neurochemical characterisation of ZnT3+ cells in response to inflammation depended on the “kind” of enteric plexus. The obtained results show that ZnT3 is present in the ENS in a relatively numerous and diversified neuronal population, not only in physiological conditions, but also during inflammation. The reasons for the observed changes are not clear; they may be connected with the functions of zinc ions and their homeostasis disturbances in pathological processes. On the other hand, they may be due to adaptive and/or neuroprotective processes within the pathologically altered gastrointestinal tract.
Highlights
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is localised in the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and takes part in all regulatory processes connected with digestive actions, such as intestinal motility and excretion [1]
Neurons immunoreactive to zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) were observed within the porcine ileal enteric nervous system, both under physiological conditions and during inflammation (Table 1)
The present investigation shows that ZnT3 is present in relatively numerous populations of enteric neurons in the porcine ileum, both under physiological conditions and during experimental inflammation in cholinergic and non-cholinergic cells
Summary
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is localised in the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and takes part in all regulatory processes connected with digestive actions, such as intestinal motility and excretion [1]. It is characterised by significant independence from the central nervous system, as well as complex conformation. Most of the abovementioned factors act as neuromediators and/or neuromodulators, but the functions of some neuronal substances described in the ENS remain unknown One of these is zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) [10]
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