Expression And Significance Of Neurexin,Neuroligin Gene In The Enteric Nervous System Of Human And Rodent Population

Objective:To detect the expression and the role of Neurexin and Neuroligin in the enteric nervous system (ENS), and discuss the significance of the expression in Hischsprung's disease(HD).Methods:Longitudinal muscle with adherent myenteric plexus (LMMP) were obtained by dissection of the fresh gut wall of mouse, rat, guinea pig and human. Double fluorescence immunocytochemistry staining were used to label neurexin-1 and Hu which is neuron marker, Neuroligin-1.2.3,4 and Hu,Neurexin-1 and synaptophysin which is prepsynaptic marker, Neuroligin-1 and PSD95 which is postsynaptic marker. Images were merged to determine the relative positions of the signals. Then the expression of the Neurexin and Neuroligin in the 20 cases of HD was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:(1).Neurexin-1 immunoreactive products and Neuroligin-1,2,3,4 immunoreactive products were detected on the myenteric plexus of mouse, rat, guinea pig and human. On the same tissues, the immunoreactive products of Neurexin-1 and Hu, Neuroligin-1.2.3,4 and Hu were detected on the same cells; the immunoreactive products of Neurexin-1 and synaptophysin, Neuroligin-1 and PSD95 were detected on the same neuron tissues. (2) Neurexin and Neuroligin were most conspicuously expressed in the ganglionic colonic segment of HD-patients. In the aganglionic colonic segment Neurexin and Neuroligin were not seen. In the same tissu the expression of these gene was nearly the same.Conclutions:Neurexin and Neuroligin are expressed in the ENS, not only on the cell body but also on the axons and dendrites. Neurexin are expressed on the prepsynaptic neuron tissues, and Neuroligin are expressed on the postsynaptic neuron tissues. Neurexin and Neuroligin might play important role in the formation and function of ENS synapse, and have close connection to the gastrointestinal motility, especially to Hischsprung's disease.