Endocrine cells and nerve ganglia of the small intestine of the Opossum Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826 (Mammalia: Didelphidae)

Abstract

The nervous and endocrine systems jointly control intestinal movements, secretions of their glands and also participate of the processes of nutrient digestion and absorption. Therefore, the central objective of this study was to verify the existence of a possible relationship between the number of nervous cells and ganglia of the submucosal and myenteric plexuses and the number of endocrine cells in the small intestine of adult D. aurita. The utilized staining techniques were Grimelius, modified Masson-Fontana, direct immunoperoxidase and H-E. Argyrophillic, argentaffin and insulin immunoreactive endocrine cells do not numerically vary between the initial, mid and final regions of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P>0.05), except for argyrophillic cells in the jejunum (P>0.05). No numerical relationship has yet been verified between the number of nerve ganglia and endocrine cells, and also between nervous and endocrine cells. We recommended the use of new immunohistochemical techniques to confirm the numerical correlation between the nervous and endocrine systems in the small intestine. The morphology and distribution of endocrine cells and the nerve ganglia studied were similar to those encountered in eutherian mammals.

Detecting fluoride using a plant species as a bioindicator, evaluating the relationship of endocrine and nerve ganglia in small intestine function, and discovering the effects of protein malnourishment and probiotic supplementation in the digestive system of mammalian models

“…These data indicate that the administration of probiotics during the initial phases of the digestive system development seems to be important to drive the correct functionality of intestine, as also observed by other authors (Preidis et al 2012). The study on how the nervous and endocrine systems interact with the small intestine by controlling its functions was addressed by Freitas-Ribeiro et al (2012) using Didelphis aurita as a model for enteroendocrine cells. The authors demonstrated that the distribution of endocrine and nerve ganglia in the small intestine followed the same morphology encountered in other eutherian mammals.…”

“…The study on how the nervous and endocrine systems interact with the small intestine by controlling its functions was addressed by Freitas-Ribeiro et al (2012) using Didelphis aurita as a model for enteroendocrine cells. The authors demonstrated that the distribution of endocrine and nerve ganglia in the small intestine followed the same morphology encountered in other eutherian mammals.…”