Three-dimensional demonstration of the interstitial cells of Cajal associated with the submucosal plexus in guinea-pig caecum

Abstract

The guinea-pig caecum was studied by using immunohistochemistry for Kit receptors and nerves to clarify whether interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) were localized in association with the submucosal plexus (ICC-SP). A large area of the guinea-pig caecum was nearly devoid of longitudinal muscles, because they were concentrated into three bundles of the taenia caeci (coli) and this allowed clear observation of the myenteric and submucosal plexus as separate networks in whole-mount stretch preparations. The myenteric plexus was observed as a loose polygonal network consisting in elongated ganglia and long connecting nerve strands, whereas the submucosal plexus was identified as smaller ovoid ganglia connected to much thinner nerve strands in different tissue layers. Three-dimensional reconstruction of confocal images revealed multipolar-shaped ICC-SP located around the submucosal ganglion in a basket formation. Bipolar ICC-SP were also observed along the connecting nerve strands of the submucosal plexus. The functional involvement of ICC-SP in mucosal activity is discussed in relation to fluid transportation. This three-dimensional study of ICC-SP thus provides a candidate for the most suitable material available for functional experiments examining the physiological significance of ICC-SP.

Ultrastructural characterization of interstitial cells of Cajal associated with the submucosal plexus in the proximal colon of the guinea pig

“…In contrast to the ICC-SP of the stomach (Kunisawa and Komuro 2008), ileocaecal junction (Miyamoto-Kikuta et al 2009) and caecum (Tamada and Komuro 2011), ICC-SP and their processes in the proximal colon have been frequently observed in wide connective tissue spaces away from the submucosal ganglia. Basket-like structures composed of multipolar ICC-SP have been observed around the submucosal ganglia in the caecum of the guinea pig but these structures have not been observed in the proximal colon.…”

“…In addition, ICC have been found in tissues that have no relationship to the tunica muscularis for gastrointestinal motility and have long puzzled researchers with regard to their functions. Such ICC lie in the subserosal layer (ICC-SS; Aranishi et al 2009) and are associated with the submucosal (submucous) plexus (ICC-SP; Kunisawa and Komuro 2008;MiyamotoKikuta et al 2009;Tamada and Komuro 2011).…”

“…ICC-SP of the stomach (Kunisawa and Komuro 2008) and caecum of guinea pigs (Tamada and Komuro 2011) have been proposed to be involved with the regulation of specific mucosal functions, such as the secretion, absorption and transport of fluids. In this context, ICC-SP might have a certain fundamental role related to the mucosa, although their distribution in other regions has not as yet been elucidated, despite the submucosal plexus being distributed throughout the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the anus.…”

Atlas of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Gastrointestinal Tract

“…ICC are rather densely distributed in the taeniae and within the circular muscle layer. (Reproduced from Tamada and Komuro [81] with permission of the publisher). ICC-SP are found in association with the submucosal plexus.…”

Differentiation of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Human Distal Colon

“…In adults, the ICC were identified not only within the internal anal sphincter, which is a smooth muscle, but also in a striated muscle of the external anal sphincter [Shafik et al, 2006]. Electrophysiological studies of rat, dog, and human colon have suggested that both ICC-MP and ICC-SMP are distinct pacemaker cells [Faussone-Pellegrini et al, 1990;Rae et al, 1998;Pluja et al, 2001;Alberti et al, 2007;Rumessen et al, 2009;Tamada and Komuro, 2011]. In the human gut, ICC-CM, ICC-LM, and ICC-DMP differentiate presumably in near-term fetuses, and the differentiation continues after birth [Kenny et al, 1999;Wester et al, 1999;Faussone-Pellegrini et al, 2007].…”