ISSN:
0002-9106
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
The relationship between organ size, body weight and the size variations in myenteric neurones of the ileum and cecum has been studied in white Fisher rats. Three groups of conventional as well as germfree rats of varying body weight were utilized.Myenteric neurones in the cecum and ileum “grow” with increasing body weight. Cecal neurones have a steeper growth curve than ileal neurones. The average diameter of Auerbach's ganglion cells in the cecum is 13.6 μ in 90 gm rats, 20.0 in 300 gm rats. In medium sized rats (150 gm) the myenteric neurones of the germfree cecum are 2-3 times as large as those in the cecum of conventional animals. This increase is proportional to the enlarged cecal circumference in germfree rodents. When small (90 gm) germfree rats are conventionalized the myenteric neurones return to normal size as the cecum “shrinks” to normal size. In the intramural parasympathetic nervous system of the gut organ size as well as body weight are determinants of ganglion cell size.
Additional Material:
4 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aja.1001160118
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