RESUMO
Nucleotide-metabolizing enzymes play important roles in the regulation of intracellular and extracellular nucleotide levels. We studied ATPase activity in the nervous ganglia of Phyllocaulis soleiformis, a terrestrial slug. The ATPase was divalent cation-dependent, with a maximal rate for ATP hydrolysis at pH 6.0 and 7.2 in the presence of Ca(2+) (5 mM). Mg(2+)-ATPase activity was only 26% of the activity observed in the presence of Ca(2+) (5 mM). ZnCl2 (10 mM) produced a significant inhibition of 70%. Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was insensitive to the classical ATPase inhibitors ouabain, N-ethylmaleimide, orthovanadate and sodium azide. Levamisole, an inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase, was ineffective. Among nucleotides, ATP was the best substrate. The apparent K(m) ((ATP)) for Ca(2+)-ATPase was 348+/-84 microM ATP and the V(max) was 829+/-114 nmol Pi min(-1) mg(-1) protein. The P. soleiformis ganglial ATPase does not appear to fit clearly into any of the previously described types of Ca(2+)-ATPases.
Assuntos
ATPases Transportadoras de Cálcio/metabolismo , Cálcio/metabolismo , Gânglios/enzimologia , Moluscos/enzimologia , Trifosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Animais , ATPases Transportadoras de Cálcio/antagonistas & inibidores , Inibidores Enzimáticos/metabolismo , Estabilidade Enzimática , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Concentração Osmolar , Especificidade por Substrato , TemperaturaRESUMO
The myenteric plexus of the digestive tract of the wild mouse Calomys callosus was examined using a histochemical method that selectively stains nerve cells, and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemical technique in whole-mount preparations. Neuronal density was 1,500 +/- 116 neurons/cm2 (mean +/- SEM) in the esophagus, 8,900 +/- 1,518 in the stomach, 9,000 +/- 711 in the jejunum and 13,100 +/- 2,089 in the colon. The difference in neuronal density between the esophagus and other regions was statistically significant. The neuron profile area ranged from 45 to 1,100 microns2. The difference in nerve cell size between the jejunum and other regions was statistically significant. AChE-positive nerve fibers were distributed within the myenteric plexus which is formed by a primary meshwork of large nerve bundles and a secondary meshwork of finer nerve bundles. Most of the nerve cells displayed AChE activity in the cytoplasm of different reaction intensities. These results are important in order to understand the changes occurring in the myenteric plexus in experimental Chagas' disease.
Assuntos
Acetilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Gânglios/enzimologia , Plexo Mientérico/enzimologia , Animais , Arvicolinae/metabolismo , Colo/metabolismo , Esôfago/metabolismo , Mucosa Gástrica/metabolismo , Jejuno/metabolismo , Masculino , CamundongosRESUMO
The myenteric plexus of the digestive tract of the wild mouse Calomys callosus was examined using a histochemical method that selectively stains nerve cells, and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemical technique in whole-mount preparations. Neuronal density was 1,500 + 116 neurons/cm2 (mean + SEM) in the esophagus, 8,900 + 1,518 in the stomach, 9,000 + 711 in the jejunum and 13,100 + 2,089 in the colon. The difference in neuronal density between the esophagus and other regions was statistically significant. The neuron profile area ranged from 45 to 1,100 mum2. The difference in nerve cell size between the jejunum and other regions was statistically significant. AChE-positive nerve fibers were distributed within the myenteric plexus which is formed by a primary meshwork of large nerve bundles and a secondary meshwork of finer nerve bundles. Most of the nerve cells displayed AChE activity in the cytoplasm of different reaction intensities. These results are important in order to understand the changes occurring in the myenteric plexus in experimental Chagas' disease.
Assuntos
Animais , Camundongos , Masculino , Acetilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Arvicolinae/metabolismo , Colo/metabolismo , Esôfago/metabolismo , Gânglios/enzimologia , Jejuno/metabolismo , Plexo Mientérico/enzimologia , Estômago/metabolismo , Gânglios/química , Plexo Mientérico/químicaRESUMO
The work reported here was carried out to study the importance of immunocytochemical staining of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease and to compare its results with those obtained by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining in consecutive sections. A retrospective study was made on 51 rectal mucosal biopsies and 19 colorectal surgical specimens from 52 patients clinically suspected of Hirschsprung's disease. Several consecutive sections from all cases were restained by H&E and for NSE demonstration. Sixteen (31%) patients had a histological diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease, 9 (17%) had hypoganglionosis, 4 (8%) had neuronal intestinal dysplasia, and 2 (4%) had normal histology. In eight patients (15%) hypoganglionosis remained dubious, and in 10 (19%) the diagnosis was inconclusive. Although the NSE staining improved the identification of the nervous tissue of the colon, both H&E and NSE staining proved to be of equal value in the assessment of the presence of neurons in the rectal wall of people with clinically suspected cases of Hirschsprung's disease. Ten H&E-stained sections from different levels of the biopsy specimen would be enough to detect ganglion cells in most cases.
Assuntos
Gânglios/enzimologia , Doença de Hirschsprung/diagnóstico , Fosfopiruvato Hidratase/análise , Reto/inervação , Adolescente , Adulto , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Doença de Hirschsprung/patologia , Humanos , Técnicas Imunoenzimáticas , Lactente , Masculino , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
A smaller ATP-ase activity in the abdominal nerve cord of the Periplaneta americana L. was observed when compared by peripheral area with ganglia activity of the central nervous system which have more complex physiological functions. There was no significant difference in the enzyme distribution in the pro, meso, metatoraxic, subesophageal ganglia and the sixth abdominal ganglion.