PMID- 12021915 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20020912 LR - 20181130 IS - 0340-2061 (Print) IS - 0340-2061 (Linking) VI - 205 IP - 2 DP - 2002 May TI - Localisation of neurotrophin - containing cells in higher vertebrate intestine. PG - 135-40 AB - Neurotrophins are structurally related proteins that regulate the development, differentiation and maintenance of many neuronal populations. In higher vertebrates (reptiles, birds and mammals) four neurotrophins have been found: nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin (NT) 3 and NT4/5. In the gut, experimental data and the occurrence of neurotrophin receptors in intestinal neurons and endocrine cells suggest neurotrophin involvement in intestinal physiology. However, very few data are available regarding the cellular localization and distribution of neurotrophins in the gut. In this study we report the presence of NGF, BDNF and NT3 in neurons and endocrine cells of mouse, duck and lizard intestine. In particular, immunoreactivity to NGF was observed: (a) in both endocrine and nerve cells of mouse and duck intestine, (b) in endocrine cells of lizard gut. Immunoreactivity to BDNF was seen: (a) in nerve cells of mouse intestine, (b) in very few endocrine cells of mouse and duck intestine. Immunoreactivity to NT3 was detected: (a) in nerve cells of the mouse intestine, (b) in endocrine and nerve cells of duck and lizard gut. Our results, together with data previously reported, on the distribution of specific neurotrophin receptors, seem to suggest a possible paracrine/autocrine mechanism of neurotrophin action in both the enteric nervous system and endocrine cells. FAU - Lucini, C AU - Lucini C AD - Dip. Strutture, Funzioni e Tecnologie Biologiche, Universita di Napoli Frederico II, Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Naples, Italy. lucini@unina.it FAU - Maruccio, L AU - Maruccio L FAU - de Girolamo, P AU - de Girolamo P FAU - Vega, J A AU - Vega JA FAU - Castaldo, L AU - Castaldo L LA - eng PT - Comparative Study PT - Journal Article DEP - 20020419 PL - Germany TA - Anat Embryol (Berl) JT - Anatomy and embryology JID - 7505194 RN - 0 (Nerve Growth Factors) SB - IM MH - Animals MH - Ducks MH - Enteroendocrine Cells/cytology/*metabolism MH - Female MH - Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect MH - Immunoenzyme Techniques MH - Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism MH - Intestines/cytology MH - Lizards MH - Male MH - Mice MH - Nerve Growth Factors/*metabolism MH - Neurons/cytology/*metabolism MH - Species Specificity EDAT- 2002/05/22 10:00 MHDA- 2002/09/13 10:01 CRDT- 2002/05/22 10:00 PHST- 2002/01/22 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2002/05/22 10:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2002/09/13 10:01 [medline] PHST- 2002/05/22 10:00 [entrez] AID - 10.1007/s00429-002-0237-x [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Anat Embryol (Berl). 2002 May;205(2):135-40. doi: 10.1007/s00429-002-0237-x. Epub 2002 Apr 19.