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Immunohistochemical visualisation of the enteric nervous system architecture in the germ-free piglets

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Abstract

The enteric nervous system (ENS), considered as separate branch of the autonomic nervous system, is located throughout the length of the gastrointestinal tract as a series of interconnected ganglionic plexuses. Recently, the ENS is getting more in the focus of gastrointestinal research. For years, the main interest and research was aimed to the enteric neurons and their functional properties in normal conditions, less attention has been paid to the germ-free animals. Germ-free (GF) piglets have clear microbiological background and are reared in sterile environment. GF piglets are regarded as clinically relevant models for studying of human diseases, as these piglets’ manifest similar clinical symptoms to humans. In this study we briefly summarised the main characteristics in immunohistochemical distribution of ENS elements in the wall of jejunum and colon of germ-free piglets.

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Funding

The authors gratefully thank Mrs. Anna Hantke, Anna Horňáková and Ľuboslava Háberová for their exceptional technical assistance. This work was supported by EÚ project “Replace” at UVLF (FOOD-CT-2003-506487), Operational Programme Integrated Infrastructure, funded by the ERDF under No. ITMS2014+:313011V455.

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Correspondence to Štefan Tóth.

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Danková, M., Tóth, Š., Holodová, M. et al. Immunohistochemical visualisation of the enteric nervous system architecture in the germ-free piglets. J Mol Histol 53, 773–780 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-022-10079-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-022-10079-5

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