An ultrastructural study was carried out on the muscular coat of human intestine. Special muscle layer(SML), which consisted of 1-6 rows of special muscle cells with the characteristics of smaller volume and more electron density than those of (.he muscle cells of the main component of the circular muscle layer (MCM), was found at the innermost (the mucosal side) of MCM. A space was usually found between the SML and MCM. Numerous nerve fibers were distributed within the connective tissue of the space. The density of nerve distribution and the frequency of varicosities in SML were the highest in the muscular coat of the intestine. A close contact between the axons and the muscle cells was usually found. The density of nerve distribution in MCM was the second and the longitudinal muscle (LM) was poorly innervated. Most commonly the axon was separated from the muscle by a gap over 100 nm in width in MCM and LM. Intermediate junction was present in SML, MCM, and LM, while gap junction could only be observed in MCM, Interstitial cells were seen in the connective tissue septa, and their processes were often in close contact with the muscle cells and axons. In the cytoplasm of the interstitial cells of SML, myofilament-like structure was sometimes found.The ultrastructural features of the muscular coat of human intestine were compared with those found in laboratory animals and the physiological significance of these features was discussed.

The changes of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive (IR) nerves in the tongue of the control and the irradiated rats were studied by using the methods of immunocytochemistry and microspectrophotometer (SPM) measuring techniques. The results show that CGRP-IR nerves were found in all tissues of the tongue. When acute intestinal radiation sickness (AIRS), the changes of CGRPIR nerves appeared obviously and might be divided into two phases: the stimulating phase was the first 24 hours after irradiation. CGRP-IR nerves of the tongue have obviously swollen, become thickness, the enlargement of the varicosities and an increase of accumulative material in the nerve fiber terminals. The destructive phase was from 24 to 72 hrs after irradiation. The characteristics of the lesion appeared in 48 hrs after irradiation. CGRP-IR nerves of the tongue body have reduced, part of CGRP-IR nervous bundles broken. The pathological changes were particularly evident in 72 hrs after irradiation. CGRP-IR nerves of the tongue body have marked reduced, even disappeared. All of CGRP-IR nerves of the root of the tongue almost broken completly with the exception of the structure like the motor end plates of the striated muscles and the CGRP-IR nerves in taste glands. By using SPM measuring, there was significant reduction in 48 hrs or 72 hrs after irradiation compared with the control group (P

By using histochemical and immunocytochemical techiques, the distribu- tion, origin, and properties of ACh, NE, CGRP, and NPY in tongue of rats were studied. The results revealed that the cholinergic (ACh) nerves, VIP and NPY im- munoreactive (IR) positive neurons mainly located in the subepithelial layer of the mucosa and the muscle layer. The nerves formed perivascular plexus of the blood vessels, surrounding the glands, and distributed in the muscle layer. The adrenergic nerves surrounded the blood vessels and gaglion cells forming a basket-like structure. CGRP-IR nerves were observed in all layers of tongue. The circumvallate and fungiform papillaes were densely innervated by the CGRP-IR nerves, whereas the filiform papillaes contained only a few nerves. Abundant CGRP-IR nerves surrounded the glands, the blood vessels, and formed motor end plate structure at the region of contacting the striated muscle of to- ngue. After treatment with capsaicin, a marked reduction in the CGRP-IR ner- ves were found in the mucosa of the tip and body of the tongue, but no ob- vious changes were seen in the other parts of the CGRP-IR nerves as well as the other type of the nerves. No NE and CGRP-IR neurons were observed. The characteristics of distribution suggested that the ACh,VIP and NPY nerves might be related to the regulation of regional blood flow and the secretion of the glands while the CGRP-IR nerves, besides the above effects, might be related to the regulation of motion and sensation.

The characteristics of distribution, origin and properties of galanin (GAL) were investigated, by using immunocytochemistry (the whole mount stretched pr- eparations and cryostat sections), immunoelectronmicroscopy and microspectroph- ometer measuring techniques. The results showed that (1) All layers of small intestine were rich in GAL- immunoreactive(GAL-I) nerves with a high density in myenteric and submucosal plexuses. (2) A rather high density around the small blood vessels of the small intestine and intestinal crypts were observed. Some GAL-I neurons were seen in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses. Enteric GAL-I nerve fibers seemed to be endogenic and probably related to the regulation of motor function in the gastro- intestinal tract, since there was no obvious reducation of nerve fibers after sec- tion of mesenterium or injection of capsaicin. (3) The distribution and charac- teristics of GAL-I nerve fibers in small intestine indicated that the GAL-I ne- rves might be playing a regulational role in the motion, absorption, secretion and regional blood flow of the gastrointestinal tract.

The development of the nerves of the small intestine was studied in 26 human fetuses with the gestational age of 11 to 40 weeks.The findings are as follows:(1)The distance between the Auerbach's ganglia and the muscular layer is small in the early fetal period and it increases progressively as the fetus grows.(2)The density of neuropils increases gradually.(3)The number of large gradual vacuoles (LGV) is small in the 3rd month of gestation,and it increases gradually and is quite numerous in the 6th month.(4)The morphology of the synapses is not so typical as that of an adult.(5)The peak values of the stereological morphological parameters of the organelles in the neurons appear between the 4th-6th month and maintain at a relatively high level until the baby is bron.

The morphologc observation of immunoreactive structures and the quantitative analysis of VIP, SP, L-ENK and SOM in the small intestine of the control and the irradiated rats were studied by using the methods of immunocytochemistry (ICC) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Meanwhile, histopathologic study was carried out by light and electron microscope (LM, EM). The results and findings are as follows.. (1) Viewed on LM, no obvious change of the enteric ganglia was found in the small intestine of the irradiated rats; while under EM, the axons and synaptic vesicles showing swelling and vacuolar degeneration was observed. These stuctures have close relation to the transport and release of the neurotransmitter. (2) The normal morphology and the distribution of the immunoreactive nerves and endocrine cells of VIP, SP, L-ENK and SOM were revealed in the intestine of rats by ICC method. Four kinds of immunoreactive peptidergic nerves were confirmed as an important part of the enteric nervous system. No obvious change was found on the structure of the peptidergrc nerves after 2000 rad r-irradiation. The radiosensitivity of the peptide-containing endocrine cells was similar to that of the intestinal epithelium. (3) We first confirmed with RIA that the level of the 4 regulatory peptides remarkably changed in the small intestine of the irradiated rats. Combining the physiologic founctions and the trends of the 4 regulatory peptides, as well as the pathologic characteristics and process after r-irradiation, it is proposed that the 4 kinds of peptide may be involved in the pathologic process of the mucosa damage and the disturbance of intestinal motility etc. in the intestinal radiation sickness of rats.

By using immunocytochemistry (the whole mount stretch preparations and cryostat sections) and radioimmunoassay, the characteristics of distribution, origins and properties of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were studied. The results show that all layers of small intestine were rich in CGRP-immu-noreactive(CGRP-I)nerves with a high density in myenteric, submucosal and mucosal plexuses. Also it had a rather high density around the small blood vessels of the small intestine and intestinal crypts. Some CGRP-I neurons were seen in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses which were the intrinsic origin of CGRP-I nerves of small intestine. And the denervation and injection of capsaicin demonstrated that the extrinsic CGRP-I nerves of small intestine with mainly sensory origin also existed. The characteristics of distribution of CGRP-I nerves in small intestine indicated that the CGRP-I nerves might be related with the regulation of motion, secretion, absorption, sensation and regional blood flow of the gastrointestinal tract.

Objective\ To exam the expression and the distribution of the aromatase mRNA in the brain of the mouse. Methods\ RNA dot\|blotting as well as in situ hybridization technique were used. Results\ (1)There were aromatase specific mRNA expression in the brain tissue during the period from E16 to P300,the highest levels of mRNA were detected at postnatal 6 days,and the lowest levels were found at adulthood.(2)The location of the aromatase mRNA was confined to neuronal(but not glial)cell bodies and their processes.(3)The mainly distribution of aromatase mRNA was detected in the regions of the cerebral cortex,thalamus,hypothalamus and limbic system.Many heavily labeled cells were found in the layer of pyramidal cells of cerebral cortex,medial preoptic area.medial septal nucleus,pyramidal layer of hippocampus,amygdaloid nuclei.cingulate cortex,piriform cortex and periamygdaloid cortex.The moderately dense signal was present in several thalamic and hypothalamic nuclei such as ventromedial nucleus,ventrolateral nucleus,laterodorsal thalamic nucleus,paraventricular nucleus,etc. Conclusion\ There was relationship between the gene expression of aromatase with the development of brain,there was good agreement between the distribution of aromatase mRNA and aromatase activity as previously reported.The high levels of aromatase mRNA in the region of hippocampus and cerebral cortex suggested that aromatase may implicate for sex dimorphism in cognition as well as learning and memory.\;

Objective Studies have shown that estrogen plays profound roles on nerve system,but the mechanism is now poorly understood.In order to address this question,the distribution of the newly cloned estrogen receptor ?(ER\|?) immunoreactivity(ER\|?\|ir) was examined in the brain of adult female rats. Methods Using nickel ammonium sulfate intensified immunohistochemistry technique. Results 1.ER\|?\|ir was mainly localized in the nuclei of neurons,it was also found in the perikaryon and neuritis;while in very few neurons,positive signals were only detected in the perikaryon and neuritis;2.High level of ER\|?\|ir positive signals were detected in the anterior olfactory nucleus,cerebral cortex,Purkinje cells,vertical limb of the diagonal band,superior vestibular nucleus,endopiriform nucleus,lateral amygdaloid nucleus,red nucleus and loci ceruleus;moderate level of ER\|?\|ir was detected in the medial septal nucleus,posterior cortical nucleus of the amygdaloid,CA3 and CA4 of the hippocampus,dentate gyrus,bed nucleus of the stria terminalis,supraoptic nucleus;weak signals were detected in the nuclei of hypothalamus,oculomotor nucleus,claustrum and some nuclei of the amygdaloid complex.Conclusion\ ER\|? immunoreactive neurons are extensively distributed in the brain of the adult female rats;this receptor may be involved in different brain function in different brain nuclei. \;[

Objective To observe the regulatory mechanism of substance P on the tension of human umbilical vein and the calcium ion of endothelial cells. Methods The tension was recorded by conventional physiological recording methods,and confocal laser scanning microscopy and patch\|clamp technique were used to observe the concentration of intracytosolic free calcium ion and the opening probability of membrane calcium ion channel of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Results Substance P induced the endothelial\|dependent relaxing of human umbilical vein and the increasing of the concentration of intracytosolic free calcium ion and of the opening probability of calcium ion channel in the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.Conclusion\ Substance P could be function as the activator of the releasing of the intracellular stored calcium ion,and the inflowing of calcium ion from the outside cell bodies to relax human umbilical vein.