Abstract
The distribution and structure of enteroglial cells in the nerve plexuses of the guinea pig stomach were studied immunocytochemically using antiserum to S-100 b protein. Sections and whole-mount preparations of the submucous coat and longitudinal muscle layer of the stomach were immunostained by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. S-100 b protein-immunopositive enteroglial cells were demonstrated in the mucous coat, submucous coat, circular muscle layer, longitudinal muscle layer and serous coat. The nerve plexuses in the stomach constituted a three-dimensional network consisting of ganglia, nerve strands and an autonomic ground plexus, whose framework was formed by enteroglial cells. The submucous plexus contained a few small ganglia, whereas the myenteric plexus contained many large ganglia. In the larger curvature, the network of the myenteric plexus was more dense in the pyloric region than in the corpus ventriculi region.
