Histochemical, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopy Study of the Caudal Portion of the Chicken Intestinal Nerve of Remak

In order to deepen our knowledge of the different components of the chicken intestinal nerve of Remak (I.N.R.), we have studied it by means of histochemical, immunohistochemical and electron microscopy techniques to distinguish the different neurotransmitters. We have found cholinergic cell bodies, as well as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) positive neuronal fibers, forming part of the web that constitutes the I.N.R. in its caudal portion, with a higher density of neuronal bodies in the ganglia. We also observed catecholaminergic neuronal bodies and fibers, located fundamentally in the periphery of the nerve, and a low density of catecholaminergic cell bodies. With respect to the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) positive peptidergic innervation, we found more abundant neuronal bodies positive for the V.I.P. than for S.P. Electron microscopy corroborated the results observed under the optic microscope, showing the various types of vesicles containing different neurotransmitters.