An In vitro distal colon-inferior splanchnic nerve preparation: Single unit responses to colorectal distension and bradykinin

infected animals showed enhanced gas accumulation in the proximal colon. Immunohistochemical detection of BDV-antioen revealed staining exclusively in the ENS and not in the muscle layers. The selective staining of neural structures was confirmed by neuron specific enolase (NSE) antibodies. In both the submucous and the myentedc plexus BDV-positive nerve fibers and cell bodies were found only in the infected animals. In the submucous plexus, BDV-positive nerve fibres and occasional BDV-positive cell bodies were found 4 weeks pJ.. The number of BDV-posifive nerve fibres and cell bodies increased dramatically between week 4 and 6 pJ. and resulted in positive staining of up to 30% of cell bodies in the submucous plexus. This proportion further increased to 50% at 14 weeks p.i. Infection of the myenteric plexus with BDV became also apparent 4 weeks p.i., but no dramatic increase with extended infection periods were observed. On average, 10% of myenteric neumnes ware BDV-positive after 4 weeks pJ.. This ratio increased up to 18% at week 14 Immunohistocheroical demonstration of choline acetyifransferase (CHAT) revealed that all BDV infected submucous neurones and 84% of the infected myenteric neurones were ChAT-positive. These data indicate that BDV colonizes the gut and dramatically affects the ENS. Like in the CNS,only subpopuiations of enteric neurones contain the BDV antigen. These neurones seemed to be primarily excitatory cholinergic neurones. Therefore it is concluded that infection of the ENS with BOV might lead to gastrointestinal dysfunctions. Furthermore, intestinal biposies may be used as