EN
The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of biologically active substances in intramural neurons supplying the ileum and large intestines (caecum, spiral colon and descending colon) in normal (control) pigs and in pigs suffering from dysentery. Higher numbers of galanin (GAL)-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)- and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive (-IR) neuronal somata were found in the myenteric (MP), and outer (OSP) and inner submucus (ISP) intestinal nerve plexuses in dysenteric pigs as compared to control animals. Additionally, the density of substance P (SP)- and VIP-IR nerve fibres in the studied tissues was higher in dysenteric than in controls animals, whereas the number of CGRP-IR nerve fibres remained unchanged, or even was lower in the experimental pigs. The number of SP-IR nerve cell bodies in the MP of all intestinal segments studied was comparable in dysenteric and control pigs. An increased number of SP-IR perikarya were observed in OSP and ISP of the ileum, cecum and centripetal turns; whereas the number of SP-IR somata was lower in the plexuses of centrifugal turns and the descending colon. The number of nerve fibres found in all layers of the intestinal wall was lower in dysenteric pigs. Each of the intramural plexuses in all the intestinal segments studied contained less than 1% of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-IR neurones and this characteristic was similar both in dysenteric and control pigs. The number of NPY-IR nerve fibres increased slightly in the plexuses as well as in both muscular layers and mucosa.