TOPOGRAPHY OF THE ENTERIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM IN PEYERS-PATCHES OF THE PORCINE SMALL-INTESTINE

The mechanisms of intercommunication between the immune and nervous sy stems are not fully understood. In the case of the intestine, the ente ric nervous system is involved in the regulation of immune responses. It was therefore decided to employ immunohistochemical techniques to i nvestigate the structural organization of the enteric nervous system i n Peyer's patches of the porcine small intestine. Using antibodies aga inst various nervous system-specific markers (protein gene product 9.5 , neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament 200, S-100 protein and the gl ial fibrillary acidic protein), an intimate and specific structural as sociation could be demonstrated between enteric nerves and the compart ments of Peyer's patches: follicles, interfollicular regions and domes . Peyer's patches have a close topographical relationship to the two s ubmucosal plexuses. Enteric nerves are located around the follicle in the interfollicular area - the so-called '' traffic area '' - and in t he dome area, which plays an important role in the uptake and presenta tion of antigens.