AGE-INDUCED NERVE-CELL LOSS IN THE MYENTERIC PLEXUS OF THE SMALL-INTESTINE IN MAN

We examined the number of nerve cells of the myenteric plexus and the thickness of the smooth muscle in the small intestine in autopsy mater ial of 6 young and 6 old persons. Neurons in the myenteric plexus have been visualised by a nonhistochemical method (Giemsa) in laminar prep arations of the muscularis externa. Significant reductions of at least 34% in the number of neurons in the ganglia of the myenteric plexus o f the old subjects were recorded in all regions of the small intestine , especially in the duodenum where the number of neurons decreased by over 38%. However, there was no significant correlation between nerve cell count and thickness of intestinal smooth muscle since no differen ce was found in thickness of intestinal smooth muscle between young an d old subjects. The decrease in the neuron density with age could affe ct the potential of the enteric nervous system to influence control ov er several small intestinal functional parameters.