Differential projection of cholinergic and nitroxidergic neurons in the myenteric plexus of guinea pig stomach

The aim of this study was to investigate the organization of myenteric circuits in the guinea pig stomach. Intracellular neurobiotin injections followed by choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) immunohistochemistry and NADPH- diaphorase reaction were used to identify projections of cholinergic and nitroxidergic neurons. Neurons were classified as motor neurons based on varicose endings in the muscle or the occurrence of retraction bulbs, as nonmotor neurons if varicose endings terminated onto other ganglion cells, or as multitargeted neurons. ChAT-positive cells are composed of 64% motor, 27% nonmotor, and 9% multitargeted neurons. The percentages for NADPH-reactive motor, nonmotor, and multitargeted neurons were 57, 39, and 4%, respectively. The majority of ChAT-positive motor (81%) and nonmotor neurons (85%) had ascending projections. In contrast, the majority of NADPH-reactive motor (86%) and nonmotor neurons (86%) had descending projections. Cell bodies of ascending neurons were smaller in size than the descending neurons. The results indicate that CHAT- and NADPH-neurons in the stomach have preferred projections, the former being primarily ascending, the latter mainly descending neurons. This suggests the existence of a basic circuit for polarized reflexes in the myenteric plexus of the stomach, which might mediate descending relaxation and ascending excitation.