Changes in substance P-immunoreactive innervation of human colon associated with ulcerative colitis

Dig Dis Sci. 1995 Oct;40(10):2250-8. doi: 10.1007/BF02209015.

Abstract

The amount of colonic substance P and substance P-receptors is increased in ulcerative colitis, which may denote that substance-P is involved as a neurogenic mediator in the inflammatory process of ulcerative colitis. We studied the anatomical distribution of elevated colonic substance P in ulcerative colitis and assessed morphometrically whether the changes in substance P correlate with alterations in colonic innervation. Full-thickness specimens of colonic wall were obtained from normal human colons (N = 9) and the most and least affected regions of ulcerative colitis colons (N = 10) and immunostained for substance P. Substance P immunoreactivity index was calculated by multiplying each intensity value by the number of pixels exhibiting this intensity value. The numbers of substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the lamina propria were markedly increased, and their fluorescence intensity was enhanced in ulcerative colitis. The longitudinal muscle layer contained substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers in ulcerative colitis, but not in the controls. The substance P-immunoreactive index (= number x intensity of nerve fibers) was 3.42 +/- 1.49 in controls, 21.19 +/- 7.79 in mild ulcerative colitis regions (P < 0.05), and 29.68 +/- 9.81 in severe ulcerative colitis regions (P < 0.01). Increase in the number of substance P nerve fibers is in accordance with the hypothesis that substance P contributes to neurogenic mediation of inflammation in ulcerative colitis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / metabolism*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / pathology
  • Colon / innervation*
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Colon / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ileum / innervation
  • Ileum / metabolism
  • Ileum / pathology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Substance P / metabolism*

Substances

  • Substance P