Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 2004; 10(24): 3608-3611
Published online Dec 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i24.3608
Characteristic expression of γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamate decarboxylase in rat jejunum and its relation to differentiation of epithelial cells
Fang-Yu Wang, Masahito Watanabe, Ren-Min Zhu, Kentaro Maemura
Fang-Yu Wang, Ren-Min Zhu, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Masahito Watanabe, Kentaro Maemura, Department of Anatomy, Osaka Medical College, Osaka 659-8686, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Japan-China Sasagawa Medical Fellowship (1999-2000) and Osaka Medical Research Foundation for Incurable diseases (High-Tech Research Program of Osaka Medical College)
Correspondence to: Fang-Yu Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China. wangf65@yahoo.com
Telephone: +86-25-80860020 Fax: +86-25-80860119
Received: March 31, 2004
Revised: May 6, 2004
Accepted: May 13, 2004
Published online: December 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression between γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate decarboxylase and its relation with differentiation and maturation of jejunal epithelial cells in rat jejunum.

METHODS: Immunohistochemical expression of GABA and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD, including two isoforms, GAD65 and GAD67) was investigated in rat jejunum. Meanwhile, double staining was performed with GAD65 immunohistochemistry, followed by lectin histochemistry of fluorescent wheat germ agglutinin. Furthermore, evaluation of cell kinetics in jejunum was conducted by 3H-thymidine autoradiography and immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).

RESULTS: The cells showing positive immunoreactivity GABA and GAD65 were mainly distributed in the villi in rat jejunum, while jejunal epithelial cells were negative for GAD67. Positive GABA or GAD65 staining was mainly located in the cytoplasm and along the brush border of epithelial cells in the middle and upper portions. In addition, a few GABA and GAD65 strongly positive cells were scattered in the upper two thirds of jejunal villi. Double staining showed that GAD65 immunoreactivity was not found in goblet cells. 3H-thymidine-labeled nuclei were found in the lower and middle portions of jejunal crypts, which was consistent with PCNA staining. Therefore, GABA and GAD65 were expressed in a maturation or functional zone.

CONCLUSION: The characteristic expression of GABA and GAD suggests that GABA might be involved in regulation of differentiation and maturation of epithelial cells in rat jejunum.

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