Enteric glial cells immunoreactive for P2X7 receptor are affected in the ileum following ischemia and reperfusion

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of ischemia and reperfusion injury (IS) on enteric glial cells (EGCs) and neurons immunoreactive for the P2X7 receptor. Intestinal ischemia was induced by obstructing blood flow in the ileal vessels for 35 min. Afterwards, the vessels were reperfused for 14 days. Tissues were prepared for immunohistochemical labeling of P2X7 receptor, HuC/D (Flu) (pan-neuronal marker) and S100 beta (glial marker); HuC/D (Hu) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, glial marker)/DAPI (nuclear marker); or S100 beta and GFAP/DAPI. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of colocalization, density, profile area and cell proliferation were performed via fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The quantitative analyses revealed that a) neurons and EGCs were immunoreactive for P2X7 receptor; b) the P2X7 receptor immunoreactive cells and Hu immunoreactive neurons were reduced after 0 h and 14 days of reperfusion; c) the sloop and GFAP immunoreactive EGCs were increased; d) the profile area of S100 beta immunoreactive EGCs was increased by IS; e) few GFAP immunoreactive proliferated at 14 days of reperfusion; f) distinct populations of glial cells can be discerned: S100 beta(+)/GFAP(+) cells, S100 beta(+)/GFAP(-) cells and S100 beta(-)/GFAP(+) cells; g) histological analysis revealed less alterations in the epithelium cells in the IS groups and h) myeloperoxidase reaction revealed increased of the neutrophils in the lamina propria in the IS groups. This study showed that IS is associated with significant neuronal loss, increase of glial cells and altered purinergic receptor expression and that these changes may contribute to intestinal disorders.