Identification of collagen, elastic, elaunin and oxytalan fibres in ganglia of the myenteric plexus of the XXXX oesophagus.

@entity1 @entity4494
The connective tissue associated with the myenteric plexus of the @entity1 oesophagus was studied by light and electron microscopy. Collagen fibres were identified by picrosirius staining with polarization microscopy and from their fine structural morphology. A capsule of connective tissue invests the ganglia while septa of connective tissue separate groups of @entity4494 neurons, surrounding each individual @entity4494 neuron and each nerve bundle. Collagen fibrils surround the ganglia, each @entity4494 neuron and each nerve bundle. The fibrils are disposed in various orientations forming networks. Elastic, elaunin and oxytalan fibres were identified by their staining characteristics and fine structural morphology. The bulk of the @entity4494 sheath consists of coarse elastic fibres and elaunin fibres. Elaunin and oxytalan fibres form the intraganglionic network. Oxytalan, elaunin and elastic fibres appear to be located in areas related to different stresses and deformation to which the ganglia of the myenteric plexus are exposed during the contraction of the esophageal wall. The ganglia of the myenteric plexus of the @entity1 oesophagus show structural organisation of the connective tissue component similar to that seen in sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia.
