P05 | ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM NEUROPLASTICITY IN COLON OF ANIMAL MODELS OF OBESITY

V. Bellitto¹, I. Martinelli², G. Nittari², S.K. Tayebati², D. Tomassoni¹ | ¹School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy; ²School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy

An altered functional innervation of the intestine by the enteric nervous system (ENS) has been demonstrated in different diseases. Pathological changes in histological features confirm neuronal plasticity in metabolic syndrome and related obesity conditions. Changes in functionality and composition of gut microbiota and intestinal dysbiosis seem closely linked to the degeneration of myenteric plexus in the ENS¹. Animal models of genetic obesity (Obese Zucker’s rat), Diet-induced obesity (DIO rats) and Western diet-induced obesity (Cafeteria rats)² were studied to appreciate the progression of changes in glial cells and neurons along the innervation of the gut, particularly at the level of colon. Using different markers through immunohistochemical and immunochemical techniques, the morphological and functional modulations of the heterogeneous neuronal population of the gut wall were evaluated and the histological damage, neurodegeneration, and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression were detected on the colon. Myenteric neurons showed a reduction in neuronal markers expression, suggesting a degeneration associated with obesity. An altered immunoreactivity of enteric glial cells (EGCs) was found in the obese rats, which pointed out a suffering condition of nervous tissue suggesting a degeneration related to lipotoxicity. Also, the cholinergic and nitrergic networks appear affected by dysmetabolic conditions. In conclusion, the obesity establishment seems to induce myenteric neurodegeneration. Also, gut dysbiosis promoted by an increment of intestinal permeability and related pro-inflammatory microenvironment makes an alteration of EGCs and neurons along the innervation of the gut in animal models of dysmetabolic conditions. However, further studies are needed to understand if the use a possible supplementation, such as prebiotic, probiotic or specific food are helpful in the management of intestinal disorders and resulting in a modulation of the ENS in the obese condition.