Distribution of growth-associated protein, B-50 (GAP-43) in the mammalian enteric nervous system.

The presence of the growth-associated protein, B-50 (also known as GAP-43) was investigated in the adult mammalian enteric nervous system. The small intestine of rat, ferret and human was examined by immunohistochemistry. Dense B-50-like immunoreactivity was localized in nerves throughout the wall of the rat, ferret and human small intestine, notably in the myenteric and submucous plexuses, where in the ferret ileum it co-localized with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive fibre groups. Material with the biochemical and immunological characteristics of rat B-50 was extracted from the rat ileum. In-situ hybridization demonstrated that enteric neurons express B-50. These findings are consistent with a role for B-50 in the documented plasticity of the adult enteric nervous system.