Foi descrita a presença do receptor P2X₂ no sistema nervoso entérico e foi constatado que a desnutrição afeta os neurônios mioentéricos. Este projeto analisou os neurônios dos plexos mioentérico (PM) e submucoso (PS) imunorreativos ao receptor P2X₂(ir), calbindina (Calb-ir), calretinina (Calr-ir), colina acetil transferase (ChAT-ir) e ao óxido nítrico sintase (NOS-ir) do íleo de ratos submetidos à desnutrição protéica pré e pós-natal e a renutrição pós-natal. Foram utilizados íleos de animais nutridos (N42), desnutridos (D42) e renutridos (RN42). Os resultados do PM e PS demonstraram 100% de neurônios Calb-ir, Calr-ir, ChAt-ir e NOS-ir expressavam o receptor P2X₂-ir nos grupos. As densidades neuronais do PM e PS demonstraram aumento de 30% e 25% respectivamente, dos neurônios receptor P2X₂-ir, Calr-ir, ChAT-ir e NOS-ir no grupo D42 e, recuperação no grupo RN42, os neurônios Calb-ir aumentaram 60% no PS. O perfil neuronal do PM mostrou diminuição de 26% nos neurônios receptor P2X₂-ir e Calr-ir no grupo D42 e, no PS houve diminuição nos neurônios receptor P2X₂-ir. Concluiu que a desnutrição afetou os neurônios entéricos e houve recuperação na renutrição, isto pode influenciar as funções do trato gastrintestinal.

It is showed the expression of the P2X₂ receptor in the enteric nervous system; it was observed that undernutrition affect the myenteric neurons. This project analyzed the ileum myenteric (MN) and submucous (SN) neurons immunoreactive to P2X₂ receptor, calbindin (Calb-ir), calretinin (Calr-ir), coline acetil transferase (ChAT) and nitric oxide sintase (NOS) of the animals submitted to pre- and postnatal protein deprivation and postnatal refeeding. Ileum was used from nourished (N42), undernourished (D42) and Refeeding (RN42) animals. The results showed 100% coexpression myenteric and submucous Calb-ir, Calr-ir, ChAt-ir e NOS-ir neurons with P2X₂-ir receptor. The myenteric and submucos neuronal density showed increase of the 30% and 25% respectively, of the P2X₂-ir, Calr-ir, ChAT-ir e NOS-ir neurons of the D42 group, the Calb-ir neurons increase 60% in the SN. It was observed in the MN neuronal profile decrease of the 26% of the P2X₂-ir and Calr-ir in the RN42 group and recover in the RN42, there was decrease of the P2X₂-ir receptor neurons in the submucous plexus. The conclusion demonstrated that undernutrition affects the enteric neurons and there was recuperation in the refeeding, this can influence the gastrointestinal functions.