Supplementation action with ascorbic acid in the morphology of the muscular layer and reactive acetylcholinesterase neurons of ileum of mdx mice

The Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the absence of dystrophin protein, causing severe myopathy from increases of oxidative stress. Injuries of intestinal muscle can compromise the myenteric plexus. This study aimed to evaluate the disorders occurred in the muscular layer and in the acetylcholinesterase myenteric neurons (ACHE-r) of ileum of mdx mice, and the effects of supplementation with ascorbic acid (AA) in both components. 30 male mice C57BL/10, and 30 male mice C57BL/10Mdx were separated according to the age and treatment (n = 10/group): 30-days-old control group (C30); 30-days-old dystrophic group (D30); 60-days-old control group (C60); 60-days-old dystrophic group (D60); 60-days-old control group supplemented with AA (CS60); and 60-days-old dystrophic group supplemented with AA (DS60). The animals were euthanized and the ileum was collected and processed. Semi-serial sections were stained by Masson's trichrome, and acetylcholinesterase histochemical technique in whole-mounts preparations to identify the myenteric neurons. The muscular layer thickness and the area of smooth muscle of ileum were lower in dystrophic groups, especially in D30 group. The DS60 group showed the muscular layer thickness similar to C60. The density of ACHE-r neurons of myenteric plexus of ileum was lower in D30 animals; however, it was similar in animals of 60-days-old without treatment (C60 and D60) and, higher in DS60. The cell body profile area of ACHE-r neurons was similar in C30-D30 and C60-D60; however, it was higher in DS60. DMD caused damage to the ileum's musculature and myenteric plexus, and the AA prevented the ACHE-r neuronal loss.