先天性巨结肠肌间神经丛形态学观察及其意义

目的观察先天性巨结肠肌间神经丛形态学并分析其意义。方法对8例先天性巨结肠患者手术标本过行苏木素伊红(HE)染色和免疫组织化学S100蛋白染色,进行形态学观察。结果先天性巨结肠狭窄部肠壁肌间神经无神经细胞,可见增多的直径增粗无髓鞘纤维,呈波浪状弯曲。雪旺氏细胞增多,结肠扩张段肌间神经丛可见神经节细胞,神经纤维无明显增粗,数量无明显增多。结论先天性巨结肠肌间神经丛形态学明显异常改变,与无神经节细胞病变肠段结肠发育障碍有关。     

先天性巨结肠突触素免疫组织化学研究

目的:采用突触素免疫组织化学方法,对先天性巨结肠神经肌肉连接进行研究,并探讨其与先天性巨结肠发病的关系。方法:应用免疫组化技术对20例先天性巨结肠病变肠段及10例正常结肠组织标本行突触素神经肌肉连接标记,光镜下观察其免疫反应。结果:对照组的结肠突触素免疫反应呈强阳性表达,先天性巨结肠组扩张肠段突触素免疫反应呈阳性或弱阳性表达,狭窄段肠壁突触素免疫反应呈阴性表达。结论:先天性巨结肠病变肠段同时缺乏内源性神经支配和外源性神经支配,处于完全失神经支配状态,导致原神经节细胞病变肠管功能障碍。     

升结肠翻转术治疗先天性巨结肠症(附28例报告)

<正> 先天性巨结肠是一种常见的消化道畸形,其结肠肌间神经节细胞先天性缺如,病变肠段失去正常蠕动及排便反射的功能,其中长段型约占10％～40％,无神经节细胞段可达到降结肠及横结肠。而部分普通型患儿因就诊时间晚,近端结肠代偿性扩张肥厚严重,且肌间神经节细胞也继发变性。巨结肠根     

先天性巨结肠的外科治疗

先天性巨结肠（Hirschsprungdisease，HD）是以便秘为主要临床表现的一种常见的消化道畸形．病因为外胚层神经嵴细胞迁移发育过程停顿．病变肠壁肌间神经丛和黏膜下神经丛的神经节细胞缺如。使肠段失去正常蠕动（即间歇性收缩和松弛的推进式运动）而处于经常的痉挛状态，造成粪便排出障碍．近端肠管则被动继发扩张，异常扩大、肥厚，形成所谓的巨结肠。     

大数据时代下先天性巨结肠临床研究的展望

正先天性巨结肠(hirschsprung's disease,HD)又称无神经节细胞症(aganglionosis),其发病率约为1/5000,但确切病因仍不十分清楚,多数学者认为是肠神经系统在胚胎期发育过程中肠神经嵴细胞(entericneural crest cell,ENCCs)向肠管远端增殖、迁移及分化异常,导致肠管远端肌层和黏膜下层神经节细胞缺如,远端肠管持续性痉挛,近端肠管代偿性肥厚、扩张,出现便     

NSE和S-100抗体免疫标记在先天性巨结肠病理诊断中的意义

先天性巨结肠(megacolon,又名Hirschsprung病)是常见消化道发育畸形,病理学改变为神经节细胞缺乏症,系直肠和下段结肠平滑肌神经丛缺乏神经节细胞,导致肠管痉挛正常蠕动消失形成功能性肠梗阻。先天性巨结肠的病理学诊断依靠全层肠标本活检,但常规HE切片光镜下难以识别神经节细胞,尤其是在新生儿;乙酰胆碱酯酶特殊染色可显示固有膜和黏膜肌层乙酰胆碱酯酶阳性纤维明显增加,但它作为辅助诊断应用存在争议,假阳性和假阴性反应曾有报告[1]。VinoresSA,MayE认为免疫组化标记神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)非常有利于证实神经节细胞的存在[2]。本…     

先天性巨结肠层粘连蛋白基因及RET基因的表达研究

目的:通过对先天性巨结肠(HD)病变段层粘连蛋白(LN)转录表达的研究,探讨肠壁微环境改变对HD的形成作用以及与RET基因学说的相关性。方法:利用RT-PCR技术对HD病儿层粘连蛋白mRNA在无神经节细胞段、有神经节细胞段、正常段的表达进行检测,美国alpha9900凝胶图像分析系统判定表达强度,SPSS软件统计分析,推断LN的作用,同时检测RET基因的表达,用直线相关关系研究两者的相关性。结果:LN基因在无神经节细胞段异常高表达(P〈0.05),无神经节细胞段〉有神经节细胞段〉正常段;而RET基因的表达正好相反,无神节细胞段〈有神经节细胞段〈正常段,在无神经节细胞段明显减少,两者存在负相关关系。结论:HD无神经节细胞段LN的增高是内在的,LN增高引起肠神经细胞过早分化、定居导致无神经节细胞症的发生,可能与RET基因有一定内在联系。     

Cajal间质细胞在先天性巨结肠和巨结肠同源病结肠中的分布研究

目的研究先天性巨结肠（Hirschsprung’s disease，HD）和巨结肠同源病（allied Hirschsprung’s disease，AHD）肠壁内Cajal间质细胞（interstitial cells of Cajal，ICCs）的分布状态，探讨HD和AHD的发病机制。方法选择确诊为HD和AHD的患者各20例，取巨结肠根治术吻合口远端的全层肠壁作为实验组，另取16例正常结肠标本作为对照组。用鼠抗人c—kit单克隆抗体（CD117）标记ICCs，Image Pro-Plus图像分析系统检测ICCs。结果对照组中大量ICCs分布在肌间神经丛周围和环纵肌层内，ICCs包绕神经丛周围，肌层间ICCs连续分布；HD组远端肠管中肌层间和各肌层内ICCs明显减少甚至缺如，与对照组比较差异有统计学意义，P〈0．01；AHD组远端肠管中神经丛大小不一，ICCs分布差异大，大多数神经丛区ICCs减少，环肌层内ICCs明显减少，与AHD组和对照组比较差异有统计学意义，P〈0.01。HD组远端结肠中ICCs减少比AHD组显著，差异有统计学意义，P〈0．01。结论HD、AHD病变肠管中除了神经节细胞的异常外，同时存在ICCs异常；ICCs在HD和AHD的分布不同可能与两者临床症状差异有关；肠管中ICCs数量可能与临床症状及预后有一定关系。     

腹腔镜辅助经肛门拖出术治疗成人巨结肠一例

患者女 ,2 8岁。腹胀、便秘、腹痛 2 0余年。排便后症状缓解。经常大量服用泻剂 ,明显消瘦 ,体重 4 4kg。体格检查示腹部平软 ,肠鸣音活跃。钡灌肠显示乙状结肠、降结肠远端明显扩张 ,乙状结肠冗长。入院诊断 :先天性巨结肠 ,乙状结肠冗长症不能排除。小儿外科与普外科合作 ,行腹腔镜辅助经肛门拖出术 ,切除直肠黏膜及乙状结肠。硬膜外麻醉下 ,膀胱截石位 ,插尿管 ,肛门扩张后缝牵引线四针。直肠后壁齿状线上 3cm取全层活检 ,送快速冰冻 ,病理报告未见神经节细胞 ,符合先天性巨结肠。于齿状线上0 4cm处环行切开直肠黏膜 ,向近端剥离 ,针状…     

Cajal间质细胞在先天性巨结肠分布的研究

目的：通过观察cajal间质细胞（interstitial cells of cajal，ICC）在正常结肠及先天性巨结肠先天性巨结肠（hirschsprung’s disease，HD）患者痉挛段、移行段、扩张段的分布，探讨HD的发病机制。方法：收集25例HD患儿标本，于术中分别选取扩张段、移行段、痉挛段肠壁的全层组织，另取6例手术患儿的正常结肠全层组织标本，常规固定石蜡包埋组织切片备用。对标本行c-Kit免疫组织化学染色。光镜观察ICC的分布，计数并进行统计学分析。结果：正常结肠ICC主要分布在环肌内侧面与黏膜下层之间即黏膜下ICC（submucosal ICC．ICC—SM）、环肌与纵肌之间的肌间神经从周围即肌间ICC（myenteric ICC，ICC—MY）以及环肌与纵肌内。HD患儿痉挛段ICC—SM、ICC—IM细胞数较扩张段和正常对照组明显减少（P〈0．01），且ICC的细胞突起的分支亦减少，彼此之间不能形成完整的细胞网络。而扩张段ICC与正常对照组比较无明显差异（P〉0．05）。结论：HD患儿结肠ICC的异常分布，可能是HD发病、肠管蠕动障碍以及排便异常的原因之一。     

Clinicopathological study of intestinal smooth muscles,interstitial cells of Cajal,and enteric neurons in neonatal jejuno-ileal atresia with special reference to muscle morphometry

PurposeTo assess the thickness of the intestinal smooth muscle layer and analyze the distribution and density of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and enteric neurons in the proximal and distal segments of neonatal jejuno-ileal atresia.MethodsThis is an observational study done over a period of one year in which fifteen cases of jejuno-ileal atresia were included. All the cases underwent laparotomy and resection of the atretic segment with variable portions of the dilated proximal segment and distal segment. Histopathological analysis was done on the sections taken from proximal segments (at 3 cm, 5 cm & 8 cm) and the distal segment (at 2 cm) from the atretic portion. The mean thickness of the inner circular muscle layer (ICML) and outer longitudinal muscle layer (OLML) was assessed in the above segments using image morphometry. In addition, we also analyzed the distribution and density of the ICCs and enteric neurons in the different segments using immunohistochemistry for c-kit and S-100, respectively. Controls included normal jejuno-ileal segments resected from postmortem cases (n = 7) and other nonrelated surgeries (n = 3). The findings were then compared with each-other and with normal controls.ResultsMean thickness of ICML and OLML of the proximal segments at 8 cm was significantly lower than at 3 cm and 5 cm of ileal and jejunal atresias (p ? 0.5). The mean thickness of ICML and OLML of distal segments at 2 cm was similar to the controls in all the atretic cases (p ? 0.5). The mean ICML thickness at proximal 8 cm segment was similar to the distal segment of both ileal & jejunal atresias (p = 0.06 & 0.37 respectively). The mean thickness of the OLML of the proximal 8 cm segments was significantly more than that at the distal segment (p = 0.008) in ileal atresias but was similar in cases of jejunal atresias (p = 0.07). Both the proximal and distal segments of ileal as well as jejunal atresias showed reduction in distribution and density of ICCs, as compared to normal controls. The density of ICCs in proximal segments at 3 cm and 5 cm was similar in both ileal (p = 0.33) and jejunal segments (p = 0.41) but was significantly lower than the proximal 8 cm segments (p ? 0.05).The distribution of ICCs in the proximal segment at 8 cm was similar to the distal segments (p ? 0.05). S-100 staining showed dense expression of neurons and glial cells with presence of submucosal giant ganglia within the proximal dilated segments as compared to the distal segments and the controls, which were more marked at 3 cm and 5 cm levels than at 8 cm level.ConclusionMuscle morphometry using image analysis is a simple technique to assess the thickness of the intestinal smooth muscle layers. There is significant smooth muscle hypertrophy along with marked alteration in density and distribution of ICCs and ENS in the dilated proximal segments up to 5 cm, and relatively milder changes at 8 cm levels, as compared to the distal segments and the controls.Type of studyPrognosis study.Level of evidenceLevel II.     

Intestinal neuronal dysplasia is a possible cause of persistent bowel symptoms after pull-through operation for Hirschsprung's disease

The proximal margin of the resected bowel specimens from 33 consecutively treated patients undergoing a definitive pull-through operation for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) and control specimens consisting of suction rectal biopsy specimens obtained from 24 age-matched patients evaluated for constipation (and proven not to have HD) were examined using conventional H&E staining and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry. Complete resection of the aganglionic segment was confirmed in 31 patients. In one patient, the proximal margin was found to be aganglionic; in another, the proximal margin was in a transitional zone. In both patients, frozen sections at the time of surgery were interpreted as having ganglion cells. In 10 of 31 patients, intestinal neuronal dysplasia was demonstrated in the proximal margin of the resected bowel. The abnormalities included hyperplasia of the submucous plexus, giant ganglia (with > 7 ganglion cells), and ectopic ganglion cells (all 10 patients) and increased AChE activity in the lamina propria (5 patients). All ten patients with IND had persistent bowel problems after the definitive operation for HD, such as enterocolitis, soiling, or constipation. Only four of the other 21 patients had persistent bowel symptoms. This study suggests that IND is commonly associated with HD. It also emphasizes the importance of histochemical examination of the resected segment to predict postoperative bowel function in patients with HD.     

The occurrence of unusual smooth muscle bundles expressing alpha-smooth muscle actin in human intestinal atresia

Background/Purpose: Intestinal dysmotility is an important problem in the postoperative management of patients with intestinal atresia (IA). Changes in the intramural components have so far been histochemically and immunohistochemically examined in both the proximal and distal segments of IA, but no detailed analysis of the muscular elements has been performed. The aim of this study was to carefully examine any alterations in the muscular elements in the intestines from patients with IA. Methods: Resected intestines were obtained from 6 patients with ileal atresia, 4 patients with jejunal atresia, and 3 controls without gastrointestinal diseases obtained by autopsy (congenital diaphragmatic hernia). All specimens were immunochemically stained with a monoclonal antibody to [alpha ]-smooth muscle actin ([alpha ]-SMA) as a smooth muscle marker. Results: In the normal small intestine, almost all the enteric smooth musculature were positive for [alpha ]-SMA antiserum, except for the bulk of the circular musculature. In the proximal segments of all cases with IA, a reduced staining intensity for [alpha ]-SMA was observed mainly in the severely hypertrophic muscle layers. In addition, some bundles of smooth muscle also were located in the submucosal connective tissue near the border of the innermost layer of the circular musculature, in which large amounts of smooth muscle fibers extended occasionally from the innermost layer of the circular musculature to the muscularis mucosae in the proximal segments of 4 cases. In the distal segments of IA, the distribution of [alpha ]-SMA[ndash ]positive smooth muscle fibers was similar to that in the control intestines, excluding mild to moderate hypertrophy of the muscular layers. Conclusions: Both severe hypertrophy and a reduced immunoreactivity for [alpha ]-SMA were observed in the circular muscle layer of the proximal segments. In addition, the occurrence of [alpha ]-SMA[ndash ]positive abnormal smooth muscle fibers was recognized in the submucosal layers of the proximal segments, thus, suggesting a delay in the intestinal muscular formation or a regressive reaction secondary to dilatation. These muscular alterations in the proximal segments might be considered to contribute to the postoperative intestinal dysmotility in IA cases. J Pediatr Surg 38:161-166.     

先天性巨结肠神经营养因子-3、酪氨酸激酶C的表达及其意义

目的　探讨神经营养因子(NT ) 3及其受体酪氨酸激酶(Trk)C在先天性巨结肠(HD)中的表达及其意义。方法　采用免疫组织化学方法检测3 2例HD患者不同节段肠组织中神经节细胞NT 3、TrkC的表达水平。结果　正常肠段肌间和黏膜下神经丛内神经节细胞呈NT 3、TrkC强阳性表达。HD狭窄段未见NT 3、TrkC阳性染色;移行段神经节细胞NT 3、TrkC阳性率(5 3 .1%、2 8.1% )均较扩张段(93 .8%、43 .8% )显著降低(P <0 .0 5 )。结论　NT 3及其受体TrkC在神经节细胞缺乏肠段的异常表达可能与HD的发病机制有关,对HD具有潜在诊断价值     

Abnormalities of enteric neurons, intestinal pacemaker cells, and smooth muscle in human intestinal atresia.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Intestinal dysmotility, which usually has been encountered in the severely dilated proximal segment, is an important problem in postoperative management of patients with intestinal atresia (IA). Changes of enteric nerves had been histochemically examined in both the proximal and distal segments of IA, but a systemic immunohistochemical analysis is still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine precisely alterations of neuronal and muscular elements and pacemaker cells in intestines from patients with IA. METHODS: Resected intestines were obtained from 5 patients with ileal atresia, 3 patients with jejunal atresia, and 3 controls without gastrointestinal diseases (congenital diaphragmatic hernia). All specimens were immunochemically stained with a monoclonal antibody to alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) as a smooth muscle marker, polyclonal antibodies to protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 as a general neuronal marker, and to c-kit protein as a maker of intestinal pacemaker cells. In addition, all specimens also were stained by NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) to know the distribution of inhibitory nitrergic nerves. RESULTS: A hypoplasia of the myenteric ganglia and a marked reduction of intramuscular nerve fibers, including nitrergic neurons, were observed in the dilated proximal segment of IA. C-kit-positive cells were localized around the myenteric plexus, but rarely found within the muscularis propria in the proximal segment. The distribution of nerves and c-kit-positive cells in the distal segment was comparable with that seen in controls. A reduced staining intensity for alpha-SMA was mainly observed in the hypertrophic circular muscle layer of the proximal segment. CONCLUSIONS: A hypoplasia of intramural nerves and pacemaker cells was seen predominantly in the proximal segments of IA. Hypertrophy and reduced immunoreactivity for alpha-SMA also were observed in the circular muscle layer of the proximal segment. These alterations of the proximal segment may thus contribute to the postoperative intestinal dysmotility in IA cases.     

Morphological investigation of the enteric nervous system in Hirschsprung's disease and hypoganglionosis using whole-mount colon preparation

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: A suction rectal mucosal biopsy with positive staining for acetylcholinesterase is a useful test for diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease (HD). However, hypoganglionosis has not been diagnosed by a rectal mucosal biopsy. The authors morphologically examined the enteric nervous systems in HD and hypoganglionosis patients using whole-mount preparations. METHODS: Six HD patients, two hypoganglionosis patients, and 10 with normally innervated colons were examined. Colonic specimens were incubated with the primary antibodies against protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) mixed with S-100b protein, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and neurofilament protein 200 kDa (NFH). They were observed by histochemical technique using light-microscopy in whole-mount preparations. RESULTS: The aganglionic distal colon had thick nerve strands stained with PGP 9.5 mixed with S100 or NFH located in the layer between the longitudinal muscle and the circular one, and the submucosal layer. The nerve strands in the myenteric layer contained few CGRP- and SP-positive fibers and ran along the long axis of the intestine. Ganglion cells appeared along with those thick nerve strands in the transitional zone of HD. In hypoganglionosis, we found small myenteric ganglia with no thick nerve strands. CONCLUSIONS: The enteric nervous system in oligoganglionic segments of HD morphologically differed from the one in hypoganglionosis. A suction rectal mucosal biopsy would be of no use in the diagnosis of hypoganglionosis.     

In vitro smooth muscle contractility before and after relief of experimental obstruction in the rat: Application to the surgical management of ileal dilatation

Purpose

Bowel dilatation occurs proximal to an obstruction and predisposes to intestinal dysmotility. The present study sought to determine whether or not changes in smooth muscle contractility and the thickness of the proximal, dilated bowel wall can be reversed following relief of the obstruction.

Materials and methods

Three groups of seven male Wistar rats were studied. In 8-week-old animals in a control group and a sham-operated group, a small segment of bowel (designated as R1 for controls and R2 for shams) was resected 5.0 cm from the cecum. In the third (operated) group, a narrow, isoperistaltic intestinal loop was created proximal to an end-to-end anastomosis of the ileum in 4-week-old animals. When these animals were 6 weeks old, the loop was re-anastomosed to the distal small bowel (after resection of the loop's distal portion, referred to as R3). Two weeks later, a small segment of bowel was resected proximal to the anastomosis (R4). We evaluated the thickness of the smooth muscle layers and the in vitro contractile responses of circular smooth muscle ileal strips (R1–R4) to electrical stimulation and pharmacological stimulation (with KCl, acetylcholine (ACh), substance P, N^G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and histamine).

Results

The amplitudes of contraction in response to electrical and Ach-mediated stimulation were higher for R3 than for R4 (P < 0.001), R1 and R2 (both P < 0.05). Compared with R1 and R2, the smooth muscle layer was three times as thick in R3 (P < 0.001) and 2.5 times as thick in R4 (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence of the possible recovery of intestinal motility (in response to neurotransmitters involved in gut function) after the relief of an obstruction. If ileal motility can conceivably return to normal values, conservative surgical procedures in pediatric patients should be preferred (in order to leave a sufficient length of bowel and avoid short bowel syndrome).     

Immunolocalization of the gap junction protein Connexin43 in the interstitial cells of Cajal in the normal and Hirschsprung's disease bowel

BACKGROUND: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are pacemaker cells between gastrointestinal smooth muscles; they generate spontaneous slow waves of the smooth muscle layers and mediate neurotransmission. The cellular network of ICC is connected by Gap junctions to each other and to the smooth muscle cells. Although there have been several studies reporting distribution of ICC in the normal bowel and pathological conditions such as Hirschsprung's disease, there is little information on the crucial role of Gap junctions in the intercellular communication in the gut musculature. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunolocalization of the Gap junction protein Connexin43 in the normal and Hirschsprung's disease (HD) bowel using whole-mount preparation technique and confocal laser scanning microscopy. METHODS: Full-thickness bowel specimens were collected at pull-through operation from 8 patients diagnosed as having HD. Normal control large bowel specimens were collected from 12 patients during bladder augmentation operation. Whole-mount preparation was performed on all specimens and double immunostaining was carried out using anti c-kit and antiConnexin43 antibodies. The immunolocalization was detected with the help of confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: Connexin43 immunoreactivity appeared in and between the c-kit-positive cells and along the smooth muscle fibers of the normal bowel and ganglionic part of HD bowel. In the aganglionic part of HD bowel there was no expression of Connexin43. In the transitional zone of HD the Connexin43 staining was weak and colocalized only in the processes of the c-kit-positive Cajal cells. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study show for the first time that Gap junctional protein Connexin43 is present in the ICCs, which form a 3-dimensional network in the normal bowel wall. The lack of expression of Connexin43 in the aganglionic bowel and reduced expression in the transitional zone of HD suggest that the impaired intercellular communication between ICCs and smooth muscle cells may partly be responsible for the motility dysfunction in HD.     

Two-dimensional alterations of myenteric plexus in jejunoileal atresia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to investigate changes in the myenteric plexus associated with the dilated proximal segment of jejunoileal atresia (JA). Two-dimensional morphologic changes in the myenteric nerve plexuses were investigated using whole-mount preparation. METHODS: Proximal (P) and distal (D) intestinal segments from 7 cases with JA and control (C) segments from 5 postmortem neonates were investigated. The circumference of the jejunoileal segments was measured after fixation. Antibodies for protein gene product 9.5 and neurofilament protein were used in whole-mount preparation. The sizes of neural networks were calculated by measuring the longest circular distance in a neural network (x) and the longest longitudinal distance (y), and the width of the internodal strands (i) with a videomicrometer. RESULTS: Median circumference of the segments was 8.5 in P, 2.0 in D, and 2.0 cm in C. The neural networks in P were expanded longitudinally as well as circularly (x = 817.10 microm, y = 561.26, i = 31.04: median) while comparing them to those in D (x = 431.40 microm y = 288.07, i = 26.05) or C (x = 285.03 microm y = 372.20, c = 1113.57, i = 32.39). The nerve plexus was less expanded than the intestinal wall. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal intestinal segments showed a restructuring that resulted in mild hypoplasia of the enteric nerve plexuses in the proximal segments. The less expansion of the myenteric nerve plexus seen in the proximal bowel in infants with JA suggests a histologic basis for the efficacy of tapering or plication of the dilated bowel.     

Immunohistochemical studies of pediatric intestinal pseudo-obstruction: bcl2, a valuable biomarker to detect immature enteric ganglion cells

To identify the diagnostic pitfalls as well as the value of immunohistochemical studies in making a pathologic evaluation of a pediatric intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO), this study reassessed the pathology of 87 surgically resected intestines from 80 patients under the impression of IPO and 10 normal controls using immunohistochemical studies. The main diagnostic pitfall was the interpretation of the enteric nervous plexuses in the transitional zone and the detection of the indistinct or immature neurons indistinguishable from enteric glial cells or satellite cells. Immunohistochemical study was a very helpful diagnostic adjunct to delineating the immature neurons (bcl2), the size of the enteric ganglia and neuromuscular innervation (S-100 protein, synaptophysin, and CD56), and the interstitial cell of Cajal (c-Kit) and myopathy (SMA). With help of immunohistochemistry, our series of IPO could classify as neuropathy (92.5%), myopathy (2.5%), and the idiopathic forms (3.8%) more clearly. In terms of the types of neuropathy, Hirschsprung's disease (HD), pure hypoganglionosis, and intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND-B) were diagnosed in 71.3%, 6.3%, and 48.8% of patients, respectively. IND-B was associated with other neuropathies, HD in 77.0% and hypoganglionosis in 7.7%, rather than being present in a pure form. Immature ganglion cells were found in 48.8%. Because a reduced number of interstitial cells of Cajal was commonly associated with HD in 84.2%, hypoganglionosis in 40%, and IND-B in 76.9% of cases, it might be a preceding or aggravating factor related to an IPO. In terms of detecting immature ganglion cells, we found bcl2 most helpful.