Survival of neurons and interstitial cells of Cajal after autotransplantation of myenteric ganglia from small intestine in the lethal spotted mouse

 To avoid mutilating surgery in the treatment of distal aganglionosis, transplantation of autologous nervous elements to the affected intestine would be an attractive option. This treatment modality has emerged as a possible alternative for different brain disorders, mostly using fetal nervous tissue. Our objective was to evaluate whether myenteric ganglia (MG) and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) could survive a transplantation procedure and to evaluate possible differences between animals with distal colonic aganglionosis (lethal spotted mice) and their healthy littermates. Autologous transplantation of MG with adherent smooth muscle from small intestine to the subcapsular space of the kidney was performed in mice 3–12 weeks of age. The transplants were evaluated 5 to 9 days postoperatively. The presence of myenteric neurons in the transplants was registered using immunohistochemical detection of different neurotransmitters and markers. For identification of ICC antibodies against c-kit, a cell surface tyrosine-kinase receptor, were used. The transplants showed overall good survival. Neurons containing the general neuronal marker protein gene-related product, the neuronal nitric oxide synthesizing enzyme, and the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, galanin, substance P, and neuropeptide Y could be shown throughout the transplants. ICC were consistently seen in the grafted tissue among the smooth muscle cells, particularly in the deep muscular plexus, and within the MG. No obvious differences in ICC or enteric neuronal tissue survival, or in the frequency of the various neuronal populations displayed could be detected between the two groups of animals. These findings support the use of autologous MG for further research on transplantation of enteric ganglia as a possible alternative treatment for colonic aganglionosis.     

先天性巨结肠RET蛋白免疫组化研究

目的 了解RET蛋白与先天性巨结肠(HD)组织改变之间的关系,以探讨HD的发病机理.方法 利用抗RET蛋白的三种抗体,以及抗磷酸酪氨酸抗体采用免疫组织化学方法,对42例散发性HD肠组织中RET蛋白表达情况进行研究,10例正常结肠作对照。结果 抗RET蛋白的三种抗体在HD扩张段、移行段、对照组均显强阳性染色,P>O.05;在狭窄段大多数表现阴性染色,少数可见强阳性或弱阳性染色,与前三者比较PO.05;HD移行段与狭窄段大多数呈现阴性或弱阳性染色,P>O.05。前两者与后两者比较P相似文献   

Reduced distribution of pacemaking cells in dilated colon

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) act as pacemaker in gastrointestinal smooth muscle. In animals, small bowel dilatation produces a reduction in ICC numbers and in pacemaker function. With resolution of dilatation, ICC numbers and pacemaking function are partially restored. In human colonic disease states, dilatation is associated with dysmotility. The effect of dilatation on ICC distribution has not previously been examined in the human colon. Tissues from a neonate with colonic atresia and a 17-year-old adolescent with acquired megasigmoid were fixed, sectioned and incubated with anti cKit antibodies followed by fluorescent secondary antibodies. Distended and non-distended segments of colon were examined for ICC distribution using immunohistochemistry to c-Kit. Images were obtained with confocal microscopy. In both patients, there was a marked reduction in cKit-immunoreactive cells in the circular muscle and the myenteric plexus of the distended colon compared to the distal non-distended colon. Dilatation of the human colon is associated with a marked reduction in ICC. A resulting loss of pacemaker function could contribute to dysmotility associated with distension. Further studies assessing pacemaking function in human subjects and investigating reversibility of ICC disruption may allow new therapeutic strategies.     

Fetal intestinal obstruction induces alteration of enteric nervous system development in human intestinal atresia

Intestinal motility disorders are a major cause of morbidity after surgical repair of intestinal atresia of unknown mechanism. We hypothesized that interruption of antenatal peristalsis may disturb the normal development of the enteric nervous system. Using a series of neuronal (synaptophysin, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, neurofilaments) and nonneuronal markers (glial acidic fibrillary protein and c-Kit) and immunohistochemistry, we have defined developmental steps of the enteric nervous system in normal intestine (12 fetuses, 15 children, and 4 adults) and their alterations above and below the obstacle in 22 human intestinal atresia compared with age-matched controls. Antisynaptophysin antibody revealed the progressive conversion of the myenteric plexus from a continuous belt into regularly spaced ganglions during normal fetal gut development and, by contrast, the significantly delayed appearance of individual neuronal ganglions in the distal segments of atresia (p < 0.05). Staging using three other markers for neuronal (neurofilaments and neuronal nitric oxide synthase) and nonneuronal cells (glial acidic fibrillary protein) confirmed that maturation of the myenteric plexus was significantly delayed below atresia (p < 0.01). These results indicate that intestinal atresia impairs the development of the enteric nervous system and provide an anatomical substrate for the motility disorders observed after surgical repair. They point to the role of peristalsis in normal gut development and suggest that stimulation of peristalsis might be used to accelerate recovery.     

A role for Pten in paediatric intestinal dysmotility disorders

Purpose  

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a network of neurons and glia that lies within the gut wall. It is responsible for the normal regulation of gut motility and secretory activities. Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) is a congenital defect of the ENS, characterised by an absence of ganglia in the distal colon. Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) is a condition that clinically resembles HD, characterised by hyperganglionosis, giant and ectopic ganglia, resulting in intestinal dysmotility. Intestinal ganglioneuromatosis is characterised by hyperplasia and hypertrophy of enteric neuronal cells and causes chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO). Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (Pten) is a phosphatase that is critical for controlling cell growth, proliferation and cell death. A recent study of Pten knockout mice showed evidence of ganglioneuromatosis in the ENS suggesting a role for this protein in ENS development. Ganglioneuromatosis patients have also been shown to have a decreased level of Pten expression in the colon. The aim of our study was to investigate Pten expression in the ENS of HD and IND patients compared to normal controls.     

Hirschsprung's disease and intestinal neuronal dysplasia – a frequent association with implications for the postoperative course

Between 1991 and 1993, 106 newly diagnosed cases of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) were prospectively analyzed for the association of HD and intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) at ten pediatric surgical departments in central Europe. Hirschsprung-associated IND (HaIND) was found in 40% of cases. IND was disseminated in one-third and localized in two-thirds of the patients. Initial clinical symptoms were related to the length of the aganglionic segment, but not to the presence of HaIND. An enterostomy performed in 72 cases (67.9%) was located in a segment of pathologically innervated bowel in 50% of all cases, but in 72% of cases of HaIND. The proximal margin of the resected bowel showed pathological innervation in 44% of cases. Supplemental biopsies from the intestine (apart from diagnostic suction biopsies and biopsies at the enterostomy site) led to the first identification or definition of length of associated IND in 17.9% of cases. Postoperatively, the presence of long-segment aganglionosis or associated IND implied a delay in the restoration of normal defecation. Persistent constipation was found in 40% of patients with associated disseminated IND at follow-up at 6 months, compared to 20.6% in patients with isolated HD. These children needed secondary interventions more often than patients with associated localized IND or isolated HD. HaIND thus has clinical implications for the postoperative course if IND is disseminated. Accepted: 25 April 1999     

先天性巨结肠肠壁Cx43蛋白和Cajal间质细胞的分布

目的：观察缝隙连接蛋白43（Cx43）及Cajal 间质细胞(ICC)在先天性巨结肠(HD)肠壁中的分布,探讨Cx43和ICC与HD发病的关系。方法：运用免疫组织化学方法观察42例经病理诊断为HD的肠壁标本内各层之间Cx43蛋白和ICC的分布情况,其中男33例,女9例（年龄2个月至10岁）,实验标本均为散发病例,全部取材经组织病理学检测符合HD诊断,包括常见型30例,短段型12例,并取5例肠套叠患儿（30 d至8岁,男4例,女1例）作为对照组。结果：HD狭窄段(无神经节细胞肠段)肠壁肌层内Cx43和ICC表达缺失,各层中几乎未见Cx43表达和ICC分布,与HD扩张段（有神经节细胞肠段）及正常对照组之间的差异有显著性意义(P<0.01)。HD移行段肠壁Cx43和ICC有中等强度表达,与扩张段、狭窄段之间差异有显著性(P<0.01)。HD扩张段肠壁Cx43和ICC呈强阳性分布,黏膜下层和纵肌层未见或少见Cx43表达。HD扩张段和正常对照组肠壁内Cx43和ICC表达差异无显著性。结论：Cx43表达缺失或减少、缝隙连接结构的破坏及ICC结构、分布异常,导致细胞间物质、电信号的传递障碍,可能是HD发病的原因之一。［中国当代儿科杂志,2009,11（3）：213-216］     

An abnormal distribution of C-kit positive cells in the normoganglionic segment can predict a poor clinical outcome in patients with Hirschsprung's disease.

PURPOSE: The loss or decrease of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) has been implicated in several disorders of human intestinal motility. We have encountered a few cases suffering from severe constipation or enterocolitis resulting in patient death after a definitive operation for HD, even though the normoganglionic intestine had been successfully pulled through. We investigated the distribution of ICCs using c-kit immunostaining in the normoganglionic segment and compared these findings with the clinical outcome after a definitive operation in each case. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The distributions of ICCs were investigated by using c-kit immunostaining in the normoganglionic segment in the resected bowel in 15 cases with HD. The distributions of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) as a general neuronal marker and those of NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) as a marker of nitric-oxide neurons were also examined. The numbers of ICCs and neurons were evaluated quantitatively. The histopathological results were compared with the clinical outcome after definitive operation in each case. RESULTS: C-kit immunoreactive cells showed a normal distribution in the normoganglionic segment in 13 cases, while they were markedly (less than 50% compared with the other cases) decreased in 2 cases. The distributions of PGP 9.5 and NADPH-d were almost the same in all cases. The bowel movements of 13 cases showing normal c-kit distribution were satisfactory. In contrast, the bowel movements were impaired in 2 cases with a decreased number of c-kit positive cells. One infant suffered from severe persistent constipation and thus had to undergo a resection of a dilated colon. The other infant died of sepsis due to postoperative enterocolitis and showed a markedly dilated colon. CONCLUSION: A decreased number of c-kit positive cells in the normoganglionic segment can thus allow us to predict a poor clinical outcome after definitive surgery, probably due to poor intestinal motility. Therefore examining the c-kit distribution in a resected bowel specimen in patients with HD should be mandatory in order to select the optimal postoperative treatment regimen for each case.     

A new rapid acetylcholinesterase histochemical method for the intraoperative diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease and intestinal neuronal dysplasia.

The most commonly used acetylcholinesterase (AChE) method for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) and intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) was first introduced in 1964 by Morris Karnovsky and Logan Roots. This technique requires about 80 - 120 minutes incubation time and cannot be used for the intraoperative diagnosis of HD and IND. To avoid these limitations, in 1994 Kobayashi et al first proposed an accelerated modified method in two different versions, the first using diaminobenzydine (DAB) reagent, the second using 4-chloro-1-naphthol as final reagent. In the present study, we propose a new rapid variation of AChE staining which avoids the use of DAB and naphthol, notably toxic reagents, but follows the same acceleration principle of Kobayashi's technique. Our modified rapid AChE requires a total incubation time of only 8 minutes, which is compatible with intraoperative histochemical examination purposes. Intraoperative seromuscular or full-thickness intestinal biopsies were obtained from 92 children affected by intestinal dysganglionoses. The biopsies were frozen and cut in 15 microm cryostatic sections. Rapid AChE was performed with a special incubation medium using 3-amino-9 ethylcarbazole (AEC) as chromogenic substance. The two complementary histochemical techniques alpha-naphthylesterase (ANE) and lactate-dehydrogenase (LDH) were also used intraoperatively for the staining of ganglion cells. The diagnosis was confirmed postoperatively with conventional AChE Karnovsky technique, comparing the extensions of hyperganglionic, hypoganglionic and aganglionic segments in each studied case. The new rapid AChE modified method can identify ganglion cells and fibers using a dark brown precipitate. In all the cases studied, the intestinal innervation pattern identified with this modified technique was similar to that obtained with Karnovsky AchE. Seventy-eight HD, 8 isolated IND and 6 HD associated with an evident IND segment were diagnosed. This new rapid AChE histochemical technique avoids the use of DAB and naphthol, and can thus be considered safe for operators. Rapid AChE is a valid tool for both the evaluation of aganglionosis extension and for the identification of IND pattern during surgery. We recommend this very reliable method for the intraoperative diagnosis of HD and IND, in association with other enzymatic markers of ganglion cells (ANE or LDH). We propose the following diagnostic protocols: a) for preoperative histochemical study: conventional AChE plus LDH and NADPH-diaphorase; b) for intraoperative study: rapid AChE plus ANE.     

新生儿巨结肠类缘病

目的探讨新生儿期先天性巨结肠类缘病(HAD)的临床和病理特征及恰当的处理方式。方法回顾性总结1990～2004年间手术治疗的HD患儿315例，重新复习术后病理切片(HE染色)。发现新生儿HAD17例。其中14例表现为腹胀、便秘、呕吐；3例表现为肠穿孔的症状。病理分型混合型11例：HD IND3例、HD 节细胞减少症1例、HD 节细胞未成熟7例；单纯型6例：IND3例、肠神经元发育异常3例。经历的手术方式：单纯肠造瘘；小肠部分切除 肠吻合或造瘘；右半结肠切除；巨结肠根治术；造瘘口关闭术；肠粘连松解术等。6例行过2次手术；10例曾行3次(包括3次)以上手术；1例行回肠造瘘。13例已行巨结肠根治术。结果2例死于多次手术导致的肠功能异常、营养不良、感染等；2例需经常回流洗肠协助排便；1例回肠造瘘后4月在观察中；2例失访；其余随年龄增长肠道功能逐渐恢复正常。结论HAD的存在应引起临床医生足够的重视，疑似HD的患儿术前应尽量做到诊断明确，以便施以正确的术式，避免多次手术。按HD根治术后效果不满意者，应再复习病理切片，防止遗漏HAD的诊断。     

Interstitial cells of Cajal in the normal human gut and in Hirschsprung disease

Hirschsprung disease (HD) is the most prevalent congenital gastrointestinal motility disorder. The pathogenesis of HD is defined as a functional intestinal obstruction resulting from a defect in the intrinsic innervation of the distal bowel. In addition to the enteric nervous system, the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) play an important role in the generation of coordinated gastrointestinal peristalsis. The major function of the ICCs is the generation of slow waves that allow these cells to act as specialised pacemaker cells within various tissues. ICCs have additional functions in the gastrointestinal tract as regulators of mechanical activity and neurotransmission. Due to the central role of ICCs in gastrointestinal peristalsis, it has been suggested that defects or impairments of the ICCs may contribute to motility dysfunction in several gastrointestinal motility disorders. This review describes the distribution and functions of ICCs in the normal gut and in Hirschsprung disease.     

Intestinal neuronal dysplasia‐like histopathology in infancy

The present patient was delivered at a gestational age of 27 weeks. She had abdominal bloating with symptoms of respiratory distress. We suspected Hirschsprung disease (HD) or small intestinal stricture, but examinations were not definitive. Exploratory laparotomy was performed at 97 days of age. Intraoperative findings showed no evidence of small intestinal stricture or changes in intestinal caliber. A transanal drainage tube was inserted, and decompression therapy and intestinal lavage were started. Rectal mucosal biopsy was performed at 184 days of age, and HE and acetylcholinesterase staining showed intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND)‐like pathological findings. At 15 months, giant ganglia were no longer present on follow‐up rectal mucosal biopsy, and the pathological diagnosis was normoganglionosis. It should be recognized that while the enteric nervous system is developing, IND‐like pathological findings may be seen as a pathological condition during the maturation process.     

先天性巨结肠Cajal间质细胞的研究

目的　本研究通过观察Cajal间质细胞 (interstitialcellofCajal,ICC)在先天性巨结肠患者狭窄段、移行段、扩张段中的分布情况 ,探讨ICC在先天性巨结肠发病中的作用。方法　收集我院1999～ 2 0 0 2年 2 6例先天性巨结肠患儿标本。短段型 2 4例 ,长段型 2例。于手术中分别选取扩张段 ,移行段及狭窄段肠壁的全层组织。采用SP法 (过氧化物酶标记的链霉卵白素法 )免疫组织化学技术 ,对 2 6例先天性巨结肠的狭窄段、移行段及扩张段标本分别进行c kit免疫组织化学反应 ,观察Ca jal间质细胞分布情况。 结果　发现ICC的密度从扩张段→移行段→狭窄段是逐渐减低的。ICC与肌间神经丛关系密切 ,在扩张段ICC分布在神经丛的周边部和内部 ,且数量相对较多 ,在狭窄段ICC偶见于神经丛的周边部 ,在神经丛内部未见该细胞。光学显微镜下比较同一例患者扩张段和狭窄段神经丛中Cajal间质细胞的数目不同 (t=2 3.0 4 ,P <0 .0 5 ) ,有统计学显著性差异。结论　ICC的分布异常与先天性巨结肠的发生有密切关系。我们推测胚胎基质的某种缺陷不仅损害了神经嵴细胞的移行 ,也影响ICC的分化和成熟。我们可以推论 ,与HD肠壁神经节缺失一样 ,ICC分布异常导致HD病变肠管慢波节律和兴奋传导异常 ,从而引起或加重HD的发病。     

PERIPHERIN: A Novel Marker for the Immunohistochemical Study of Malformations of the Enteric Nervous System

Peripherin is a 57-kD type III intermediate filament that is a specific marker for peripheral neurons, including enteric ganglion cells (GCs). Hence antibodies to peripherin may be used to demonstrate abnormalities of the enteric nervous system (ENS). Serial longitudinal histologic sections of formalinfixed paraffin-embedded colons from 15 patients were immunostained for peripherin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilaments, S-100, and synaptophysin. Ten patients had variable degrees of colonic aganglionosis (Hirschsprung's disease), three were premature infants, and two were controls. Peripherin labeling yielded the highest number of recognizable GCs. Overall, 56%, 78%, and 80% of the peripherin-positive GCs in the myenteric plexus and 55%, 75%, and 73% of the peripherinpositive GCs in the submucosal plexus were identified by staining for neurofilaments, NSE, and S-100, respectively. Intramucosal GCs were detected in 4 of 10 cases of Hirschsprung's disease (HD), none of which had been evident by routine histology. The other neuronal markers were less specific for intramucosal GCs than peripherin, because they also labeled enterochromaffin cells. Peripherin immunohistochemistry also allowed exact quantification of GC density expressed as GCs/mm colon, which is important for the diagnosis of HD-related disorders. In three cases of HD the GC density of the transition zone was markedly elevated compared with more proximal ganglionic bowel segments, consistent with neuronal intestinal dysplasia type B, and two cases of HD showed low GC density within the transition zone. Hence peripherin immunolabeling may prove to be a valuable aid in the diagnosis and classification of congenital malformations of the ENS.     

The role of breastfeeding in prevention of neonatal infection

The immune system of the human newborn is of very limited size. It expands rapidly, especially due to the exposure to the gut microflora. Normally the newborn is colonized with microbes from the mother's intestinal flora at and after delivery. The many defence factors of the mother's milk include large amounts of secretory IgA antibodies produced by lymphocytes which have migrated from the mother's gut to the mammary glands. Therefore the SIgA antibodies are mainly directed against the mother's previous and recent gut microflora. Thus breastfeeding modulates the early exposure of the neonate's intestinal mucosa to microbes and limits bacterial translocation through the gut mucosa. This may be a major reason why breastfeeding protects efficiently against neonatal septicaemia, as well as several other infections. The defence factors of the milk prevent infections already at the mucosal level. The transplacentally obtained maternal IgG antibodies protect primarily in tissues and do so at the cost of cytokine-induced clinical symptoms, tissue engagement and high energy consumption.     

Evaluation of Calretinin as a New Marker in the Diagnosis of Hirschsprung Disease

Background:

Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) is a congenital intestinal motility disorder with absence of ganglion cells in the colonic wall. Diagnosis of the disease is mainly based on the identification of the lack of ganglion cells in the pathology sections of the colon which is very difficult and time consuming and also needs several serial cut sections. There are many proposed markers in this field in the literature but none of them has been satisfactory. Calretinin immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been introduced as a new diagnostic marker to overcome the problems in diagnosis of this disease about 5 years ago. However there are few studies regarding the benefits and pitfalls of this marker.

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic value of calretinin IHC in detecting aganglionosis (HD).

Patients and Methods:

27 HD patients and 28 non-Hirschsprung’s disease (NHD) patients were collected in a prospective study and calretinin IHC was performed on 31 aganglionic and 51 normoganglionic full wall thickness sections of colectomies (some of the cases had more than 1 section). The IHC slides were evaluated by two pathologists and the diagnostic value was calculated in comparison with gold standard which is the presence or absence of ganglion cells in serial Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) stained sections of the colectomies.

Results:

There was great concordance between the final diagnosis of both pathologists and gold standard (k > 0.9). Calretinin immunostaining showed 100% specificity and positive predictive value and more than 90% sensitivity and negative predictive value. High agreement was present between the two pathologists (k > 0.9).

Conclusions:

Calretinin IHC is a very convenient, useful and valuable method to demonstrate aganglionosis in HD patients. Loss of calretinin immunostaining in lamina propria and submucosa is characteristic of HD.     

Gastrointestinal tract as a target organ for orally administered insulin

The intestine is not considered to be a classic target tissue for insulin. Recent in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that intestinal as well as systemic effects are observed following oral administration of insulin. Local effects include enhancement of intestinal growth, cell maturation, enzyme expression, gut adaptation after intestinal resection and reduction of intestinal permeability. Systemic effects, at least in animal models, include favorable effects on blood glucose and lipid profile and on the prevention of autoimmunity and attenuating the atherosclerotic process.     

Cajal-like cells in the upper urinary tract: comparative study in various species

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) play an important role in the control of gut motility. The recognition that the ICC cell membrane harbors the c-kit receptor (CD117) sparked rapid advancement in ICC research on the gut and certain pathologies using immunochemical and molecular methods. The question arises whether ICC exist in the upper urinary tract (UUT) and trigger motility. The present study analyzed the distribution of the c-kit receptor in the normal human UUT compared with various species. Immunohistochemistry (alkaline-phosphatase–anti-alkaline-phosphatase technique, immunofluorescence) was applied on serial sections using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies recognizing the c-kit receptor. C-kit staining was compared with standard endothelial, epithelial, neurogenic, histiocytic, mast cell, and smooth muscle markers, as well as a negative control. Normal proximal, middle, and distal ureter segments were analyzed in rodents, carnivores, porcines, cow, and humans. In all species the c-kit receptor was detected in either round or spindle-shaped cells. Because of their antigenic profile, the round cells were identified as mast cells occurring in all layers of the ureteral wall except the urothelium and were more frequent in humans. In contrast, the population of spindle-shaped cells was marked only by anti-c-kit receptor antibodies, thus resembling ICC. These ICC-like cells were found among the inner and outer smooth muscle layers and in the lamina propria of all species. In humans, spindle-shaped cells were also found vertically oriented within the urothelium. Our morphological data present for the first time the distribution of ICC in the UUT of various species. The ubiquitous distribution in the entire pyeloureteral complex provides strong evidence that ICC generate electrical pacemaker activity within the UUT as an intrinsic system. Animal studies may help to understand the physiological importance of these ICC-like cells. The significance of these findings needs to be evaluated by functional studies and investigations of certain congenital pathologies with disturbance of the urinary outflow.