Jabari S, De Oliveira E, Brehmer A, Da Silveira AB (2014)
Publication Status: Published
Publication Type: Journal article, Review article
Publication year: 2014
Book Volume: 142
Pages Range: 235-244
Journal Issue: 3
DOI: 10.1007/s00418-014-1250-x
Megacolon, the irreversible dilation of a colonic segment, is a structural sign associated with various gastrointestinal disorders. In its hereditary, secondary form (e.g. in Hirschsprung's disease), dilation occurs in an originally healthy colonic segment due to an anally located, aganglionic zone. In contrast, in chronic Chagas' disease, the dilated segment itself displays pathohistological changes, and the earliest and most prominent being found was massive loss of myenteric neurons. This neuron loss was partial and selective, i.e. some neurons containing neuronal nitric oxide synthase and/or vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were spared from neuron death. This disproportionate survival of inhibitory neurons, however, did not completely correlate with the calibre change along the surgically removed, megacolonic segments. A better correlation was observed as to potentially contractile muscle tissue elements and the interstitial cells of Cajal. Therefore, the decreased densities of α-smooth muscle actin- and c-kit-immunoreactive profiles were estimated along resected megacolonic segments. Their lowest values were observed in the megacolonic zones itself, whereas less pronounced decreases were found in the non-dilated, transitional zones (oral and anal to dilation). In contrast to the myenteric plexus, the submucosal plexus displayed only a moderate neuron loss. Neurons co-immunoreactive for VIP and calretinin survived disproportionately. As a consequence, these neurons may have contributed to maintain the epithelial barrier and allowed the chagasic patients to survive for decades, despite their severe disturbance of colonic motility. Due to its neuroprotective and neuroeffectory functions, VIP may play a key role in the development and duration of chagasic megacolon. © 2014 The Author(s).
APA:
Jabari, S., De Oliveira, E., Brehmer, A., & Da Silveira, A.B. (2014). Chagasic megacolon: Enteric neurons and related structures. Histochemistry and Cell Biology, 142(3), 235-244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-014-1250-x
MLA:
Jabari, Samir, et al. "Chagasic megacolon: Enteric neurons and related structures." Histochemistry and Cell Biology 142.3 (2014): 235-244.
BibTeX: Download