Abstract
Introduction: Dilatation and impaired function of the gut is a condition often seen in newborns
with bowel obstruction caused by intestinal atresia. In a previous experimental study
in chicken embryos, we established a model to study ultrastructural changes during
the development of the enteric nervous system after small bowel ligation. The aim
of this study is to investigate the changes of the enteric nervous system (ENS) after
gut ligation. Methods: 56 chicken embryos were investigated. In the operation group fertilized eggs and
the allantoic membrane were opened and the small bowel was ligated on embryonal day
(ED) 11. The controls were sham-operated. The gut was prepared and harvested for analysis
on ED 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. Silver staining or staining of the specimens
for acetylcholinesterase (AchE) was performed. Results: A marked dilatation of the bowel was observed three days after operation (ED 14).
The submucosal (PSM) and myenteric plexus (PM) appeared normal at this time, however
silver staining showed rarification of the neuronal axonal network between the myenteric
and submucosal plexus. Later, on ED 16 an additional rarification of the submucosal
plexus was also seen in the operation group using AchE staining, compared to the controls.
Discussion: The data suggest that distension of the gut hinders normal development of the ENS
in the gut ligation model of chicken embryos. The changes were observed sequentially,
starting with rarification of the axonal network between the PM and PSM. Future studies
will be required to show whether the changes of the ENS are reversible.
Key words
Enteric nervous system - gut distension - intestinal atresia
References
- 1
Collure W D, Hameer H R.
Loss of ganglion cells and marked attenuation of bowel wall in cecal dilatation.
J Surg Res.
1996;
60
385-388
- 2
Khen N, Jaubert F, Sauvat F, Fourcade L, Jan D, Martinovic J, Veremans M, Landais P,
Brousse N, Leborgne M, Nihoul-Fekete C, Cerf-Bensussan N, Sarnacki S. and the group
for the study of intestinal atresia .
Fetal intestinal obstruction induces alteration of enteric nervous system development
in human intestinal atresia.
Pediatr Res.
2004;
56
975-980
- 3
Louw J H, Barnard C.
Congenital intestinal atresia. Observations on its origin.
Lancet.
1955;
19
1065-1067
- 4
Matsumoto K, Suita S, Nada O, Taguchi T, Guo R, Yamanouchi T.
Alterations of the intramural nervous distribution in a chick intestinal atresia model.
Pediatr Res.
1999;
45
30-37
- 5
Matsumoto K, Suita S, Nada O, Taguchi T, Guo R.
Abnormalities of enteric neurons, intestinal pacemaker cells, and smooth muscle in
human intestinal atresia.
J Pediatr Surg.
1999;
34
1463-1468
- 6
Parisi Salvi E, Vaccero R, Baglaj S M, Renda T.
Nervous system development in normal and atresic chick embryo intestine: an immunohistochemical
study.
Anat Embryol.
2004;
209
143-151
- 7
Schoenberg R A, Kluth D.
Experimental small bowel obstruction in chick embryos: effects on the developing enteric
nervous system.
J Pediatr Surg.
2002;
37
735-740
- 8
Spaethe A.
Eine Modifikation der Silbermethode nach Richardson für die Axonfärbung in Paraffinschnitten.
Verh Anat Ges.
1984;
78
101-102
- 9
Watanabe Y, Ando H, Seo T, Katsuno S, Marui Y, Horisawa M.
Two dimensional alterations of myentric plexus in jejunoileal atresia.
J Pediatr Surg.
2001;
36
474-478
M.D. Henning C. Fiegel
Pediatric Surgery
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Martinistraße 52
20246 Hamburg
Germany
eMail: fiegel@uke.uni-hamburg.de
