Abstract
BACKGROUND: Small bowel atresia is a congenital disorder that carves a substantial morbidity.
Numerous postoperative gastrointestinal motility problems occur. The underlying cause
of this motility disorder is still unclear. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) play
a major role in gastrointestinal motility.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the morphological changes of enteric nervous system and ICC in small
bowel atresia.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Resected small bowel specimen from affected patients (n=15) were divided into three
parts (proximal, distal, atretic). Standard histology and immunohistochemistry with
anti C-KIT receptor antibody (CD117), calretinin and α-SMA was carried out. The density
of myenteric ICCs in the proximal, atretic and distal parts was demonstrated by CD
117 while Calretinin was used for ganglion cells and nerve bundles, α-SMA highlighted
muscle hypertrophy.
RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The proximal and distal bowel revealed clear changes in the morphology and density
of enteric nervous system and interstitial cells of Cajal..
Key words
C-kit - enteric nervous system - interstitial cells of Cajal - intestinal atresia