ISSN:
1432-119X
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The fine structure of neuronal perikarya and processes containing VIP-like immunoreactive material in the colon of patients with Hirschsprung's disease was investigated by immunoelectron microscopy. No VIP-like immunoreactive terminals were found in Auerbach's plexus of the ganglionic segment. However, VIP-like immunoreactive preterminal axons were frequently found to make synaptic contact with both immunoreactive and non-immunoreactive elements within Meissner's plexus. Therefore, the function of the VIP neurons in Auerbach's plexus seems to differ from that in Meissner's plexus. In the oligoganglionic segment, there were a few VIP-like immunoreactive processes, but no VIP-like immunoreactive synaptic formations. VIP-like immunoreactive processes were rarely encountered in the aganglionic segment. In both the oligo-and aganglionic segments, bowel relaxation is considered to be disturbed due to the lack of synaptic contacts of VIP-like immunoreactive neurons with other neuronal components.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00266839
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