Abstract | PURPOSE: METHODS: Specimens from resected rectum and extramucosal small-bowel biopsy specimens from 11 patients with Chagas megacolon but no apparent small-bowel clinical involvement were compared with the uninvolved colon and jejunum of 10 control patients with colon cancer. Tissues were fixed in Zamboni solution and evaluated by histochemistry for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase-containing neurons. Reactivity was evaluated on a 0 to 4 scale in the longitudinal muscle, myenteric plexus, circular muscle, submucosal plexus, and mucosa. RESULTS: Specimens from control patients showed well-stained myenteric and submucosal neurons and an abundant network of terminal nerve fibers in the muscle layers. Chagasic specimens had decreased staining in all layers of the gut. Overall there was a statistically significant decrease in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase-containing neurons. Biopsy specimens from clinically uninvolved small bowel of patients with Chagas' disease also showed decreased reactivity, but to a lesser degree. CONCLUSIONS:
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase activity is decreased in patients with advanced megacolon. The alterations are more relevant in the myenteric plexus and the circular muscle. Reactivity is also diminished in the clinically uninvolved small bowel, but to a lesser extent.
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Authors | U Ribeiro Jr, A V Safatle-Ribeiro, A Habr-Gama, J J Gama-Rodrigues, J Sohn, J C Reynolds |
Journal | Diseases of the colon and rectum
(Dis Colon Rectum)
Vol. 41
Issue 11
Pg. 1411-7
(Nov 1998)
ISSN: 0012-3706 [Print] United States |
PMID | 9823808
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Nitric Oxide
- NADPH Dehydrogenase
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Chagas Disease
(complications, enzymology, pathology, physiopathology)
- Female
- Humans
- Intestines
(cytology, innervation)
- Male
- Megacolon
(enzymology, etiology, pathology, physiopathology)
- Middle Aged
- NADPH Dehydrogenase
(metabolism)
- Neurons
(metabolism, pathology)
- Nitric Oxide
(metabolism)
- Rectum
(cytology, innervation)
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