Dharap, Amol Sharad and Mansor, Othman and Than, Myo
Are ganglion cells a normal feature of the mucosa in the gastrointestinal tract ?
In: Are ganglion cells a normal feature of the mucosa in the gastrointestinal tract ?.
(Submitted)
Abstract
Intra mucosal ganglion cells are commonly believed not to occur in the normal gastointestinal tract (GIT) of human beings and animals. Such cells are described as occuring only in pathological states like the chronic bowel motiblity disorder and neuronal intestinal dysplasia in human beings. Reports in the recent literature state that occasional intramucosal ganglion cells are a normal finding in the human GIT. Histological sections of the DIT in eight adult, healthy guinea-pigs from oesophagus to anus using an immunological staining method-neuron specific enolase (NSE) staining. While ganglion cells were clearly observed in the submucosa and myenteric nerve plexuses throughout the GIT (oesophagus to anus) intramucosal ganglion cells were seen only in the return and anal canal. In the return, three ganglion cells were seen in three out of the 237 sections that were examined. Ganglion cells either located in the subepithelium, upper one-third or lower one-third of the mucosa. In the anal canal,twenty-two intramucosal ganglion cells were either subepitelial or in the lower one-third of the mucosa. All the ganglion cells seen were moderate to large in size, multipolar and had a vesicular nucleus with a prominent nucleolus. Intramucosal ganglion cells were not found in the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, caccum and colon. Based on their location and morphology the intramucosal ganglion cells in the return and anal canal could be sensory in function. Further detailed studies are, however needed to determine the ultrastructure,connections, neurotransmitters and exact function of these intramucosal ganglion cells in the GIT.
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