Related Experiment Videos
Acetylcholinesterase-activity in rectal mucosa of children with obstipation
Insights
In children with constipation, abundant acetylcholinesterase nerve fibers in rectal tissue may indicate Hirschsprung's disease. Other nerve findings did not correlate with this diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Histopathology
Background:
- Constipation is a common pediatric issue.
- Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital disorder causing intestinal obstruction due to absent nerve cells.
- Acetylcholinesterase staining is a diagnostic tool for Hirschsprung's disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in rectal mucosa for Hirschsprung's disease in children with obstipation.
- To determine if specific patterns of AChE staining correlate with the clinical diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease.
Main Methods:
- Clinical-enzyme histochemical evaluation of rectal mucosa in 46 children with obstipation.
- Assessment of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and nerve fiber distribution in the lamina propria.
- Correlation of histochemical findings with clinical course and diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Four out of 46 children exhibited abundant and coarse acetylcholinesterase (AChE) positive nerve fibers in the rectal lamina propria.
- These four cases were clinically consistent with Hirschsprung's disease.
- Fine AChE positive nerve fibers or structureless material accumulations did not correlate with Hirschsprung's disease.
Conclusions:
- Abundant and coarse AChE positive nerve fibers in the rectal lamina propria are a significant indicator for Hirschsprung's disease in pediatric patients with obstipation.
- The presence of fine AChE positive nerve fibers or amorphous material does not support a diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease.
Abstract:
The results are presented of a clinical-enzyme histochemical evaluation of the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the rectal mucosa of 46 children with obstipation. In four cases abundant and coarse acetylcholinesterase positive nerve fibres were present in the lamina propria of the mucosa. Only in these 4 cases was the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease supported by the clinical course. Local accumulations of fine acetylcholinesterase positive nerve fibres or accumulations of acetylcholinesterase positive foamy or structureless material were not correlated with Hirschsprung's disease.