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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Visualization of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) Network in Mice
Published on: July 27, 2011
Mesenteric transection decreases expression of interstitial cells of Cajal in an experimental model
1Department of General Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. m-nishimura@umin.ac.jp
Background:
After anterior resection for rectal carcinoma patients often complain of defaecatory dysfunction. The aim of this study was to examine the number of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and ganglion cells in the distal colon partially denervated by mesenteric transection in a rat model.
Methods:
Four groups of rats were operated on, a control group and three experimental groups, with increasing degree of mesenteric transection to denervate the distal colon. Animals were killed after 3 months, and the denervated colon was investigated using immunohistochemistry with Kit and protein gene product 9.5 antibodies to detect ICCs and ganglion cells respectively. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for c-kit and histomorphometry of muscular thickness were performed.
Results:
The total number of ICCs was significantly lower in the three operated models than in the control, particularly in the histological layers of the myenteric plexus and submucosal border. There was no difference in the number of ganglion cells or changes in muscular thickness between the models.
Conclusion:
The number of ICCs in rat distal colon denervated by mesenteric transection is decreased at 3 months after surgery.
