Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease by Immunostaining Rectal Suction Biopsies for Calretinin, S100 Protein and Protein Gene Product 9.5
Published on: April 26, 2019
Etiopathological aspects of achalasia: lessons learned with Hirschsprung's disease
H R Gockel1, I Gockel, C C Schimanski
1Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. ines.gockel@unimedizin-mainz.de
Abstract:
The etiology of primary esophageal achalasia is largely unknown. There is increasing evidence that genetic alterations might play an important but underestimated role. Current knowledge of the genetic base of Hirschsprung's disease in contrast is far more detailed. The two enteric neuropathies have several clinical features in common. This association may also exist on a cellular and molecular level. The aim of this review is to enlighten those etiopathogenetic concepts of Hirschsprung's disease that seem to be useful in uncovering the pathological processes causing achalasia. Three aspects are looked at: (i) the genetic base of Hirschsprung's disease, particularly its major susceptibility gene rearranged during transfection and its potential reference to achalasia; (ii) the altered motor functions in both conditions with loss of inhibitory innervation and interstitial cell pathology; and (iii) the involvement of these motility disorders in genetic syndromes.
Related Concept Videos
Esophageal Achalasia
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
Intestinal Obstruction II: Pathophysiology
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease I: Meaning and Pathophysiology
Hiatal Hernia
Pathophysiology of Peptic Ulcer Disease: Injurious Factors
In the antrum region, G cells secrete the gastrin hormone that binds to gastrin-cholecystokinin-B (CCK2) receptors on parietal and enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in the fundic glands. Simultaneously, the vagus nerve releases acetylcholine, which binds to M3...
