Nervous structure of Meckel's diverticulum in children

Meckel's diverticulum, being considered as the most frequent malformation of the digestive tract, has been largely presented in scientific papers, but a complete physiopathological mechanism for its natural history has not been yet described. We have studied the nervous system and the differences observed in eight Meckel's diverticulums with enteric or ectopic gastric mucosa, using specific immunohistochemical markers. It has been noted a significantly higher density of myenteric nerve fibers in areas with enteric mucosa compared with the areas with gastric heterotopias, while the transition zone had intermediate nerve fibers density. The ileal wall near the diverticulum had a myenteric plexus density similar to gastric mucosa intradiverticular area. The density of Meckel's diverticulum myenteric plexuses determines the local peristalsis. The enteric type mucosa diverticulums has more intense peristaltic activity which leads more frequent to intussusception or, in case of intraluminal obstruction, might be also involved in germ spreading and progression of infectious process. The lower density of Auerbach's plexus nerve fibers in cases with gastric heterotopia Meckel's diverticulum determines less effective drainage of diverticular content, favoring the contact of intradiverticular mucosa with acid secretion of gastric mucosa area. The gastric mucosa's defense mechanisms and the intense peristaltic activity in the zone with enteric mucosa offer a certain protection against the apparition of intradiverticular ulcerative lesions, which usually are observed on the ileum, near the diverticulum. The age related decreasing number of myenteric nerve fibers density explains the higher frequency of Meckel's diverticulum complications in children.