[Ultrastructural studies of the ileum neobladder]

Four patients had cold biopsies of the ileal mucosa 15-40 months after bladder substitution with an ileal neobladder. We used electron optical systems encompassing scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy for ultrastructural evaluation of the specimen. The changes observed did not vary markedly from patient to patient. In all biopsies the number of normal intestinal mucosa cells as well as mitochondrial density and number of microvilli was significantly reduced. In contrast the density of goblet cells was similar to that found in normal ileal tissue. These findings confirm the clinical observation that, on long-term follow-up, patients with an ileal neobladder show a decrease in urinary resorption via the ileal mucosa, whereas mucus secretion tends to be constant.