Morphological and functional alteration of serotonin-producing intestinal enterochromaffin cells in patients with irritable bowel syndrome / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate morphological and synthetic alteration of enterochromaffin(EC) cells of intestinal mucosa in patients with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). Methods Fifty cases of IBS were classified into diarrhea predominant and constipation predominant in accordance with RomeⅡ criteria. Colon biopsy tissues were stained through Envision immunohistochemistry. Morphological changes of EC cells in intestinal mucosa were also studied by electron microscopy. Results EC cells were seen in the crypt of intestinal mucosa. The shapes and the number of EC cells in diarrhea predominant IBS and constipation predominant IBS increased remarkably, compared with those in controls (15.90 ?5.09, 14.73?2.73 vs. 7.27?2.50). It was shown that EC cells synthesized excessive 5 hydroxytryptamine (5 HT) by immunohistochemistry. The function of EC cells in IBS was active under electron microscopy. Conclusions Active enteral EC cells noticed in IBS indicate that excessive 5 HT may play an important role in the pathogenesis of IBS.