Distribution of mast cells and its role in the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung disease / 中华胃肠外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution of mast cells (MC) in colon tissue of Hirschsprung disease (HD) and explore the role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of HD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-one cases of HD (male 23, female 18), age from 2 months to 15 years, and eight age-matched normal cases were enrolled in this study. The distribution of MC in all layers of colon was examined by immunohistochemistry with mouse antihuman mast cell tryptase monoclonal antibody.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The count of MC in all layers of colon aganglionic segments of HD was significantly higher as compared with colon ganglionic segments of HD and normal controls (21.47+/-3.59 vs 3.18+/-0.87, 2.75+/-0.51). The average optical density values(A) of MC in aganglionic and ganglionic segments significantly decreased as compared to normal control (0.38+/-0.10,0.31+/-0.11 vs 0.51+/-0.08).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mast cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HD.</p>