[Vagal chronic stimulation decreased colonic Cajal cells density in rats]. / Przewlekla stymulacja nerwu blednego zmniejsza liczbe komórek Cajala w jelicie grubym szczurów.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial CaJal cells ICC) function as pacemaker cells for the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They are binding muscles with the enteric nervous system creating network and play an important role in the regulation of motility of the GI tract. Previous data from our laboratory show that chronic vagal stimulation leads to decrease of body weight of examined animals. We propose, that this effect could be mediated not only by central mechanisms, but also is observed as a result of disturbances of peristalsis caused by damage o interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). In this study we evaluate density of the ICC in the proximal colon in rats with chronic vagal stimulation (MC) microchip (1-month stimulation, frequency of 0.1 Hz). METHODS: One month after implantation of microchip proximal colon was taken from MC and control rats (n=14). An immunohistochemical method--staining with specific antibodies against c-kit receptor (CD117--Santa Cruz Biotechnology)--was performed. The result of this reaction in the region of colonic myenteric plexuses was morphometrically assessed using computed image analysis. RESULTS: Amount of ICC in colonic myenteric plexuses decreased in MC group (3.2 +/- 1.10% of muscular layer) in comparison to the control group (4.86 +/- 1.02% of muscular layer) (p < < 0.05). No differences of the other morphometrical parameters of the muscle layers in both groups were observed. CONCLUSION: Colon ICC count decrease in response of chronic vagal stimulation which confirms possibility of disturbances of colonic motility, but mechanism remains unclear.

[Evaluation of intersitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the large intestine of humans]. / Ocena komórek Cajala (ICC) w jelicie grubym u ludzi.

Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) are the pacemaker cells of the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They are binding these muscle with the enterous nervous system and play an important role in the regulation of motility of the GI tract. Disturbiud in activity of those cells were observed in many functional diseases of the GI tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the localization and morphological differences of the ICC between some region of the human colon. In this work we have performed the immunohistochemical method, using the monoclonal and policlonal specific antibodies against c-kit receptor (CD117) in paraffin embedded block. We find the ICC in the wall of colon in the muscle layers, mainly localized in the region of the myenteric plexus. No difference of the ICC between other region of the colon were observed in our specimen. In some cases of patients with diverticulosis we have observed less of ICC according to the control group. It's only early result, but let us know, that ICC play an important role in the pathogenesis of the motility disturbances of the GI tract.