Immunohistochemical Investigation of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) and Substance P in the Colon in Hirschsprung's Disease

Abstract

It has been known that histological distribution of VIP and substances P in the colon in Hirschsprung's disease is influenced in some degree by immunohistochemical procedure. However the detail has not been cleared yet. In this study, we have investigated the alteration of VIP and substance P distribution in the colon of Hirschsprung's disease by PAP immunohistochemistry of Sternberger. The colonic tissue of the narrow segment, including the adjacent proximal dilated colon, was obtained from two patients of Hirschsprung's disease. The tissue was incized into 5 mm in length, fixed in Bouin's solution and embedded in paraffin. Serial sections of 6 μm in thickness were made and stained by the usual unlabeled antibody enzyme method. VIP immunoreactive nerve cell bodies, nerve fibers and nerve terminals were found to distribute in the ganglionic and oligoganglionic segments. On the contrary, in the aganglionic segment, neither VIP immunoreactive nerve fibers nor nerve terminals could be detected in the both plexuses, and fibers of propria mucosa were slightly distributed. Substance P immunoreactive nerve cell bodies nerve fibers and nerve terminals also distributed in the ganglionic segment. However, no substance P immunoreactivity was found in the oligo- and aganglionic segments. It is recognized that VIP produces relaxation of the smooth muscle of the bowel and substance P stimulates the intestinal movement. It was proved in the present study that VIP and substance P immunoreactivities decrease or deplete in the colon of Hirschsprung's disease. It has been suggested, therefore, that the lack of VIP and substance P is possibly the cause of obstructive symptom in Hirschsprung's disease.