Abstract
Immunohistochemical studies were performed on localization of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in human gut from patients with Hirschsprung's (H) disease. Gut from patients with other than H-disease was also studied. The following results were obtained; 1. In the normal human intestines; SP- and VIP-activities (A) were found in the whole layer. In the my enteric (Au) plexus, there were SP- and VIP-positive (P) axonal terminals surrounding nerve cells. In the longitudinal and circular muscle layers, beads-like SP- and VIP-P nerve fibers were observed. In the submucosal (Me) plexus, There were SP- and VIP-P axonal terminals surrounding nerve cells. In the submucosal and the muscularis mucosal layers, a few SP and normal level VIP-P nerve fibers were observed. 2. In the H-disease intestines; In the enlarged intestinal segment, SP- and VIP-A in the Au and Me plexus and both circular and longitudinal muscle layers were normal, or oc-casionally slightly less in cases of than normal. In the enlarged segment neighboring on the transitional segment, SP-A in the Au and Me plexuses diminished abruptly, accompanied by a decrease in SP-A in the proper muscle layers, and the activities were found to disappear in the whole layer, preceding disappearance of ganglion cells. While, an increase in VIP-P nerve cells in the Au plexus and VIP-P fibers in the muscle layers were observed. In the transitional segment, VIP-A in the Au and Me plexuses and the intermuscular space were reduced. In the aganglionic segment, there were a few VIP-A in the intermuscular space and intramuscularty, and some VIP-P fibers in the circular muscle layer, while, no VIP-P fibers were discernible within the muscular bundles. VIP-A was totally lost in the whole layer of the ileum and colon of extensive aganglionosis.
