ABNORMALITIES OF NEUROPEPTIDES AND NEURAL MARKERS IN THE ESOPHAGUS OFFETAL RATS WITH ADRIAMYCIN-INDUCED ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA

Background/Purpose: To investigate the distribution of neural markers and neuropeptides in esophageal atresia (EA). Methods: A fetal rat mod el with Adriamycin-induced EA was used. The animals were divided into four groups: (1) control group, (2) saline-injected group, (3) Adriamy cin administered but without the development of EA; and (4) Adriamycin -induced EA group. Specimens of the distal esophagus from each group w ere immunostained using antibodies to S100, protein gene product 9.5 ( PGP), somatostatin, vasoactive intestine peptide (VIP), bombesin, gala nin, substance P, neuropeptide Y (NPY), calcitonin gene-related produc t (CORP), met-encephalin, nitric oxide synthase, and tyrosine hydroxyl ase. Results: The total cross-sectional area of the distal atretic eso phagus was significantly smaller than controls (P=.01), the submucosa being the component most affected (0.0465 v 0.0234 mm). Immunoreactivi ty for S100 and galanin were significantly elevated in the atresia gro up (0.0288 v 0.0079 and .001 v 0.000). In addition, there was also an increase in CGRP and Substance P in the atretic group. Conclusion: The elevated levels of S100 and galanin could explain the disordered moti lity observed in patients who had esophageal atresia. Copyright (C) 19 97 by W.B. Saunders Company.