HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDIES ON PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF HIRSCHSPRUNGS-DISEASE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NADPH-DIAPHORASE

Nitric oxide forms a neurotransmitter for non-adrenergic inhibitory ne rves, and localization of NADPH-diaphorase coincides with that of nitr ic oxide. We investigated the pathophysiology of both aganglionic and hypoganglionic intestines by staining for NADPH-diaphorase. For the hy poganglionic intestine, segments of transitional intestine infected wi th Hirschsprung's disease were used. For the control, intestines resec ted during surgery for ailments other than Hirschsprung's disease and one normal segment of intestine from a patient suffering from Hirschsp rung's disease were utilized. The following results were obtained: (1) The circular muscle layers of normal intestines were strongly innerva ted by non-adrenergic inhibitory nerves. (2) In the aganglionic intest ines no innervation of non-adrenergic inhibitory nerves was observed. (3) The circular muscle layers of hypoganglionic intestines showed wea k innervation by non-adrenergic inhibitory nerves.