G. Nicholls et al., NITRIC OXIDE-PRODUCING NEURONS REMAIN INTACT AFTER SMALL-BOWEL TRANSPLANTATION, Journal of pediatric surgery, 30(10), 1995, pp. 1440-1442
This study documents the fate of nitric oxide neurons following small
bowel transplantation. Heterotopic, syngeneic small bowel transplants
were performed in five male Lewis rats. The grafts were harvested 7, 3
6, 55, 60, and 65 days postoperatively, together with the native bowel
for comparison. NADPH diaphorase staining of cryostat sections was us
ed to identify the nitric oxide-producing neurons. NADPH diaphorase ac
tivity was concentrated in the myenteric plexus, deep muscular, and su
bmucous plexus. No differences were detected between the transplanted
and native bowel at any time after transplantation. This suggests that
nitric oxide-producing neurons are well preserved after transplantati
on and that posttransplant dysmotility is probably not related to inte
rrupted nitric oxide innervation. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders
Company.