DISTRIBUTION OF C-KIT IMMUNOPOSITIVE CELLS IN NORMAL HUMAN COLON AND IN HIRSCHSPRUNGS-DISEASE

Background:Subpopulations of c-Kit immunopositive cells in the muscle coat of the gastrointestinal tract are considered pacemaker cells and have been investigated in human tissue relating to motility disorder. However, the morphology of c-kit immunopositive cells in intact human tissue is still unclear. Methods: The authors studied the distribution of c-Kit immunopositive cells in the normal human colon and their cel lular configuration by confocal microscopy on whole-mount preparations . The authors then compared them with six cases of Hirschsprung's dise ase (HD; two of short segment aganglionosis, three of extensive agangl ionosis, and one of total aganglionosis). Results: In the normal colon regional differences were found in the distribution of c-Kit immunopo sitive cells. The population in the muscle layers and at the submucosa l border was larger in the anal part than in the oral part. Accumulati on of positive cells at the myenteric plexus level was prominent only at the descending colon. In the descending colon of HD the authors cou ld not demonstrate any differences in c-Kit immunopositive cells on ag anglionic segments compared with the corresponding a rea of intact tis sue. Conclusion: More attention must be paid to these regional differe nces of distribution, and identical regions of affected and unaffected bowels must be compared when discussing the relation between the abno rmality of c-kit-positive cells and motility disorders including HD. C opyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.