Survival of neurons and interstitial cells of Cajal after autotransplantation of myenteric ganglia from small intestine in the lethal spotted mouse

To avoid mutilating surgery in the treatment of distal aganglionosis, trans plantation of autologous nervous elements to the affected intestine would b e an attractive option. This treatment modality has emerged as a possible a lternative for different brain disorders, mostly using fetal nervous tissue . Our objective was to evaluate whether myenteric ganglia (MG) and intersti tial cells of Cajal (ICC) could survive a transplantation procedure and to evaluate possible differences between animals with distal colonic aganglion osis (lethal spotted mice) and their healthy littermates. Autologous transp lantation of MG with adherent smooth muscle from small intestine to the sub capsular space of the kidney was performed in mice 3-12 weeks of age. The t ransplants were evaluated 5 to 9 days postoperatively. The presence of myen teric neurons in the transplants was registered using immunohistochemical d etection of different neurotransmitters and markers. For identification of ICC antibodies against c-kit, a cell surface tyrosine-kinase receptor, were used. The transplants showed overall good survival. Neurons containing the general neuronal marker protein gene-related product, the neuronal nitric oxide synthesizing enzyme, and the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal pept ide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide, calcitonin generelated peptide, galanin, substance P, and neuropeptide Y could be shown throughou t the transplants. ICC were consistently seen in the grafted tissue among t he smooth muscle cells, particularly in the deep muscular plexus, and withi n the MG. No obvious differences in ICC or enteric neuronal tissue survival , or in the frequency of the various neuronal populations displayed could b e detected between the two groups of animals. These findings support the us e of autologous MG for further research on transplantation of enteric gangl ia as a possible alternative treatment for colonic aganglionosis.