Enteric neuropathology of congenital intestinal obstruction: A case report

Figure 1 Representative pictures showing clinical (A and B) and laparotomic views (C and D) observed in this case. Note (A) the hugely distended abdomen and (C and D) abnormally dilated loops located proximally to the removed Ladd’s band (not visible in these examples) at laparotomy. B illustrates the considerable deflation of the abdomen following surgery.

Figure 2 Representative examples illustrating the general neuronal marker NSE (A, B, C) and BCL-2 (D, E, F) immunoreactivities in the neuromuscular layer of a control subject (A, D), in the non dilated loop distal to the congenital obstruction of the patient (B, E) and in the dilated loop proximal to the congenital obstruction of the patient (C, F). Note the marked reduction of NSE and BCL-2 immunoreactivities in myenteric ganglion cells and nerve fibers targeting the muscular layer observed only in the dilated loop. Streptavidin biotin immunoperoxidase technique. Calibration bar (A-F): 20 μm. Compared to controls (G) and the non-dilated segment (H), myenteric neurons of the present case (representative example in I) showed chromatin clumping, cell body shrinkage and cytoplasmic vacuolization. Uranyl acetate and lead citrate staining, transmission electron microscopy. Calibration bar (G, H, I): 2 μm.