Megacolon in rats.
Four months of sigmoid colon intrinsic denervation of young male Wistar rats resulted in typical megacolon. Average 46.0% denervation of the Auerbach plexus was obtained by serosal application of benzalkonium chloride (0.2% v/v). Denervation was assessed by ganglion cell counts in a 480-nm extension of the treated segment. Increased thickness of the megacolon wall was due to muscle hypertrophy (+117.4%) and mucosal hyperplasia (+53.9%) as shown by morphometry. The potential usefulness of this experimental model is emphasized.
Oliveira
J S
JS
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil.
Llorach-Velludo
M A
MA
Sales-Neto
V N
VN
D000818:Animals; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000209:etiology*; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D008532:Megacolon, Toxic / Q000209:etiology*; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013563:Sympathectomy, Chemical
D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds