title: New application of catecholamine fluorescence histochemistry using glyoxylic acid for diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease by rectal biopsy.
abstract: Catecholaminergic innervation was studied in the rectal biopsy specimen obtained from patients with Hirschsprung's disease. The histofluorescence of catecholamine was examined using glyoxylic acid and magnesium without freeze-drying. Aganglionic specimens exhibited no fluorescent network of terminals or fibres in the submucosal plexus, whereas ganglionic specimens showed ganglion cells surrounded by a network of catecholaminergic terminals and fibres. These results of rectal biopsy could be obtained easily and quickly with good reliability. Examination of the catecholaminergic innervation by this histofluorescence method provides a new approach to the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease.
mesh_terms: D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006038:Glyoxylates; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D012007:Rectum / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D006038:Glyoxylates; C031150:glyoxylic acid