title: Interstitial cells of Cajal network in primary obstructive megaureter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent reports showed an altered density of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and of peripherin immunoreactive nerve fibres in obstructed uretero-pelvic junction. Our aim was to investigate ICCs immunoexpression and ureteral innervation in primary obstructive megaureter (POM).
  
  
  METHODS
  8 specimens of POM were obtained during tailoring. Restricted segments of ureters were divided from the dilated ones. C-kit and peripherin immunohistochemistry were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A normal distribution of ICCs was documented in both circular and longitudinal muscular layers of dilated segments. Marked muscular hypoplasia and a sparse or absent ICCs occurred in longitudinal muscular layer of restricted ureteral segments. A normal distribution of peripherin positive fibres was present in both dilated and restricted segments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data confirmed a defective muscolarization in restricted, aperistaltic POM. The lacking of ICCs in the longitudinal muscular layer is, probably, due to the absence of c-kit positive muscular embryological precursors. No alteration of peripherin immunoreactive nerve fibres network was observed in both dilated and restricted ureteral segments.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche Mediche e Chirurgiche, Unità Operativa di Chirurgia Pediatrica, Università di Messina. arenaf@unime.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Nicòtina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zuccarello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romeo
mesh_terms: D020541:Coiled Bodies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000276:immunology; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000276:immunology; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit