title: Study of the density of ganglion cells in the terminal bowel of rats with anorectal malformations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the ganglion cells (GC) in the terminal bowel of rats with ethylenethiourea (ETU) induced anorectal malformations (ARM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The animals were divided into three groups: Group A--normal fetuses from pregnant rats that were not administered ETU; Group B--fetuses without ARM born from pregnant rats that were administered ETU and Group C--fetuses with ARM born from pregnant rats that received ETU. ETU was administered on the 11th day of pregnancy at the dose of 125 mg/kg body weight by gastric gavage. The rats had cesarean section on the 21st day of gestation. The fetuses terminal bowel tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry to demonstrate ganglion cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences were found between groups A, B and C regarding ganglion cell densities. Group A had the highest cell density, followed by Group B and the lowest density was found in Group C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ganglion cell densities are decreased in the terminal bowel of rats with ARM.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Experimental Surgery, UNIFESP, Brazil. mmmacedo@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Maurício
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: José Luiz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Karine Furtado
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Iberê Cauduro
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005031:Ethylenethiourea; D005260:Female; D005724:Ganglia / Q000166:cytology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012007:Rectum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins; D005031:Ethylenethiourea