title: Study of density of interstitial cells of cajal in the terminal intestine of rats with anorectal malformation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intestinal constipation is one of the most commonly occurring complaints in the postoperative period after correction of anorectal malformation (ARM). An abnormal density of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) is one potential cause. The objective of this study was to analyze the density of ICC in the terminal intestine of fetuses of rats with anorectal anomaly induced by ethylenethiourea (ETU).
  
  
  METHODS
  The fetuses were distributed into three groups: Group A--normal fetuses obtained from pregnant female rats that did not receive ETU; Group B--fetuses with no ARM, obtained from pregnant rats that received ETU, and Group C--fetuses with ARM, obtained from pregnant rats that received ETU. ETU was administered on the 11th day of pregnancy at a dose of 125 mg/kg. The fetuses were extracted by means of laparotomy on the 21st day of pregnancy. The terminal intestine of the fetuses was removed and analyzed by immunohistochemistry to evaluate ICC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences were found between groups A, B and C regarding the density of ICC. Group A presented with the highest density, followed by groups B and C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a lower density of ICC in the terminal intestine of rats with ARM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Branch of Pediatric Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. mmmacedo@uol.com.br
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005031:Ethylenethiourea; D005260:Female; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012007:Rectum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005031:Ethylenethiourea