title: [Distribution of mast cells and its role in the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the distribution of mast cells (MC) in colon tissue of Hirschsprung disease (HD) and explore the role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of HD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one cases of HD (male 23, female 18), age from 2 months to 15 years, and eight age-matched normal cases were enrolled in this study. The distribution of MC in all layers of colon was examined by immunohistochemistry with mouse antihuman mast cell tryptase monoclonal antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The count of MC in all layers of colon aganglionic segments of HD was significantly higher as compared with colon ganglionic segments of HD and normal controls (21.47+/-3.59 vs 3.18+/-0.87, 2.75+/-0.51). The average optical density values(A) of MC in aganglionic and ganglionic segments significantly decreased as compared to normal control (0.38+/-0.10,0.31+/-0.11 vs 0.51+/-0.08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mast cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HD.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People' Hospital, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yu-min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-fa
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Zhi-yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shi-yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D053802:Tryptases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053802:Tryptases