Changes of smooth muscle contractile filaments in small bowel atresia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate morphological changes of intestinal smooth muscle contractile fibres in small bowel atresia patients.


METHODS
Resected small bowel specimens from small bowel atresia patients (n = 12) were divided into three sections (proximal, atretic and distal). Standard histology hematoxylin-eosin staining and enzyme immunohistochemistry was performed to visualize smooth muscle contractile markers α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and desmin using conventional paraffin sections of the proximal and distal bowel. Small bowel from age-matched patients (n = 2) undergoing Meckel's diverticulum resection served as controls.


RESULTS
The smooth muscle coat in the proximal bowel of small bowel atresia patients was thickened compared with control tissue, but the distal bowel was unchanged. Expression of smooth muscle contractile fibres SMA and desmin within the proximal bowel was slightly reduced compared with the distal bowel and control tissue. There were no major differences in the architecture of the smooth muscle within the proximal bowel and the distal bowel. The proximal and distal bowel in small bowel atresia patients revealed only minimal differences regarding smooth muscle morphology and the presence of smooth muscle contractile filament markers.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in smooth muscle contractile filaments do not appear to play a major role in postoperative motility disorders in small bowel atresia.
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
Stefan
S
Gfroerer
Henning
H
Fiegel
Priya
P
Ramachandran
Udo
U
Rolle
Roman
R
Metzger
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003893:Desmin / Q000032:analysis*; D005858:Germany; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007409:Intestinal Atresia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013194:Staining and Labeling
C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; D003893:Desmin