title: Interstitial cells of Cajal in slow transit constipation and megabowel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Disordered gut motor activity is a feature of patients with chronic idiopathic constipation. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are thought to modulate gut motility. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is an abnormality of the density of distribution of ICC in slow transit constipation and megabowel.
  
  
  METHODS
  ICC were identified by immunohistochemistry using an anti-c-kit antibody. Six patients (slow transit constipation n=3; megabowel n=3) were compared with normal controls. The density of distribution of ICC was assessed in the longitudinal and circular muscle layers, and in the intermuscular plane of the colon. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test and χ(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No consistent pattern of difference in the density of ICC could be identified between the constipated and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The density of ICC in the constipated patients was not significantly different from normal colon. The results in these patients suggest that if ICC have a role in the causation of slow transit idiopathic constipation or megabowel then an abnormality of function rather than distribution is implicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St George's Hospital, London, UK, Department of Histopathology, St George's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.lastname: Hagger
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.lastname: Kumar