title: Unchanged expression of whole neurons in the myenteric plexus in the neorectum after anterior resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to study the distribution of neurons in the myenteric plexus of the neorectum after anterior resection and determine changes in the number of whole neurons.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2002 to December 2008, 20 patients with local recurrence or new neoplasms in the neorectum after anterior resection for rectal cancer were enrolled in the neorectum group and another 20 patients with sigmoid colon cancer allocated by age and gender were enrolled in the control group. Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections were collected and studied using anti-HuC/HuD. The number of whole neurons in the myenteric plexus were counted postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of whole neurons in the myenteric plexus was 8.22 +/- 2.70/mm in neorectum group vs. 8.16 +/- 2.67/mm in control group (P = 0.944), without significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After anterior resection, whole neurons in the myenteric plexus in the neorectum did not change. The denervation has no effect on the change of the number of whole neurons in the myenteric plexus in the neorectum.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Xishan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012007:Rectum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000601:surgery*