Detection of ganglion cells in the colonic plexuses by immunostaining for neuron-specific marker NeuN: an aid for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease.

Abstract

The majority of ganglion cells in the colonic plexuses can be easily and specifically identified by immunostaining for neuronal marker NeuN. The distance between the neighboring solitary ganglion cells or groups of ganglion cells varied from 0.18 to 4.0 mm, average 1.0 mm, in ganglionic segments of colons of patients with Hirschsprung disease, and from 0.3 to 6.3 mm, average 1.43 mm, in colons of pediatric patients with chronic constipation of various etiologies. No ganglion cells were detected in aganglionic colonic segments of patients with Hirschsprung disease by this method.