Presence Of Ganglion Cells Research Articles

Further observations on the presence of ganglion cells in the oculomotor nerves of mammals and fish: number, origin and probable functions.

The oculomotor nerves (3rd, 4th and 6th) of some species of fish and mammals have been studied to establish the presence, number, true topography and probable functional role of the ganglion cells located along the trunk. The finding of typical pseudo-unipolar ganglion cells is always unpredictable and extremely variable, from an inter- and intra-specific point of view, in members of the two zoological classes studied.

The Presence of Ganglion Cells in the Human Middle Ear: A Histological Survey

A histological survey of 871 previously sectioned temporal bones from the Ear Pathology Research Laboratory (EPRL) of the University of Toronto was undertaken to determine the presence of ganglion cell and ganglion cell rests within the human middle ear. The presence of ganglion cells within the middle ear was a common finding noted in 52.3% of temporal bones surveyed. So-called 'ectopic' ganglion cells were identified most often in the greater superficial petrosal nerve (38.7%), the lesser superficial petrosal nerve (12.4%) and on the promontory (11.4%). They were also identified in the main trunk of the intratemporal facial nerve, but in smaller numbers (3%), and for the first time in the tensor tympani muscle. Their consistent presence implies that they should not be considered an abnormal anatomic variant, and further questions accepted conventional anatomic descriptions of middle ear innervation.

Application of NADH Tetrazolium Reductase Reaction in Perioperative Biopsy of Dysganglionic Large Bowel

A reaction for NADH tetrazolium reductase was used to demonstrate the presence of ganglion cells in myenteric plexus during dysganglionic bowel operations in 24 patients. The advantages of this method are the quick preparation of an incubation medium, a short incubation time and the good demonstration of ganglion cells. It was possible to determine the extent of the aganglionic and prominently hypoganglionic parts of the bowel and in this way achieve improved results. The NADH tetrazolium reductase reaction can be recommended for the perioperative biopsy of a dysganglionic bowel.

Novel Area Serving Binocular Vision in the Retinae of Procellariiform Seabirds

Procellariiforms are pelagic seabirds which fly close to the sea surface and feed either by taking items from the surface or by shallow diving. The retinal ganglion cells in five species (Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus, Kerguelen petrel, Pterodroma brevirostris, great shearwater, Puffinus gravis, broad-billed prion, Pachyptila vittata, and common diving petrel, Pelecanoides urinatrix) were examined by Nissl staining and also by silver staining in the case of the common diving petrel. In all five species, a well-defined region in the dorsotemporal retina, close to the ora, was identified. This region is characterized by the presence of ganglion cells which are both regularly arrayed and larger than those found in the rest of the retina. These cells also have a large dendritic field of sparsely branched dendrites with much dendritic overlap between cells, thick axons, and dendrites confined to the proximal inner plexiform layer. Morphologically, they appear similar to the alpha cells of the retina in cats. It is suggested that the region containing these cells should be regarded as a retinal area, and the name area giganto cellularis is proposed. In the Manx shearwater, it is found that this novel area projects visually into the binocular field below the bill. Unlike previously described areas in avian retinae, it seems that this novel area is not concerned with high spatial resolution. It may function in the detection of objects on the sea surface and/or be concerned with the detection of the actual sea surface as a bird flies low over it.

Ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease: Myth or reality

The term ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease has been used to define a spectrum of conditions with clinical presentation similar to Hirschsprung's disease but with presence of ganglion cells on rectal biopsy. Incontrast to Hirschsprung's disease, there is no transition zone on barium enema. However, as in classical Hirschsprung's disease, there is no reflex internal sphincter relaxation on rectal manometry. We reviewed the presentation of five patients with chronic constipation who fulfilled the criteria for ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease. After positive anorectal manometry, despite the presence of ganglion cells on suction rectal biopsy, internal sphincter myomectomy was performed in four patients. Resolution of symptoms was noted in all operated patients. Normal ganglion cells were present throughout the entire length of all myomectomy specimens. There is controversy in the literature concerning the diagnosis of ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease. Most of the confusion concerns whether a short segment of aganglionosis proximal to the dentate line is permissible for the diagnosis of ultrashort Hirschsprung's disease and to what extent such aganglionosis is physiological. Perhaps it would be more accurate to define this entity by the presence of ganglion cells on rectal biopsy as well as the failure of the internal sphincter to relax on rectal manometry and to describe it as anorectal achalasia in severely constipated patients.

Causes of late complications in children operated on for Hirschsprung's disease: a preliminary immunohistochemical investigation using polyclonal antibodies against S-100 protein.

Late follow-up of 51 children operated on for the classical form of Hirschsprung's disease showed a great many unsatisfactory results. It is well known from the literature that achalasia of the anal sphincter is one of the most important causes. Twenty-five patients underwent redilatation of the anal sphincter. Complaints in the form of obstipation or diarrhoea remained in 40% of the cases after redilatation. Reinvestigation of the resected colon specimens using the conventional histological method showed the presence of ganglion cells in the proximal resection fragment in all patients. In the light of reports in the literature stating that despite normal histology, innervation disturbances can exist in the colon, we conducted a pilot study using polyclonal antibodies against S-100 protein. In three out of four patients with an adequate resection, in accordance with the conventional histological criteria, clear innervation abnormalities could be seen with the aid of polyclonal antibody staining.

Seven years' experience with idiopathic unremitting chronic constipation.

Two hundred sixty patients with severe chronic constipation were studied by rectal biopsy, barium enema, and anorectal manometry. None had any medical, neurologic, or anatomic cause for their complaint. All biopsies showed presence of ganglion cells and absence of hypertrophied nerves. Barium enemas showed a dilated anorectum (otherwise normal colon) in 183 (70%) and a normal anorectum and colon in 77 (30%). Manometry showed three patterns. One hundred seventy-eight patients (68%) had pressures between 0 and 20 mmHg with normal anorectal reflex, 69 (26%) had pressures between 0 and 20 mmHg with absence of anorectal reflex, and 13 (16%) had high pressures (20 to 60 mmHg) with normal anorectal reflex. One hundred seventy-eight patients (68%) were treated conservatively by diet and/or laxatives and did well. Eighty-two (32%) required a posterior internal sphincter myectomy after failure of prolonged conservative therapy. All patients were given senna postoperatively (one tablet or one teaspoon every night). Thirty-five patients (43%) did not require the senna after a few months and have daily bowel movements. Forty-two patients (51%) are still using senna. Ten (12%) experienced occasional impaction relieved by enemas. Two recurrences required reoperation. Five (6%) did not benefit from the operation. Sixteen had immunoperoxidase antineurofilament studies that showed no distinctive pattern as described by Kluck et al.

Diagnosis of allied functional bowel disorders using monoclonal antibodies and electronmicroscopy

There are a number of conditions that clinically resemble Hirschsprung's disease despite the presence of ganglion cells on rectal biopsies. These conditions have been described under various names. There have been no systematic studies to date to distinguish these conditions from one another. We examined biopsy and surgical specimens from 19 cases of allied functional bowel disorders in an attempt to establish the most appropriate diagnostic procedure. Suction rectal biopsy and full thickness surgical biopsy specimens were examined by enzyme histochemistry (AChE), immunocytochemistry (monoclonal antibody D7), silver impregnation, and electronmicroscopy. Monoclonal antibody D7, which was produced in our own laboratory, is a good marker of autonomic nervous system. This unique antibody allowed us to distinguish various neuronal abnormalities of the bowel except the abnormalities of the argyrophil plexus, which were diagnosed by silver staining. Eight of the 19 cases had a smooth muscle disorder that was only diagnosed on electronmicroscopy. Our data suggest that the vast majority of allied functional bowel disorders can be diagnosed by examining a full thickness rectal biopsy by immunocytochemistry (D7 monoclonal antibody), silver impregnation, and electronmicroscopy.

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis--a study of fifty cases.

An analysis of 50 cases of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) operated in the last 10 years is presented. Male babies were 4·5 times more affected than female. The mean age at the time of operation was 45 days. All the cases were operated under general anesthesia after correcting the fluid and electrolyte imbalance and there was no mortality. Histopathological study of the hypertrophic pyloric musculature showed hypertrophy, fibrosis, presence of ganglion cells (40%) with some morphological alteration, mild cellular infiltration and oedema.

Presence of ganglion cells in Wilm's tumours: a review of the possible neuroepithelial origin of nephroblastoma.

Twenty-seven cases of Wilms' tumour were reviewed in order to confirm the presence of nervous tissue which could imply a 'neuroepithelial' origin for these neoplasms. For this purpose a double-silver impregnation technique was used. Groups of ganglion cells with neurofibrils and non-myelinated axon-like processes appeared associated with a fine neurofibrillar network with neuromuscular junctions. Nervous tissue in nephroblastoma is mature and should not be confused with primary ganglioneuroblastoma of the kidney in which neuroblasts in rosette-like groupings are very numerous. A case report of such a lesion is discussed for purposes of comparison.

Profound deafness. Associated sensory and neural degeneration.

The cases of deafness presented here have been selected primarily to illustrate the degree to which the acoustic ganglion has degenerated in profound or total deafness. Examples of seven types of acquired diseases of the inner ear and one type of probable congenital degeneration of uncertain cause are given. The number of surviving ganglion cells in each 5-mm section of the cochlea has been expressed as a percentage of the normal average count corresponding to that section of the organ of Corti. The state of the acoustic ganglion has been correlated with that of the organ of Corti and the peripheral axons. Attention is directed to factors other than the presence of ganglion cells, such as disease of the labyrinthine capsule and/or labyrinthitis ossificans, that may influence the possibility of successful insertion of a cochlear implant.

Initiation of activity in the cockroach heart. Introduction.

When all intrinsic neurons are removed from the heart of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, normal rhythmic contractions occur1*. This is an unusual finding since response of the cockroach heart to drugs and the presence of ganglion cells had previously served as the basis for its classification as neurogenic2.

Ganglion cell distribution in the normal rectum and anal canal A basis for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease by anorectal biopsy

The normal distribution of ganglia and ganglion cells in the anal canals and lower rectums of 22 babies and children has been plotted and enumerated. Ganglion cells were distributed in three separate plexuses, the myenteric, the deep submucous, and the superficial submucous plexuses. A “hypoganglionic” zone has been defined and found to extend an average of 4 mm. in the myenteric plexus, 7 mm. in the deep submucous plexus, and 10 mm. in the superificial submucous plexus from and cranial to the anal valves or pectinate line of the anal canal. Any biopsy which includes the plexus above the theoretical upper limit of the hypoganglionic zone should be adequate for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. In particular, mucosal buttons obtained by suction capsule provide the pathologist with suitable material for the detection of ganglion cells in the superficial submucous ganglion cell layer provided the sections are stained with hematoxylin and eosin after paraffin processing. These ganglion cells are extremely difficult to identify by frozen section and this method is not suitable for these small specimens. Presence of ganglion cells in specimens obtained from the hypoganglionic zone or a point 3 cm. inside the anal valves excludes the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. Absence of ganglion cells in the hypoganglionic zone does not exclude Hirschsprung's disease, but absence at the point 3 cm. inside the anal canal is diagnostic of this disease.

On the presence of ganglion cells in the third and sixth nerves of man

On the presence of ganglion cells in the third and sixth nerves of man