Faculty Collaboration Database

Acquired megacolon is associated with alteration of vasoactive intestinal peptide levels and acetylcholinesterase activity. Regul Pept 1993 Nov 03;48(3):309-19

Date

11/03/1993

Pubmed ID

7506433

DOI

10.1016/0167-0115(93)90159-6

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0027442607 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   17 Citations

Abstract

Based upon previous morphologic studies, we hypothesized that the development of acquired megacolon was associated with abnormalities of enteric neurotransmitter concentrations and enzymatic activities. Specimens were obtained at surgery from patients with normal descending-sigmoid colon (n = 13) and patients with sigmoid megacolon (n = 6; defined by radiologic measurement). Radioimmunoassays were used to measure the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory neuropeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic excitatory neuropeptide, substance P, while spectrophotometric assays were used to quantitate acetylcholinesterase activity and choline acetyltransferase activity. There were significantly decreased concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide and decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in muscularis externa from patients with acquired megacolon. In megacolon, vasoactive intestinal peptide-containing nerve fibers appeared to be diminished in circular and longitudinal smooth muscle, and immunostaining of nerve cell bodies in the plexus submucosus externus appeared diminished. These results suggest the hypothesis that production of vasoactive intestinal peptide is altered allowing secondary colonic hypertrophy to develop from prolonged cholinergic nerve-mediated contractions of circular smooth muscle. As a corollary to this hypothesis, colonic dilatation might result from prolonged contraction of longitudinal smooth muscle.

Author List

Koch TR, Schulte-Bockholt A, Telford GL, Otterson MF, Murad TM, Stryker SJ

Author

Mary F. Otterson MD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acetylcholinesterase
Adult
Aged
Choline O-Acetyltransferase
Colon
Female
Histocytochemistry
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Megacolon
Middle Aged
Radioimmunoassay
Spectrophotometry
Substance P
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide