[Distribution of nervous system-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein in the gastrointestinal tract of congenital aganglionosis rat].

Immunobiochemical and immunohistochemical studies were performed to find out changes in neural and glial components of the intestine in congenital aganglionosis rats. Nervous system-specific enolase (NSE) was used as a marker of the neural component. S-100 protein was used as a marker of the glial component. NSE and S-100 protein were quantitated by highly sensitive immunoassay. And distribution of NSE and S-100 protein of the intestine was studied by immunohistochemical methods in fetal rats of various gestational age. The results of our studies were followed; Significant decrease in NSE and S-100 protein was found in the aganglionic segment. Although there was no decrease in NSE, significant decrease in S-100 protein was found in the ganglionic segment just proximal to the aganglionic narrow segment. In the studies using rat embryos, NSE positive cells and S-100 protein positive cells were identified in the more caudal intestine with increasing gestational age. In addition, NSE positive cells appeared in the intestine few days earlier than S-100 protein positive cells did. In conclusion, our studies disclosed that there was abnormality of the glial component as well as the neural component in the intestine of Hirschsprung's disease.