A histochemical study of the mucosubstances of the colon in cases of Hirschsprung's disease with and without enterocolitis.

From the histochemical studies of the mucus factor in normal controls and 10 cases with Hirschsprung's disease including 5 with enterocolitis, using Alcian blue-PAS method, we concluded that ganglionosis had no effect on the secretion of mucus. The presence of qualitative changes in the type of mucopolysaccharides, demonstrated as an increase in the sulphated group especially in cases with enterocolitis, was secondary to the chronic obstruction. These nonspecific changes might diminish the protecting mechanism of the mucous membrane. Quantitative changes were seen to be related to the severity of the enterocolitis.