Experimental Investigation Of Serotonin-producing Intestinal Enterochromaffin Cells In Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background According to the epidemic study in China and foreign countries, the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has the increasing trend year after year, which affects the life quality of people. The etiological mechanism has not been understood. In recent years many people think that IBS is caused by the maladjustment of nerve-internal secretion-immunity network. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is an important factor in the network and a nerve transmitter existing in central nerve system and gastrointestinal duct extensively . About 90 percent of 5-HT in one person is synthesized in gastrointestinal duct, especially existing in enterochromaffin (EC) cells of gastrointestinal mucosa. More and more studies showed that EC cells, 5-HT and its receptors participate in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility, sensation and secretion in pathological and normal stats. So EC cells and 5-HT have been the new focus studied.Objective: To investigate the morphological and synthetic alteration of EC cells of intestinal mucosa in patients with IBS and study the relationship between EC cells, 5-HT and IBS.Methods: Fifty one cases of IBS were classified into diarrhea-predominant and constipation-predominant in accordance with Rome II criteria. Colon biopsy tissues were stained through immunohistochemistry and the number of EC cells was calculated. Morphological changes and functional states of EC cells in intestinal mucosa were also studied by electron microscopy.Results 1. In control group the shape of EC cells is round and...