Biomaterial Database

The fine structure of colonic submucosal nerves in patients with chronic laxative abuse. 1980

J F Riemann, and H Schmidt, and W Zimmermann

Ultrastructural studies of colonic biopsies from patients with a history of long-term laxative abuse, predominantly with stimulant cathartics such as anthraquinone derivatives or bisacodyl, indicated that submucosal nerve fibres may be severely damaged in relation to dosage and time of addiction. The main pathological features found were ballooning of axons, reduction of nerve-specific cell organelles, lysosomal activity, and increase of melanin-loaded macrophages. Morphometric analysis revealed a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in axonal area, with simultaneous reduction of neurotubules. Nerve endings showed a significant decrease of neurosecretory granules when compared with those of normals. It is concluded that these alterations might be a morphological correlation to the clinically evident disturbance of gut motility in patients with chronic laxative abuse, because the intact enteric plexus system is a prerequisite for coordination of normal gut peristalsis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007413	Intestinal Mucosa	Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI.	Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D008297	Male		Males
D009411	Nerve Endings	Branch-like terminations of NERVE FIBERS, sensory or motor NEURONS. Endings of sensory neurons are the beginnings of afferent pathway to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Endings of motor neurons are the terminals of axons at the muscle cells. Nerve endings which release neurotransmitters are called PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS.	Ending, Nerve,Endings, Nerve,Nerve Ending
D009412	Nerve Fibers	Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D002400	Cathartics	Agents that are used to stimulate evacuation of the bowels.	Bowel Evacuant,Bowel Preparation Solution,Cathartic,Purgative,Purgatives,Bowel Evacuants,Bowel Preparation Solutions,Evacuant, Bowel,Evacuants, Bowel,Preparation Solution, Bowel,Preparation Solutions, Bowel,Solution, Bowel Preparation,Solutions, Bowel Preparation
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D003106	Colon	The segment of LARGE INTESTINE between the CECUM and the RECTUM. It includes the ASCENDING COLON; the TRANSVERSE COLON; the DESCENDING COLON; and the SIGMOID COLON.	Appendix Epiploica,Taenia Coli,Omental Appendices,Omental Appendix,Appendices, Omental,Appendix, Omental
D003109	Colonic Diseases, Functional	Chronic or recurrent colonic disorders without an identifiable structural or biochemical explanation. The widely recognized IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME falls into this category.	Functional Colonic Diseases,Colonic Disease, Functional,Disease, Functional Colonic,Diseases, Functional Colonic,Functional Colonic Disease
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man