Histological and immunohistochemical studies of changes in myenteric plexuses and in interstitial cells of Cajal associated with equine colic.

The study assesses the histological alterations in the gut’s myenteric plexuses and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in horses exhibiting symptoms of colic, aiming to utilize the findings as precise indicators for prognostic evaluation of enteric lesions.

Objective of The Study

The primary aim of this research was to determine the histological changes in two key components of the intestinal wall—the myenteric plexuses and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)—in horses suffering from colic, and to infer how these results could prove valuable in the diagnostic prognosis of enteric lesions or gut damage.

Method

• Researchers carried out a morphologic and quantitative study on the myenteric ganglia, ganglion cells, and neuronal chromatolytic and necrotic changes in a sample of 24 horses showing signs of colic.
• Immunolabeling was also conducted on ganglion cells, enteroglial cells, and ICC for identifying any functionality disorders at the cellular level.

Data Collection and Findings

• The study observed a significant rise in neuronal chromatolysis and necrosis in horses with colic throughout their gut.
• Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin immunoreaction were quantified using an image analysis. This displayed a significant loss of neuronal activity in the intestinal tracts of the sampled horses, linked to a major drop in ICC immunoreactivity.

Implications of the Study

• The study supports the fact that an immunohistochemical evaluation of the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) and ICC, together with morphometric investigations, can be a practical tool when evaluating gut lesions that occur during colic syndrome.
• This research offers valuable insights that can guide therapeutic strategies and help predict the outcome in equine patients with colic—an often life-threatening ailment in horses.