Abnormal colonic endocrine cells in patients with chronic idiopathic slow-transit constipation

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the colonic endocrine cells in patients with slow-transit constipation, to ascertain the presence of a possible abnormality. Methods: Ten patients with chronic slow-transit constipation were investigated. As controls, macroscopically and histologically normal tissues from the colon of 12 patients were examined. These patients had polyps, prolapsis, chronic diverticulitis, volvulus, and haemorrhoids. The endocrine cells were stained by immunocytochemistry and quantified by computerized image analysis. Results: There were significantly fewer enteroglucagon- and serotonin-immunoreactive cells in patients with chronic slow-transit constipation. There was no statistically significant difference between patients and controls with regard to the number of peptide YY (PYY)-, pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-, and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells. The cell secretory indexes (CSI) of enteroglucagon- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were significantly decreased. There was no statistically significant difference in the CSI between the patients and controls with regard to PYY-, PP-, and serotonin-immunoreactive cells. Conclusion: The changes in colonic endocrine cells in patients with slow-transit constipation may be one cause of the decreased motility in the colon and consequent development of constipation.