Effects of superior mesenteric and coeliac ganglionectomy on the small intestinal mucosa in the Hanford mini pig. I. Histological and enzyme-histochemical study.

The effects of total superior mesenteric and coeliac ganglionectomy on the thickness of the mucosa, the cell composition of the epithelium and the enzyme activity of the absorptive cells was studied in 10 Hanford mini pigs 3 weeks and 6 months after ganglionectomy. The mucosal thickness increased after ganglionectomy by 10-33% (P less than 0.02) mainly due to increase in the villus height. Differential cell counts showed a postganglionectomy decrease in percentage of goblet cells of 20-40%. Absorptive cell counts increased significantly (P less than 0.05). Enterochromaffin cells (stained with the Masson-Fontana method) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-immunoreactive cells did not change significantly in the small intestine. The activity of L-leucine-amino-peptidase, non-specific alkaline phosphatase, adenosintriphosphatase, non-specific acid phosphatase, non-specific esterase and succinate dehydrogenase, as assessed by absorption photometry, increased by 2-18% (P less than 0.01) after ganglionectomy. Total ganglionectomy thus results in a rise in villus height and in an increase in the number of absorptive cells which, by their enzymatic activity, appear to be fully mature.