Ganglion cell changes in experimental stenosis of the gut.

Teflon mesh was wrapped around the terminal ileum of dogs to cause a partial obstruction. Both smooth muscle layers became thickened in the gut proximal to the constriction, but the circular muscle was more hypertrophied than the longitudinal. The cells in Auerbach's plexus were stained by an indoxyl esterate technique in 100mu sections and counted. The number of ganglion cells related to muscle mass was decreased above the constriction. Although some ganglion cells increased in size there was no evidence of any increase in number.