Diminished content of enterochromaffin cells in the rectal mucosa of an infant.

This report deals with an extremely small number of enterochromaffin cells in the rectum of a newborn male. This finding occurred only in 200 biopsies. The correlations to connatal disturbances of the motility of the intestine in the newborn are discussed. The frequency of this alterations seems to be comparable with other disturbances of cells of the neural crest, as for example pigment anomalies. Although further biochemical investigations could not be carried out because of technical difficulties, the case seems to be worth publishing for theoretical and practical reasons and in view of the possibility of special treatment.