Changes in Intramural Nerves of the Stomach After Highly Selective Vagotomy

Hiroshi Katamura

The Second Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine

The effect of highly selective vagotomy on gastric intramural nerves in dogs was studied from 3 days to 12 months postoperatively by enzyme histochemical and electronmicroscopic methods. The most striking changes were seen in the early postoperative period in ganglion cells, enteroglia cells, and the neuropil of the myenteric ganglia and connecting strands. Those changes were limited to the fundic region. During the first postoperative week, the number of ganlion cells decreased in the denervated area and the remaining ganglion cells showed degeneration and decreased enzymatic activity as well. In the second week, amitotic cell division of ganglion cells and immature ganglion cells were observed, suggesting the regenerative process. From the second postoperative month, the number of ganglion cells recovered and hypertrophied ganglion cells with increased enzymatic activity were observed occasionally until the sixth month. Hyperinnervation of the muscularis propria was also observed during the same period. After sixth months, most of the ganglion cells became normal in appearance and enzymatic activity. By the twelfth month the intramural nerves had become entirely normal in appearance.

Key words
highly selective vagotomy, nerve regeneration after vagotomy, histochemical observation of vagal nerve, enzyme activity of intramural nerves

Reprint requests
Hiroshi Katamura Second Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine
3-46 Urafune-cho, Minamiku, Yokohama, 232 JAPAN

Accepted
June 13, 1990

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