Distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal in the neurogenic urinary bladder of children with myelomeningocele.

PURPOSE C-kit positive interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) play an important role in the regulation of the smooth muscle motility, acting as pacemakers to provide the slow wave activity in various organs. Recent studies have shown that c-kit positive ICCs are widely distributed in the urinary tract of animals and humans. The aim of our study was to examine the distribution of ICCs in the children's neurogenic bladder. METHODS An immunohistochemical study of specimens obtained from neurogenic urinary bladder (from the trigonum and the corpus) of children with meningomyelocele and during autopsy was performed using antibody against c-kit (CD 117). Histological morphometry of immunoexpression of c-kit positive ICCs was performed by means of an image analyzing system. RESULTS Our investigation demonstrated ICCs located in the vesical muscle layers. The distribution of those cells is different in the trigonum and the corpus of the urinary bladder. No remarkable differences were observed in c-kit immunoexpression between the neurogenic and the control group. CONCLUSION There was no difference in the distribution of ICCs in the urinary bladder of healthy children as compared to children with myelomeningocele. Biopsy revealed different distribution of ICCs in particular parts of the bladder (trigonum/ corpus) in both groups of children.