Objective: Cajal cells have been defined as pacemakers in the gastrointestinal tract, and have recently been reported in the urogenital tract. In this study, the effects of experimental obstruction of the vas deferens on Cajal-like cells in rats were investigated. Material and Methods: Ninety rats were divided into study (S), sham-operated (SH) and control (C) groups. The vasa deferentia were removed at the beginning of the study in the C group and in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd months after distal vas deferens ligation in the SH and S groups (S1, S2 and S3 consecutively). The sections stained with c-kit antibody were studied under a light microscope to determine the number and morphology of Cajal-like cells in the submucosal and muscular layers. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the C, S1 and S2 groups despite a higher mean in S1. The decrease in the mean values for the submucosal and muscular layers in S3 was statistically significant compared to the C group. No morphologically significant difference was detected under a light microscope after obstruction. Conclusions: The increase in Cajal-like cells in the early phase, although insignificant, might be associated with increased motility to overcome the obstruction, whereas the significant decrease in the late phase might be a sign of disordered motility.

Keywords:
Cajal cells, Vas deferens, Vas deferens obstruction, c-kit, Motility
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© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
2009
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