The content of serotonin cells in duodenal biopsies of autistic patients

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionAutistic spectrum disorders (ASD) don’t have the same etiology. Platelet hyperserotonemia remain the most common neurochemical abnormality in these patients. The main producer and storage of peripheral serotonin are enteric enterochromaffin cells – serotonin cells. Platelet hyperserotonemia may result from disorders in the synthesis and/or release of enteric serotonin. An increased number of people with ASD have gastrointestinal disorders. Some of them have a serotonergic background.AimThe aim was to assess the serotonin cells in the duodenal mucosa of patients with ASD.Material and methodsStudy group: 30 children with ASD, including 73% with duodenitis chronica. Control group (patients without ASD): 45 patients, 56% with duodenitis chronica. Immunohistochemical assessment of the number of serotonin cells was performed.’ResultsChildren with ASD and duodenitis have fewer serotonin cells than autistic children with a normal picture of the duodenum. Children with ASD and chronic duodenitis have fewer serotonin cells than patients from the control group. Patients from the control group, suffering from chronic duodenitis have an increased number of serotonin cells in relation to children without inflammatory lesions in the duodenum.ConclusionsThe serotonergic profiles of the GI tract of autistic patients and their peers without autistic symptoms are different. In the course of chronic duodenitis in patients with ASD the number of serotonin cells falls while in persons without autistic features it increases significantly. Chronic duodenitis contributes to an increase in the number of serotonin cells in persons without autistic features while decreasing it in patients with ASD