Development of the intrinsic innervation of the small bowel mucosa and villi.

In this study, we found that Tuj1-immunoreactive neurites begin to project out of the myenteric plexus at embryonic day (E)13.5 in the mouse small intestine, even before the formation of villi. Using live calcium imaging, we discovered that neurites were capable of transmitting electrical information from stimulated villi to the plexus by E15.5. In unpeeled gut preparations where all layers were left intact, we also mimicked the basolateral release of 5-HT from enteroendocrine cells, which triggered responses in myenteric cell bodies at postnatal day (P)0. Altogether, our results show that enteric neurons extend neurites out of the myenteric plexus early during mouse ENS development, innervating the gastrointestinal mucosa even prior to villus formation in mice of either sex. Neurites are already able to conduct electrical information at E15.5 and responses to 5-HT develop postnatally. PMID: 31682159 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Am J Physiol Gastroi... - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol Source Type: research