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Updated: May 31, 2026
Orthotopic Small Bowel Transplantation in Rats
Published on: November 6, 2012
Transplantation of enteric cells into the aganglionic rodent small intestines
Carrie L Geisbauer1, Benjamin M Wu, James C Y Dunn
1Biomedical Engineering Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-7098, USA.
Background:
Enteric cells, a mixture of cells isolated from the longitudinal and circular muscle of the gut, may contain neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and therefore may be a potential source to regenerate the enteric nervous system.
Materials And Methods:
Benzylalkonium chloride (BAC) was employed to ablate the myenteric and submucosal plexi of the rodent jejunum. Enteric cells were then injected into this BAC-treated segment of the jejunum either with or without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mixed in collagen.
Results:
Expression of peripherin, S100, and synaptophysin were found in all of the cell injection sites. Peripherin and S100 expression appeared in close proximity in ganglion-like structures when bFGF was injected simultaneously with enteric cells. Synapses that were formed in the presence of bFGF were elongated compared with those formed in the absence of exogenously delivered bFGF. A small percentage of enteric cells expressed peripherin in the injection site after transplantation.
Conclusions:
Enteric cells transplanted with collagen and bFGF in an aganglionic segment of jejunum regenerated ganglion-like structures and may hold potential as a cellular therapeutic for various motility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
