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Updated: May 8, 2026
07:54
Immunostaining to Visualize Murine Enteric Nervous System Development
Published on: April 29, 2015
Laminin-1 promotes enteric nervous system development in mouse embryo
Nana Nakazawa1, Katsumi Miyahara, Manabu Okawada
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Juntendo Nerima Hospital, 3-1-10 Takanodai, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, 177-8521, Japan, nana.nakazawa@gmail.com.
Pediatric Surgery International
|August 28, 2013
Summary
Laminin-1 significantly enhances enteric neural crest-derived cell (ENCC) migration in mouse gut cultures. This finding offers insights into enteric nervous system development and related disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Neuronal development relies on extracellular factors like nerve growth factor (NGF) and laminin.
- Laminin-1 is known to promote neurite outgrowth in dorsal root ganglion cells.
- Limited data exists on NGF and laminin-1 effects on the enteric nervous system (ENS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of NGF and laminin-1 on enteric neural crest-derived cell (ENCC) migration.
- To utilize SOX10-Venus transgenic mice for visualizing ENCC migration in the gut.
Main Methods:
- SOX10-Venus transgenic mouse embryos (day 12.5 gestation) were used.
- Colorectal explants were cultured with NGF, with or without laminin-1, for 12 hours.
- Rates of ENCC migration and colorectum extension were quantified.
Main Results:
- Laminin-1 significantly increased the extension rate of Venus-positive ENCCs compared to controls (22.84% vs. 13.96%, p < 0.05).
- No significant difference in colorectum extension rate was observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Laminin-1 promotes ENCC migration in the developing mouse gut.
- This visualization technique aids in studying extracellular molecule effects on ENCC migration.
- Findings may inform understanding of ENS developmental disorders like Hirschsprung's disease.
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