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Video Imaging and Spatiotemporal Maps to Analyze Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice
Published on: February 3, 2016
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Male-specific colon motility dysfunction in the TashT mouse line
A M Touré1, B Charrier1, N Pilon2
1Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and BioMed Research Center, Faculty of Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), Montreal, Canada.
Neurogastroenterology and Motility
|June 10, 2016
Summary
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) in male mice shows impaired colonic motility linked to reduced nerve cells and neuronal imbalance. These findings may aid in managing HSCR patients after surgery.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) involves absent myenteric neural ganglia, causing intestinal obstruction.
- Post-surgical HSCR patients can experience persistent impaired motility, suggesting underlying neural abnormalities.
- Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and myenteric ganglia are implicated in colonic dysmotility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of colonic dysmotility in a novel TashT mouse model of Hirschsprung disease.
- To correlate intestinal motility with aganglionosis extent and neuronal density in ganglionated regions.
- To analyze the neural composition of the myenteric plexus and ICC networks in HSCR mice.
Main Methods:
- Assessment of intestinal motility parameters in TashT(Tg/Tg) mice.
- Correlation of motility with aganglionosis and neuronal density.
- Immunofluorescence evaluation of myenteric plexus and ICC networks.
Main Results:
- TashT(Tg/Tg) mice exhibit a male bias in aganglionosis, hypoganglionosis, and reduced colonic motility.
- Male mice show a specific increase in nNos(+) neurons in distal ganglionated regions.
- Calretinin(+) neurons, Sox10(+) glial cells, and cKit(+) ICC remain unaffected.
Conclusions:
- Male-specific colonic dysmotility in TashT(Tg/Tg) mice is linked to hypoganglionosis and myenteric neuronal imbalance.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering neuronal composition in HSCR management.
- The study provides insights into the pathophysiology of enteric neuropathies.
