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A Quantitative Cell Migration Assay for Murine Enteric Neural Progenitors
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Regenerative capacity of the enteric nervous system: is immaturity defining the point of no return?

Christina Oetzmann von Sochaczewski1, Katharina Wenke1, Andrew Grieve2

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

The Journal of Surgical Research
|December 30, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Intestinal obstruction in newborns can cause motility disorders due to enteric nervous system (ENS) alterations. Studies show that short-term ligation in chicken embryos led to reversible ENS changes, suggesting immaturity plays a role.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Intestinal obstruction in newborns is linked to post-surgical intestinal motility disorders.
  • Alterations in the enteric nervous system (ENS) may cause abnormal peristalsis and motility issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify changes in the myenteric plexus after ligation in chicken embryos.
  • To determine if these ENS alterations are reversible.

Main Methods:

  • Chicken embryos underwent in ovo intestinal ligation at embryonic day 11 for 4 or 8 days.
  • Intestinal segments were examined using light and electron microscopy.

Main Results:

  • An 8-day ligation increased proximal myenteric ganglia count and skewed size distribution toward smaller ganglia.
  • A 4-day ligation showed comparable ganglia counts and size distribution to controls.
  • Subcellular alterations observed after 4-day ligation were reversible.

Conclusions:

  • Pathologic ENS alterations were fully reversible after a 4-day ligation.
  • The degree of ENS immaturity may influence the reversibility of these alterations.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chicken modelEmbryonal interventionEnteric nervous systemImmaturitySmall bowel obstruction

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