Enteroendocrine cells wire the gut-brain vagal axis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The vagal sensory nervous system is crucial for gut-brain communication and homeostasis.
• Understanding the guidance mechanisms for vagal nerve fiber innervation of the intestine is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of enteroendocrine cells (EECs) in guiding vagal sensory neuron development and intestinal vagal network formation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized zebrafish genetic models to trace the development of the intestinal vagal network.
• Genetically ablated EECs to observe effects on vagal network formation and function.

Main Results:

• Vagal sensory neuron innervation of the intestine is coupled with EEC formation.
• EECs physically engage with vagal fibers, facilitating network formation.
• EEC ablation impaired intestinal vagal network formation, altered central projection patterns, induced vagal neuron apoptosis, and diminished nutrient-induced brain activation.

Conclusions:

• Enteroendocrine cells guide vagal sensory neuron development and intestinal vagal network formation.
• Loss of EECs disrupts the vagal sensory axis and alters gut-brain signaling, affecting nutrient intake and metabolism.