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Visualization of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) Network in Mice
09:45

Visualization of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) Network in Mice

Published on: July 27, 2011

Embryological origin of interstitial cells of Cajal

H M Young1

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, VIC, Australia. h.young@anatomy.unimelb.edu.au

Microscopy Research and Technique
|December 22, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) originate from mesenchymal precursors, not the neural crest. The Kit signaling pathway is crucial for post-natal ICC proliferation, not embryonic development.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The embryological origin of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the intestine was previously uncertain.
  • ICC share characteristics with both neural crest-derived cells and mesenchymal cells, leading to debate about their origin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the embryological origin of intestinal interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC).
  • To investigate the role of the Kit signaling pathway in ICC development and proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Experiments involving organ culture of embryonic gut segments from mammalian and avian species, with and without neural crest cell presence.
  • Analysis of Kit expression in ICC and smooth muscle cell precursors during embryonic development.
  • Study of ICC development in adult mice with mutations affecting Kit activity.

Main Results:

  • Experiments demonstrated that ICC do not arise from the neural crest.
  • ICC and smooth muscle cells appear to originate from common mesenchymal precursor cells.
  • While ICC precursors express Kit, the Kit signaling pathway is essential for post-natal ICC proliferation, not embryonic development.

Conclusions:

  • Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) originate from mesenchymal precursors in the embryonic intestine.
  • The Kit signaling pathway plays a critical role in the post-natal proliferation and maintenance of ICC, rather than their initial embryonic development.

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