Korean J Anat.  2002 Oct;35(5):387-396.

Change of Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) and Intestinal Motility in Murine Small Bowel Obstruction

• Jun JY
• Chung CH
• You HJ
• Kim KH
• Kim JM
• Kim KH
• Park DY
• Chang IY

Abstract

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are the pacemakers in gastrointestinal slow wave, and also transduce signal inputs from the enteric nervous system to smooth muscle. The abnormal motility corresponded to a lack or decreasing of ICC and a disruption of electrical slow waves. So we developed partial obstruction model in murine small intestine and investigated changes in the ICC networks and electrical activity in the obstructed bowel using c-kit immunohistochemistry and intracelluar electrophysiological techniques. Two weeks following the onset of a partial obstruction, the small intestine increased in diameter and muscular hypertrophy was developed oral to the obstruction site. ICC were absent or only weak at 1 ~25 mm oral to the occlusion site, and this disruption was accompanied by the loss of electrical slow wave. ICC networks and slow waves were normal appearance aboral to the clip. In conclusion, The present results showed that partial intestinal obstruction induced the loss of ICC networks and slow waves. These result will provide a valuable aid for understanding pathogenesis of intestinal motility disorder, and this model may be an important tool for evaluating genetic or molecular factor for the therapeutic opportunities of motility disorder in human.

Keyword

c -Kit; Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC); Slow wave; Gastrointestinal motility; Mouse

MeSH Terms

Animals
Enteric Nervous System
Gastrointestinal Motility*
Humans
Hypertrophy
Immunohistochemistry
Interstitial Cells of Cajal*
Intestinal Obstruction
Intestine, Small
Mice
Muscle, Smooth