Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2003 Jun;16(2):109-118.

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

• Jun JY
• Kim JH
• You HJ
• Kim JY
• Oh JW
• Moon JS
• 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 found that ICC and electrical slow wave were absent or decreased oral to the occlusion site in previous study. In an additional series of experiments, we examined the ability of tissue regenerate the ICC phenotype and normal electrical slow waves after surgical treatment to relieve the mechanical obstruction, and the animals were allowed to recover for 1~2 months. Removal of the obstruction led to the normal gross appearance and the redevelopment of ICC and recovery of slow wave activity within 30 days. These data demonstrate the plasticity of ICC networks in response to partial obstruction, and suggest that adult tissue retain the ability to regenerate functional ICC. This model may be useful for estimating molecular factors responsible for the regulation of the ICC phenotype. More work is needed to find out the factors in ICC for the therapy of intestinal motility disorders.

Keyword

c-Kit; Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC); Slow wave; Gastro-intestinal motility; Mouse; Plasticity

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Enteric Nervous System
Gastrointestinal Motility*
Humans
Interstitial Cells of Cajal*
Intestine, Small
Mice
Muscle, Smooth
Phenotype
Plastics*
Plastics