A novel mechanism for intestinal propulsion: transit without neurons or pacemakers

早产的一个重要并发症是调节正常肠道运动的机制尚未完全发育。我们最近发现了一种新的收缩模式，这种模式主要出现在小鼠的结肠中，这些小鼠既没有发育出控制肠道运动的正常神经回路，也缺乏肌肉表层固有的起搏器细胞。这种运动模式似乎是在神经回路的发育和成熟过程中负责肠道内容物的运动，而神经回路在更多成年动物中调节这一过程。然而，对这一过程负责的机制尚未确定。本项目旨在确定这些机制

A significant complication of premature births is that the mechanisms that regulate normal intestinal movements have not yet fully developed. We have recently identified a novel pattern of contraction that is seen predominantly in the colon of mice that have not yet developed either the normal nerve circuits that control gut movement and also lack the pacemaker cells that are intrinsic to the muscle coat. This motor pattern appears to be responsible for the movement of gut content during the development and maturation of the nerve circuits that regulate this process in more adult animals. However, the mechanisms responsible for this process have not been identified. This project is directed at identifying these mechanisms