Neuronal control of intestinal motility in mutant mice

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的研究将系统地检查由NIH资助的小鼠诱变项目创建的一组突变小鼠中控制肠道运动的细胞。这将包括肠神经系统、Cajal间质细胞（肠起搏器细胞）和肠道交感神经支配的解剖评估。此外，首席研究员将使用最近描述的成像技术（diolistic labeling）来检查肠道平滑肌，并对突变小鼠进行功能运动性分析。这些实验的长期目标是确定影响肠道运动的新突变。这些研究是重要的，因为肠道神经支配和运动的缺陷会导致显著的发病率和死亡率。与肠道运动异常相关的医学问题包括先天性巨结肠病、假性肠梗阻和肠易激综合征。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed studies will systematically examine the cells that control intestinal motility in a panel of mutant mice created by NIH funded mouse mutagenesis projects. This will include anatomic evaluation of the enteric nervous system, the Interstitial Cells of Cajal (intestinal pacemaker cells), and sympathetic innervation to the gut. In addition, the principal investigator will use a recently described imaging technique (diolistic labeling) to examine intestinal smooth muscle, and perform functional motility analysis in mutant mice. The long-term objective of these experiments is to identify novel mutations that affect intestinal motility. These studies are important because defects in intestinal innervation and motility cause significant morbidity and mortality. Medical problems associated with abnormal intestinal motility include Hirschsprung's disease, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and irritable bowel syndrome.