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Refining Enteric Neural Circuitry by Quantitative Morphology and Function in Mice

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The Enteric Nervous System II

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1383))

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Abstract

RNA-Seq, electrophysiology and optogenetics in mouse models are used to assess function, identify disease related genes and model enteric neural circuits. Lacking a comprehensive quantitative description of the murine colonic enteric nervous system (ENS) makes it difficult to most effectively use mouse data to better understand ENS function or for development of therapeutic approaches for human motility disorders. Our goal was to provide a quantitative description of mouse colon to establish the extent to which mouse colon architecture, connectivity and function is a useful surrogate for human and other mammalian ENS. Using GCaMP imaging coupled with pharmacology and quantitative confocal and 3D image reconstruction, we present quantitative and functional data demonstrating that regional structural changes and variable distribution of neurons define neural circuit dynamics and functional connectivity responsible for colonic motor patterns and regional functional differences. Our results advance utility of multispecies and gut region-specific data.

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Acknowledgements

The work presented was funded by the NIH Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC) program. OT2OD023859 (Dr. Marthe J. Howard, PI) and U18EB021790 (Dr. Marthe J. Howard, PI). The studies presented were done in collaboration with Drs. Joseph Margiotta, Andrea Nestor-Kalinoski, Brian Davis, Katheryn Albers, Kristen Smith-Edwards, Robert Heuckeroth and Joel Bornstein.

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  1. University of Toledo, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA

    Marthe J. Howard

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  1. Marthe J. Howard
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Correspondence to Marthe J. Howard .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine & Public Health Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Nick J. Spencer

  2. College of Medicine & Public Health Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Marcello Costa

  3. South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Stuart M. Brierley

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Howard, M.J. (2022). Refining Enteric Neural Circuitry by Quantitative Morphology and Function in Mice. In: Spencer, N.J., Costa, M., Brierley, S.M. (eds) The Enteric Nervous System II. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1383. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05843-1_20

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