ENTERIC NEURONS EXPRESS STEEL FACTOR-LACZ TRANSGENE IN THE MURINE GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT

The cells that express Steel factor (SLF) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were studied using SLF-lacZ transgenic mice. Expression, detect ed by beta-galactosidase histochemistry, was evident in cells between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers in the GI tract. Double st aining with antibodies specific for the neural markers, PGP 9.5, MAP2 and c-Ret, showed that SLF-lacZ positive cells were enteric neurons. E nteroglia did not express SLF-lacZ. The distribution of expressing cel ls was complimentary to the expression of c-Kit in myenteric interstit ial cells.