Development of interstitial cells of Cajal and pacemaking in mice lacking enteric nerves

Background & Aims: Development of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) require s signaling via Kit receptors. Kit is activated by stem cell factor (SCF), but the source of SCF in the bowel wall is unclear and controversy exists a bout whether enteric neurons express the SCF required for ICC development. Methods: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) knockout mice, which lack enteric neurons throughout most of the gut, were used to determi ne whether neurons are necessary for ICC development. ICC distributions wer e determined with Kit immunofluorescence, and function of ICC was determine d by intracellular electrical recording. Results: ICC were normally distrib uted throughout the gastrointestinal tracts of GDNF-/- mice. Intracellular recordings from aganglionic gastrointestinal muscles showed normal slow wav e activity at birth in the stomach and small intestine. Slow waves develope d normally in aganglionic segments of small bowel placed into organ culture at birth quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed similar expression of SCF in the muscles of animals with and without enteric neurons. Expressi on of SCF was demonstrated in isolated intestinal smooth muscle cells. Conc lusions: These data suggest that enteric neurons are not required for the d evelopment of functional ICC. The circular smooth muscle layer, which devel ops before ICC, may be the source of SCF required for ICC development.