Abstract
The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are important mediators of gastrointestinal (GI) motility because of their role as pacemakers in the GI tract. In addition to their function, ICCs are also structurally distinct cells most easily identified by their ultra-structural features and expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor c-KIT. ICCs have been described inmammals, rodents, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, but there are no reports at the ultra-structural level of ICCs within the GI tract of an organism from the teleost lineage. We describe the presence of cells in the muscularis of the zebrafish intestine; these cells have similar features to ICCs in other vertebrates. The ICC-like cells are associated with the muscularis, are more electron-dense than surrounding smooth muscle cells, possess long cytoplasmic processes and mitochondria, and are situated opposing enteric nervous structures. In addition, immunofluorescent and immunoelectron-microscopic studies with antibodies targeting the zebrafish ortholog of a putative ICC marker, c-KIT (kita), showed c-kit immunoreactivity in zebrafish ICCs. Taken together, these data represent the first ultra-structural characterization of cells in the muscularis of the zebrafish Danio rerio and suggest that ICC differentiation in vertebrate evolution dates back to the teleost lineage.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 483-491 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Cell And Tissue Research |
| Volume | 349 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 24 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Cell Biology
- Histology
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Ultra-structural identification of interstitial cells of Cajal in the zebrafish Danio rerio. / Ball, Evan R.; Matsuda, Miho; Dye, Louis; Hoffmann, Victoria; Zerfas, Patricia M.; Szarek, Eva; Rich, Adam; Chitnis, Ajay B.; Stratakis, Constantine A.
In: Cell And Tissue Research, Vol. 349, No. 2, 24.05.2012, p. 483-491.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultra-structural identification of interstitial cells of Cajal in the zebrafish Danio rerio
AU - Ball, Evan R.
AU - Matsuda, Miho
AU - Dye, Louis
AU - Hoffmann, Victoria
AU - Zerfas, Patricia M.
AU - Szarek, Eva
AU - Rich, Adam
AU - Chitnis, Ajay B.
AU - Stratakis, Constantine A.
PY - 2012/5/24
Y1 - 2012/5/24
N2 - The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are important mediators of gastrointestinal (GI) motility because of their role as pacemakers in the GI tract. In addition to their function, ICCs are also structurally distinct cells most easily identified by their ultra-structural features and expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor c-KIT. ICCs have been described inmammals, rodents, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, but there are no reports at the ultra-structural level of ICCs within the GI tract of an organism from the teleost lineage. We describe the presence of cells in the muscularis of the zebrafish intestine; these cells have similar features to ICCs in other vertebrates. The ICC-like cells are associated with the muscularis, are more electron-dense than surrounding smooth muscle cells, possess long cytoplasmic processes and mitochondria, and are situated opposing enteric nervous structures. In addition, immunofluorescent and immunoelectron-microscopic studies with antibodies targeting the zebrafish ortholog of a putative ICC marker, c-KIT (kita), showed c-kit immunoreactivity in zebrafish ICCs. Taken together, these data represent the first ultra-structural characterization of cells in the muscularis of the zebrafish Danio rerio and suggest that ICC differentiation in vertebrate evolution dates back to the teleost lineage.
AB - The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are important mediators of gastrointestinal (GI) motility because of their role as pacemakers in the GI tract. In addition to their function, ICCs are also structurally distinct cells most easily identified by their ultra-structural features and expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor c-KIT. ICCs have been described inmammals, rodents, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, but there are no reports at the ultra-structural level of ICCs within the GI tract of an organism from the teleost lineage. We describe the presence of cells in the muscularis of the zebrafish intestine; these cells have similar features to ICCs in other vertebrates. The ICC-like cells are associated with the muscularis, are more electron-dense than surrounding smooth muscle cells, possess long cytoplasmic processes and mitochondria, and are situated opposing enteric nervous structures. In addition, immunofluorescent and immunoelectron-microscopic studies with antibodies targeting the zebrafish ortholog of a putative ICC marker, c-KIT (kita), showed c-kit immunoreactivity in zebrafish ICCs. Taken together, these data represent the first ultra-structural characterization of cells in the muscularis of the zebrafish Danio rerio and suggest that ICC differentiation in vertebrate evolution dates back to the teleost lineage.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871884427&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84871884427&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00441-012-1434-4
DO - 10.1007/s00441-012-1434-4
M3 - Article
VL - 349
SP - 483
EP - 491
JO - Cell and Tissue Research
JF - Cell and Tissue Research
SN - 0302-766X
IS - 2
ER -