Developing rat lung has a sided pacemaker region for morphogenesis-related airway peristalsis.
Prenatal airways from diverse species are capable of spontaneous peristaltic contractions in each trimester. The function of this smooth muscle activity is unknown. We demonstrate that peristalsis of the embryonic airway originates from a sided pacemaker focus, is stimulated in a calcium-dependent fashion by the pulmonary morphogen fibroblast growth factor-10 (FGF-10), and appears coupled to lung growth. Airway peristalsis may be crucial for lung development (thereby providing a physiologic role for airway smooth muscle) and play a hitherto unanticipated role in reported transgenic mutant lung phenotypes.
Jesudason
Edwin C
EC
Paediatric Surgery, Institute of Child Health, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Eaton Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK. e.jesudason@liv.ac.uk
Smith
Nicola P
NP
Connell
Marilyn G
MG
Spiller
Dave G
DG
White
Mike R H
MR
Fernig
Dave G
DG
Losty
Paul D
PD
D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*
C496465:Fgf10 protein, rat; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D002118:Calcium