title: Intestinal growth and differentiation in zebrafish.
abstract: Intestinal development in amniotes is driven by interactions between progenitor cells derived from the three primary germ layers. Genetic analyses and gene targeting experiments in zebrafish offer a novel approach to dissect such interactions at a molecular level. Here we show that intestinal anatomy and architecture in zebrafish closely resembles the anatomy and architecture of the mammalian small intestine. The zebrafish intestine is regionalized and the various segments can be identified by epithelial markers whose expression is already segregated at the onset of intestinal differentiation. Differentiation of cells derived from the three primary germ layers begins more or less contemporaneously, and is preceded by a stage in which there is rapid cell proliferation and maturation of epithelial cell polarization. Analysis of zebrafish mutants with altered epithelial survival reveals that seemingly related single gene defects have different effects on epithelial differentiation and smooth muscle and enteric nervous system development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Rm 1212, BRB 2/3, 421 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Shafinaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhter
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lorent
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000494:pharmacology; D019521:Body Patterning; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D012313:RNA; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine