title: Genetic fate-mapping of tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing cells in the enteric nervous system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During development of the enteric nervous system, a subpopulation of enteric neuron precursors transiently expresses catecholaminergic properties. The progeny of these transiently catecholaminergic (TC) cells have not been fully characterized.
  
  
  METHODS
  We combined in vivo Cre-lox-based genetic fate-mapping with phenotypic analysis to fate-map enteric neuron subtypes arising from tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-expressing cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less than 3% of the total (Hu(+) ) neurons in the myenteric plexus of the small intestine of adult mice are generated from transiently TH-expressing cells. Around 50% of the neurons generated from transiently TH-expressing cells are calbindin neurons, but their progeny also include calretinin, neurofilament-M, and serotonin neurons. However, only 30% of the serotonin neurons and small subpopulations (<10%) of the calbindin, calretinin, and neurofilament-M neurons are generated from TH-expressing cells; only 0.2% of nitric oxide synthase neurons arise from TH-expressing cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transiently, catecholaminergic cells give rise to subpopulations of multiple enteric neuron subtypes, but the majority of each of the neuron subtypes arises from non-TC cells.
authors: Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Obermayr
authors: L A
authors: LA
authors: Stamp
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Anderson
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Young
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase