title: Ion channel expression in the developing enteric nervous system.
abstract: The enteric nervous system arises from neural crest-derived cells (ENCCs) that migrate caudally along the embryonic gut. The expression of ion channels by ENCCs in embryonic mice was investigated using a PCR-based array, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Many ion channels, including chloride, calcium, potassium and sodium channels were already expressed by ENCCs at E11.5. There was an increase in the expression of numerous ion channel genes between E11.5 and E14.5, which coincides with ENCC migration and the first extension of neurites by enteric neurons. Previous studies have shown that a variety of ion channels regulates neurite extension and migration of many cell types. Pharmacological inhibition of a range of chloride or calcium channels had no effect on ENCC migration in cultured explants or neuritogenesis in vitro. The non-selective potassium channel inhibitors, TEA and 4-AP, retarded ENCC migration and neuritogenesis, but only at concentrations that also resulted in cell death. In summary, a large range of ion channels is expressed while ENCCs are colonizing the gut, but we found no evidence that ENCC migration or neuritogenesis requires chloride, calcium or potassium channel activity. Many of the ion channels are likely to be involved in the development of electrical excitability of enteric neurons.
authors: Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Caroline S
authors: CS
authors: Hirst
authors: Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Jaime P P
authors: JP
authors: Foong
authors: Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Lincon A
authors: LA
authors: Stamp
authors: Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Fegan
authors: Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Dent
authors: Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
authors: Edward C
authors: EC
authors: Cooper
authors: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Alan E
authors: AE
authors: Lomax
authors: Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Colin R
authors: CR
authors: Anderson
authors: Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Joel C
authors: JC
authors: Bornstein
authors: Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Heather M
authors: HM
authors: Young
authors: Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Sonja J
authors: SJ
authors: McKeown
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D015761:4-Aminopyridine