HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 286/6/C1344    most recent 00392.2003v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (17) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ishikawa, T. Articles by Takaki, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ishikawa, T. Articles by Takaki, M.

MUSCLE CELL BIOLOGY AND CELL MOTILITY

Characterization of in vitro gutlike organ formed from mouse embryonic stem cells

¹Department of Physiology II, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521; Departments of ²Physiology I and ³Surgery II, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsurumai, Nagoya 466-8550; and ⁴Department of Basic Human Sciences, School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-1192, Japan

Submitted 15 September 2003 ; accepted in final form 10 February 2004

Using an embryoid body (EB) culture system, we have made a functional organlike cluster: the "gut" from embryonic stem (ES) cells (ES gut). There are many types of ES clusters, because ES cells have a pluripotent ability to develop into a wide range of cell types. Before inducing specific differentiation by exogenously added factors, we characterized comprehensive physiological and morphological properties of ES guts. Each ES gut has a hemispherical (or cystic) structure and exhibits spontaneous contractions [mean frequency: 13.5 ± 8.8 cycles per min (cpm)]. A dense distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) was identified by c-Kit immunoreactivity, and specific subcellular structures of ICC and smooth muscle cells were identified with electron microscopy. ICC frequently formed close contacts with the neighboring smooth muscle cells and occasionally formed gap junctions with other ICC. Widely propagating intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration oscillations were generated in the ES gut from the aggregates of c-Kit immunopositive cells. Plateau potentials, possibly pacemaker potentials in ICC, and electrical slow waves were recorded for the first time. These events were nifedipine insensitive, as in the mouse gut. Our present results indicate that the rhythmic pacemaker activity generated in ICC efficiently spreads to smooth muscle cells and drives spontaneous rhythmic contractions of the ES gut. The present characterization of physiological and morphological properties of ES gut paves the way for making appropriate models to investigate the origin of rhythmicity in the gut.

intracellular calcium concentration oscillation; interstitial cells of Cajal; peristalsis

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H-W Denker Potentiality of embryonic stem cells: an ethical problem even with alternative stem cell sources. J. Med. Ethics, November 1, 2006; 32(11): 665 - 671. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]