Research Description
After entering the gut, neural crest cells migrate, proliferate, and differentiate to form the intrinsic neurons of the gut. These neurons are located in ganglia along the length of the gut. Within a single ganglion, neurons of different transmitter phenotypes are found. These neurons form a network that controls the motor behavior of the gut. Thus, enteric neuronal circuitry is generated that processes intrinsic sensory information and produces a motor output, independent of the CNS.
Our interest is in elucidating the arrangement of the neurons in the enteric neuronal circuitry and mechanisms involved in the formation of this circuitry. Formation of the circuitry involves understanding what triggers the differentiation of precursor cells into neurons, what determines the type of transmitter synthesized, and what controls the neuron's finding the correct postsynaptic target. Growth factors play a major role in these processes. We are interested in determining both the location in the gut and the transmitter phenotype of daughters of a single progenitor cell. Our in vitro studies involve culturing neural crest-derived precursors to determine the role of the microenvironment on transmitter differentiation.
Selected Publications:
Zaitoun, I., C. S. Erickson, K. Schell, and M. L. Epstein. 2010 Use of RNAlater in fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) reduces the fluorescence from GFP but not from DsRed. BMC Research Notes 3:328
Mavlyutov, T.A., M.L. Epstein, K.A. Andersen and A.E. Ruoho. 2010 The sigma-1 receptor is enriched in c-terminals in mouse motoneurons. an anatomical and behavioral study. Neuroscience 167: 247-255.
Druckenbrod, N.R. and M. L. Epstein 2009 Age-dependent changes in the gut environment restrict the invasion of the hindgut by enteric neural progenitors. Development 136:3195-3203.
Druckenbrod, N.R, P A. Powers, C. R. Bartley , J. W. Walker, and M. L. Epstein. 2008 Targeting of Endothelin Receptor-B to the Neural Crest. Genesis 46:396-400
Druckenbrod NR, Epstein ML. 2007 Behavior of enteric neural crest-derived cells varies with respect to the migratory wavefront. Dev. Dyn. 236:84-92
Druckenbrod, N.R. and M.L.Epstein. 2005 The pattern of neural crest advance in the cecum and colon. Developmental Biology 287:125-133
Conner, P.J., P.J.Focke., D.M.Noden, and M.L. Epstein. 2003 Appearance of Neurona and Glia with respect to the wavefront during colonization of the avain gut by neural crest cells. Dev. Dynamics 226:91-98.
Focke, P.J., A.R Swetlik, J.L. Schiltz and M.L. Epstein, 2003 GDNF and insulin cooperate to enhance the proliferation and differentiation of enteric crest-derived cells. J.Neurobiology 55:151-164
Focke,P.J., C.A.Schiltz, S.E.Jones, J.J.Watters, and M.L.Epstein, 2001 Enteric neuroblasts require the phosphatidylinositol 3- kinase pathway for GDNF-stimulated proliferation. J. Neurobiology 47:306-317.
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