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Cell adhesion molecule L1 affects the rate of differentiation of enteric neurons in the developing gut
Author(s) -
Turner Kirsty N.,
Schachner Melitta,
Anderson Richard B.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.21861
Subject(s) - enteric nervous system , neural crest , biology , gastrointestinal tract , microbiology and biotechnology , cellular differentiation , cell adhesion molecule , cell type , cell , neuroscience , immunology , embryo , genetics , biochemistry , gene
The enteric nervous system arises predominantly from vagal level neural crest cells that migrate into and along the developing gut. As the neural crest‐derived cells migrate within the gut, a subpopulation begins to differentiate into enteric neurons. Here, we show that the differentiation of neural crest‐derived cells into enteric neurons is delayed in L1‐deficient mice, compared with littermate controls. However, glial cell differentiation is not affected in L1‐deficient mice. These mice also show a delay in the differentiation of a neurotransmitter‐specific subtype of enteric neuron within the gastrointestinal tract. Together, these results suggest a role for the cell adhesion molecule, L1, in the differentiation of neural crest‐derived cells into enteric neurons within the developing enteric nervous system. Developmental Dynamics 238:708–715, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.