Innervation of the esophagus in mice that lack MASH1

Abstract

The striated muscle of the esophagus differs from other striated muscle, because it develops by the transdifferentiation of smooth muscle, and the motor end plates receive a dual innervation from vagal (cholinergic) motor neurons and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-containing enteric neurons. Mash1 - /- mice have no enteric neurons in their esophagus and die within 48 hours of birth without milk in their stomachs (Guillemot et al. [1993] Cell 75:463- 476). In this study, the innervation of the esophagus of newborn Mash1 -/-, Mash1 +/- and wild type mice was examined. There was no difference between Mash1 -/-, Mash1 +/-, and wild type mice in the transdifferentiation of the muscle and the develop..