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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Nov 16.
Published in final edited form as: J Comp Neurol. 2012 Feb 15;520(3):620–632. doi: 10.1002/cne.22755

Sacral Neural Crest-Derived Cells Enter the Aganglionic Colon of Ednrb−/− Mice Along Extrinsic Nerve Fibers

Christopher S Erickson 1, Ismail Zaitoun 1, Kathryn M Haberman 1, Ankush Gosain 2, Noah R Druckenbrod 3, Miles L Epstein 1,*
PMCID: PMC3500027  NIHMSID: NIHMS418031  PMID: 21858821

Abstract

Both vagal and sacral neural crest cells contribute to the enteric nervous system in the hindgut. Because it is difficult to visualize sacral crest cells independently of vagal crest, the nature and extent of the sacral crest contribution to the enteric nervous system are not well established in rodents. To overcome this problem we generated mice in which only the fluorescent protein-labeled sacral crest are present in the terminal colon. We found that sacral crest cells were associated with extrinsic nerve fibers. We investigated the source, time of appearance, and characteristics of the extrinsic nerve fibers found in the aganglionic colon. We observed that the pelvic ganglion neurons contributed a number of extrinsic fibers that travel within the hindgut between circular and longitudinal muscles and within the submucosa and serosa. Sacral crest-derived cells along these fibers diminished in number from fetal to post-natal stages. A small number of sacral crest-derived cells were found between the muscle layers and expressed the neuronal marker Hu. We conclude that sacral crest cells enter the hindgut by advancing on extrinsic fibers and, in aganglionic preparations, they form a small number of neurons at sites normally occupied by myenteric ganglia. We also examined the colons of ganglionated preparations and found sacral crest-derived cells associated with both extrinsic nerve fibers and nascent ganglia. Extrinsic nerve fibers serve as a route of entry for both rodent and avian sacral crest into the hindgut.

INDEXING TERMS: Hirschsprung’s disease, sacral neural crest, endothelin receptor b, Ednrb, enteric, aganglionic colon, megacolon

The rhombocephalic (vagal) neural crest is the major source of progenitors for the enteric nervous system (ENS). However, sacral neural crest-derived cells (SNCCs) also contribute cells to the mature ENS in the colon (Burns and Le Douarin, 1998). Because of their close apposition to the hindgut, SNCCs have been viewed as a potential source of neuronal precursors to colonize the hindgut in Hirschsprung’s disease (HSCR), a condition that results when the vagal neural crest cells fail to enter and form ganglia in the terminal portion of the hindgut.

Most of our information about the sacral neural crest comes from studies carried out in avian systems. In the avian gut, the sacral crest forms the pelvic plexus and the ganglionated Nerve of Remak (NoR) located in the dorsal mesentery of the hindgut and midgut. This nerve serves as both a source and pathway for sacral crest cells to enter the intestine and form enteric neurons (Burns and Le Douarin, 1998). In mice, sacral neural crest cells emigrate from the neural tube toward the pelvic viscera at embryonic day (E)11.5 and aggregate into nascent pelvic ganglia (PG) found ventrolateral to the hindgut at E14.5–E15 (Anderson et al., 2006). Although the pelvic ganglion and the NoR extend fibers and provide cells to the avian colon, the nature and extent of the contribution by sacral crest to the rodent ENS is less certain. Using DBH-lacZ mice, Kapur (2000) found a small number of SNCCs in the mouse colon at E13.5. At a similar age Druckenbrod and Epstein (2005) visualized the rostral movement of fluorescent protein-labeled SNCCs in the distal colon until they were obscured by vagal neural crest-derived cells (VNCCs) migrating aborally.

It has been difficult to visualize the contribution of SNCCs into the rodent hindgut because they are obscured by the presence of the VNCCs. SNCCs move from the nascent pelvic ganglion to the hindgut at around E13, the same time as the vagal crest colonizes the most caudal hindgut. To circumvent this problem our strategy was to use a mouse model of HSCR, one lacking the endothelin receptor B (Ednrb−/−) in crest-derived cells. Such a preparation lacks VNCCs in the terminal colon and thus permits the visualization of the SNCCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals

We generated mice in which exon 3 of the endothelin receptor B gene (Ednrb) was flanked by loxP sites. A floxed Ednrb targeting vector included exons 3–7 was created from a 129/SvJ BAC clone containing Ednrb in which the 5′ homology arm contained the terminal 3′ 2.2 kb portion of intron 2. A floxed neocassette was also attached to the 3′ end of intron 2 and a third loxP site was introduced into the 5′ end of intron 3 so that exon 3 was enclosed within the loxP sites. Constructs were introduced into SV/129 R1 embryonic stem cells; positive clones were identified and injected into C57BL/6 blastocysts to generate a founder line, called Ednrbflex 3/+ mice. These were mated with TgWnt1-Cre mice (Danielian et al., 1997) to produce TgWnt1-Cre/+ Ednrbflex3/+ mice. Ednrbflex3/flex3 mice were also bred with mice containing Rosa26YFPStop/YFPStop to generate Rosa26YFPStop/YFPStop Ednrbflex3/flex3 mice. Mating the TgWnt1-Cre/+ Ednrbflex3/+ mice with Rosa26YFPStop/YFPStop Ednrbflex3/flex3 mice resulted in deletion of exon 3 and the absence of a functional protein in neural crest cells (NCC). This was confirmed by western blot analysis (Druckenbrod et al., 2008). From the above mating about 50% of fetuses and animals expressed yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-positive NCCs. Of these YFP+ preparations about half either lacked Ednrb, Ednrb−/−, or contained one functional Ednrb allele (Druckenbrod et al., 2008; Druckenbrod and Epstein, 2009). Ednrb−/− animals can be recognized by the absence of YFP+ NCC in their distal colon. The Ednrbflex3/flex3 mice are available from Jackson Laboratories (Bar Harbor, ME; Stock no. 009063). Fetuses were harvested from pregnant females that were killed by cervical dislocation after treatment with isoflurane. The embryo’s phenotype was identified by observing the most distal position of the YFP+ VNCCs in the gut (Druckenbrod and Epstein, 2009); the most distal VNCCs cells in the Ednrb+/− preparations were more aboral than the most distal cells in the Ednrb−/− mice. To obtain expression of β-galactosidase, TgWnt1-Cre/+Ednrbflex3/+ mice were bred to Rosa26LacZ Stop/LacZ Stop Ednrbflex3/flex3 mice. The mice were housed in a nonsterile environment. All procedures were approved by the University of Wisconsin Animal Care Committee.

Tissue preparation

The entire gut was removed, opened (postnatal only), and pinned down mucosa side up in sylgard dishes. The gut lumen was washed and the gut was placed in 4% para-formaldehyde for fixation at room temperature for 4–6 hours or at 4°C overnight. Following fixation the preparation was washed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4). For whole-mount preparations the mucosa and sub-mucosa was removed from the fixed tissue. The detection of β-galactosidase was done by staining the postnatal gut overnight at room temperature using the standard staining solution (5 mM potassium ferricyanide, 5 mM potassium ferrocyanide, 2 mM MgCl2, 0.4% X-gal in PBS). The tissue was then rinsed twice in PBS and postfixed in 4% formaldehyde. Frozen sections were prepared from tissue placed in 15% sucrose for 15 minutes, then a mixture of 50% OCT: 50% solution of 15% sucrose for 2–6 hours, and finally into 100% OCT overnight. Tissue was then frozen on dry ice and sectioned on a cryostat at a thickness of 11 μm.

Immunohistochemistry and image analysis

Fixed whole-mount tissue and cross sections were treated with 0.1–1.0% Triton X-100 for 4–6 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C, washed in PBS, incubated with primary antibodies (Table 1) for 4–6 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C, washed in PBS, and then stained with corresponding secondary antibodies (Table 2) for 4–6 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C. The immunostained preparations were visualized using a Nikon inverted microscope equipped with a Photometrics Cool-SNAP camera or with a Bio-Rad (Hercules, CA) MRC 1024 confocal microscope. Images were captured, processed, and analyzed with Metamorph (Molecular Devices, Palo Alto, CA). The images were edited and some enhanced by adjusting brightness and contrast using the photo editing software Paint.NET (dotPDN LLC).

TABLE 1.

Primary Antibodies

Antigen Immunogen Manufacturer, species antibody was raised in, mono-vs. polyclonal, catalog no. Dilution
GFP (green fluorescent protein) Purified GFP Abcam, Rabbit polyclonal, AB290 1/500
GFP Purified recombinant GFP Aves Labs (Tigard, OR), Chicken polyclonal, GFP-1020 1/1,000
Hu (human neuronal protein) Hu protein. Immunoblot recognizes only 41kDa neuronal protein Serum obtained from patient (Madison, WI), Fairman et al., 1995, Human 1/1,000
β III tubulin (TuJ1) Peptide EAQGPK corresponding to the C-terminus of β III tubulin Dr. A. Frankfurter, Mouse monoclonal 1/1,000
NF (neurofilament) Rat m-neurofilament protein containing the C-terminus 168AA fused to E. Coli Trp-E Chemicon (Temecula, CA), Rabbit polyclonal, AB1987 1/200
TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) TH purified from PC12 cells IncStar (Minneapolis, MN), Mouse monoclonal, 22941 1/1,000
TH A mixture of two different anti-peptide antibodies corresponding to human and mouse residues. One was generated against a peptide near the N-terminus: RRQ SLI EDA RKE RE and the other near the C-terminus of TH: SDA KDK LR[N/S] YAS RIQ R Aves Labs (Tigard, OR), Chicken polyclonal, TYH 1/1,000
NOS (nitric oxide synthase) AA1095-1289 of human NOS BD Transduction Labs, Rabbit polyclonal, N31030/L15 1/200
NOS Rat recombinant NOS Gift from PC Emson (Cambridge, UK), Sheep polyclonal 1/2,000
VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) Porcine VIP-coupled to thyroglobulin Epstein and Paulsen 1991 (Madison, WI), Rabbit polyclonal 1/500
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TABLE 2.

Secondary Antibodies

Name Conjugated to Manufacturer, catalog no. Dilution
Donkey antichick Cy2 Jackson ImmunoResearch, 703-225-155 1/1,000
Donkey antichick Cy3 Jackson ImmunoResearch, 703-165-155 1/1500
Donkey antichick Dylight 549 Jackson ImmunoResearch, 703-505-155 1/1,000–1/1,250
Donkey antirabbit Dylight 488 Jackson ImmunoResearch, 711-485-152 1/500
Donkey antihuman Dylight 488 Jackson ImmunoResearch, 709-485-149 1/1,000
Goat antimouse Cy3 Jackson ImmunoResearch, 115-505-003 1/1,500
Donkey antisheep Cy3 Jackson ImmunoResearch, 713-165-147 1/1,500
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Antibody characterization

The list of primary antibodies used is shown in Table 1.

The mouse monoclonal class III β-tubulin antibody, produced by Dr. A. Frankfurter, was made using the peptide EAQGPK corresponding to the C-terminus of β III tubulin. The production, purification, and characterization of this antibody have been described previously (Lee et al., 1990).

The neurofilament (NF) antibody is a rabbit polyclonal (Chemicon, Temecula, CA; no. AB1987) prepared against a recombinant protein containing the C-terminal 168 amino acids of rat NF-M fused to E. coli Trp-E (manufacturer’s information). On western blots of chicken brain extract the antibody stains a single band at 145 kDa molecular weight and the antibody strongly recognizes NF-M but not NF-H in the brain of cow, pig, and chicken by immunoblotting (Harris et al., 1991).

The tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) monoclonal mouse antibody (IncStar, Stillwater, MN; no. 22941) was raised against TH purified from rat PC12 cells. This antibody is believed to have wide species crossreactivity (manufacturer’s datasheet) and the antiserum specifically labels rainbow trout TH in western blot analysis of brain extract and transfected COS-1 cells (Linard et al., 1998).

The chicken polyclonal TH antiserum (Aves Labs, Tigard, OR; no. TYH) is a mixture of two different antipeptide antibodies. One was generated against a peptide near the N-terminus and one near the C-terminus of TH. The N-terminal peptide is RRQ SLI EDA RKE RE (corresponding to residues 68–81 of the human gene product [P07101] and 37–50 of the mouse gene product [P24529]). The C-terminal peptide is SDA KDK LR[N/S] YAS RIQ R (corresponding to residues 469–484 of the human gene product and 439–454 of the mouse gene product). Note that the arginine at position 9 of this peptide corresponds to the mouse gene product, and the serine corresponds to the human gene product (manufacturer’s information).

The polyclonal human anti-Hu was collected from a patient. Such serum is usually obtained from patients suffering from paraneoplastic syndromes. This antiserum recognized a single band of 41 kDa on western blots of extracts of chicken brain. Hu belongs to a family of neuron-restricted RNA binding proteins related to the Drosophila RNA binding proteins Elav and Sex-lethal (Fairman et al., 1995).

The rabbit polyclonal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) antiserum (BD Transduction Laboratories, San Diego, CA; N31030/L15) was raised against residues 1095–1290 of human nNOS, corresponding to residues 1091–1286 of rat nNOS with five amino acid substitutions, which span parts of the FAD and NADPH binding motifs (manufacturer’s datasheet).

The sheep polyclonal NOS antiserum, a generous gift from P.C. Emson, was raised against recombinant rat NOS. This antiserum recognizes neuronal NOS by western blotting and the immunoreactivity is abolished by absorption of the K205 antiserum with recombinant neuronal NOS protein (Herbison et al., 1996; Morona and González, 2008).

The rabbit polyclonal vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) antiserum was produced by conjugating porcine VIP to bovine thyroglobulin with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodimide. Incubation of antisera with VIP abolished immunostaining (Epstein and Paulsen, 1991).

The rabbit polyclonal green fluorescent protein (GFP) antiserum (Abcam, Cambridge, MA; AB290) recognizes the expected (27 kDa) band on western blot of GFP-positive transgenic mouse brain (manufacturer’s datasheet). The chicken polyclonal GFP antiserum (Aves Labs, GFP-1020) was analyzed by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry using transgenic mice expressing the GFP gene product (manufacturer’s datasheet). GFP immunostaining was not detected in the gut of wildtype mice.

DiI labeling

Colons with the pelvic ganglia attached were removed from postnatal YFP+ Ednrb−/− mice and the nerve fibers were visualized using a Nikon fluorescent stereoscope. A DiI C18 crystal (Invitrogen, La Jolla, CA; D-3911) was placed on the targeted fiber and allowed to adhere for 30 seconds. The tissue with the attached DiI crystal was then submerged in culture media (Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium [DMEM]/F12 containing penicillin, streptomycin, and amphothericin, pH 7.4) and incubated at 37°C for 2 days before fixation in 4% paraformaldehyde.

RNA extraction and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Colons were harvested from E16.5 Ednrb−/− and Ednrb+/− mice, a stage when a number of SNCCs are present in the colon. The colon was divided into three distinct pieces, the wavefront (2–4 mm): defined as the most caudal continuous strands of YFP+ cells, the colonized region (4–8 mm): the remaining section of colonized proximal colon, and aganglionic colon (Ednrb−/− only, 5–10 mm): the remaining section of distal colon not colonized with any vagal ENCCs. The pelvic ganglia were detached from both Ednrb−/− and Ednrb+/− colons. These tissue samples were placed in RNAlater (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) and kept at −20°C until extraction of RNA. RNA was isolated using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Chatsworth, CA) and quantified using a NanoDrop ND-1000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA). cDNA was synthesized with equal amounts of RNA from different samples using a High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). Equal amounts of cDNA were added to quantitative real-time PCR reactions that were performed on CFX96 instrument (Bio-Rad) using SYBR Green chemistry (Bio-Rad). Since the sequences of EGFP and YFP are similar, the EGFP primers are able to detect YFP. The Ret and YFP(EGFP) primers were as follows: Ret forward 5′-CCAGCATCTCTATGGCGTCT-3′ and reverse 5′-GCGGATCCAGTCATTCTCAT-3′; EGFP forward 5′-GCA GAAGAACGGCATCAAGGT-3′ and reverse 5′-ACGAACTC CAGCAGGACCATG-3′. EGFP was used as an internal control; the Ret values were normalized to the EGFP values. The fold change in target gene expression was measured between Ednrb−/− and Ednrb+/− according to the comparative C(T) method (Schmittgen and Livak, 2008). Data are presented as mean ± standard error from nine separate experiments; each experiment contained tissue from 2–3 fetuses.

RESULTS

Our mating scheme (Druckenbrod et al., 2008) results in litters in which about 50% of the pups express the YFP and half of these YFP+ preparations express one functional Ednrb allele (Ednrb+/−) and the other half lack a functional Ednrb allele (Ednrb−/−). Such mice allow us to visualize easily the aganglionic regions of the gut. The aganglionic mice die at about postnatal day (P)30–35 from Hirschsprung’s associated complications. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the aganglionic colon is the presence of a large number of thick nerve fascicles throughout the aganglionic region (Wedel et al., 2008). We found that SNCCs are located along nerve fibers that extend into the aganglionic colon and provide evidence that these fibers are a path for entry of SNCCs into the hindgut. We will first describe the appearance of these fibers and then focus on the properties of the SNCCs.

Nerve fibers

In the fetal Ednrb−/− colon, nerve fascicles are found throughout the aganglionic portion, while very few are apparent in the ganglionated Ednrb+/− colon (Fig. 1). Most fibers entering the gut appear to be spatially associated with the pelvic ganglion in these isolated preparations. In the Ednrb+/− preparation most fibers are positioned outside the colon. Most fibers projected aborally to the anus but a small number (2–4) projected a short distance, 5–12 mm, orally. The ganglia obscured the path of these fibers so their course was difficult to follow. The entire colon is colonized by E14 in Ednrb+/− fetuses, the same stage as in wildtype mice (Kapur, 2000). In contrast, the Ednrb−/− colon contains fibers throughout aganglionic regions both oral and aboral to the pelvic ganglion and these fibers appear to enter the colon near the pelvic ganglion. We examined Ednrb−/− fetuses and pups to determine the developmental timetable for the appearance of the fibers. Examination of null E15 fetuses indicates that nascent extrinsic fibers exit the pelvic ganglia primarily toward the rectum, although some begin to extend proximally (Fig. 2A,E). At E17 the colon has increased in size; the network of fibers is more extensive proximal to the pelvic ganglion (Fig. 2B). By P0–P1 the most proximal fibers have reached the ganglionic/aganglionic boundary and thick and thin fibers are apparent (Fig. 2C,F). The sacral fiber network in the P7 gut contains a few thick fibers and many smaller fibers that ramify throughout the aganglionic colon; some of the fibers advance into and beyond the hypoganglionic region (Fig. 2D). This network appears to be the same at P23 as at P7 (data not shown).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Distribution of YFP expression in freshly isolated E16.5 Ednrb+/− and Ednrb−/− hindgut. In the Ednrb+/− colon the majority of nerve fibers (open arrow) radiate from the pelvic ganglia (PG) and travel outside the colon until reaching the anal region; the entire colon is occupied by ganglia shown as white lines. In comparison, most fibers enter the Ednrb−/− distal colon and project in oral and aboral directions. Arrow indicates the most oral position of sacral nerve fibers; arrowhead indicates the most aboral position of the vagal crest wavefront. The figure is a photomontage. Arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction. Scale bar = 500 μm.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Development of sacral fibers in freshly isolated Ednrb−/− colons. In A–D arrow indicates the most oral position of the sacral wavefront, arrowhead shows the most aboral position of the vagal wavefront. YFP signals are dark in A–D and light in E,F. A: At E15 processes from the pelvic ganglion project in oral and aboral directions. The vagal wavefront has moved into the midcolon and will not advance much further. B: At E17 nerve fibers have advanced orally and form a network of large and small processes. The vagal wavefront is found at the midcolon with the mesenteric strand extending aborally and from it crest cells will move laterally across the width of the colon. C: At birth (P0) the sacral nerve fibers have advanced to the site of the vagal wavefront. Note that the vagal wavefront contains many cells. D: At P7 large sacral fibers are apparent and some extend into the region occupied by the vagal crest-derived cells while smaller fibers extend extensive processes of varying sizes. The sacral fibers and vagal crest have also begun to intermingle at the midcolon. E: An enlargement of the terminal region of (A). Nerve fibers arise from pelvic ganglia (PG). Note the enlarged swellings are sacral-derived neural crest cells along the nerve fibers. F: An enlargement of the midcolon where the sacral fibers (arrow) and vagal crest cell wavefront (arrowhead) meet in the P0 colon in (C). A–D are photomontages. Arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction. Scale bars = 500 μm in A; 250 μm in B; 1 mm in C,D; 50 μm in E; 100 μm in F.

The fibers in the null colons varied in size and in their position, a finding that suggested they might travel at different depths within the gut wall. In order to determine which layer(s) contained these extrinsic fibers we sectioned the gut from Ednrb+/− and Ednrb−/− mice (Fig. 3). In the Ednrb−/− gut the large fascicles of fibers were mostly confined to the region between the circular and longitudinal muscle, normally occupied by myenteric ganglia (Fig. 3C,D), while the small bundles of fibers occasionally are present in the submucosa (Fig. 6F,H) and serosa (Fig. 3C). When fibers in the Ednrb−/− extend into the hypoganglionic region (Fig. 7B,C; Supporting Fig. S2B), populated by the vagal crest-derived ganglia, small fascicles were found superficial to the longitudinal muscle, while the large sacral fascicles continued between the muscle layers and extended orally. The origin of the small fascicles in the serosa could be either the sacral axons and /or the vagally derived intrinsic neurons in the hypoganglionic region. Figure 7D is a diagram showing the arrangement of the small fascicles. In the Ednrb+/− colon sacral-derived fibers are observed in the serosa superficial to the longitudinal muscle for most of their length and penetrated the longitudinal muscle to terminate in the region of myenteric ganglia (Fig. 3A,B; Supporting Fig. S1).

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Comparison of the location of nerve fibers with respect to the wall of the colon in Ednrb+/− and Ednrb−/− preparations. A: Cross-section of P9 Ednrb+/− colon. Fluorescence indicates the presence of neurofilament-IR (bright spots, NF). Arrow indicates large sacral fascicle superficial to longitudinal muscle. Arrowhead shows fibers within the muscle layers indicating the location of the myenteric plexus. B: A montage showing a whole-mount view of the colon sectioned in (A). An extrinsic sacral fiber (arrow) arises from the pelvic ganglia (PG). The dotted line indicates the approximate area where the cross-section was cut. C: Cross-section of P9 Ednrb−/− colon. Large NF+ sacral fiber bundles (arrows) and smaller fiber bundles (arrowheads) are located between the muscle layers except for one small fascicle (open arrow) on the surface of the longitudinal muscle. D: A montage showing a whole-mount view of the colon sectioned in (C). Multiple fiber bundles are present although ganglia are not. The dotted line shows the position where section (C) was cut. Arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction. Scale bars = 30 μm in A,C; 500 μm in B,D.

Figure 6.

Figure 6

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Cells on nerve fibers in Ednrb−/− preparations. A: Surface view. E14.5 YFP+ SNCCs (red) appear along βIII-tubulin-immunoreactive nerve fibers (green) within the distal colon. B: Surface view. E15.5 YFP+ cells are found along nerve fibers in the distal colon heading in an oral direction (arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction). C: Section through another E15.5 distal colon just oral to the pelvic ganglion. A βlll-tubulin-immunoreactive fiber (green) and YFP+ cells (red) together enter the wall of the colon where many YFP+ cells are already present. D: Section through the E15.5 distal colon in a position more oral than (C). A YFP+ cell (red) and βlll-tubulin-immunoreactive fibers (green) are colocalized (arrow); numerous YFP+ cells are found between the muscle layers. E: Whole mount of P7 distal colon. Hu+ (green) cells are found on YFP+ (red) nerve fibers near the pelvic ganglia. F–H: Cross-section of P31 distal colon. (F) Both a faintly stained YFP+ cell and neurofilament-immunoreactive nerve fibers (green, arrowhead) are located between the muscle layers while nerve fibers are also found at the edge of the muscle-submucosa interface. The submucosa and the mucosa were removed. (G) An Hu+ (red) neuron is found between the muscle layers usually occupied by the myenteric ganglia. (H) Overlay of images with brightfield image and the circular (CM) and longitudinal muscles (LM) labeled. Scale bars = 50 μm in A,C–H; 100 μm in B. A magenta-green copy of this figure is available as Supporting Figure 3.

Figure 7.

Figure 7

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A: E16.5 Ednrb−/−. TH+ cells (arrows) and fibers accompany sacral fibers projecting orally from the PG into the colon. Note the absence of ganglia. Inset, upper right: Two TH+ cells within box are shown at higher magnification. B: P27 Ednrb−/−. Changes in position of extrinsic fibers when encountering intrinsic ganglia. Neural crest-derived cells are labeled with β-galactosidase. Cells and fibers on the serosal surface are sharp and dark while cells and fibers within the muscle layers are lighter and blurry. C: Overlay of fibers shown in (B). At the site where the sacral fibers extend into the region of vagal ganglia in the midcolon, large sacral fibers (green) are located between the muscle layers, the same level as vagal ganglia (red). There are also ganglia in the serosal region (blue), above the vagal ganglia, whose origin could be either cells that traveled from sacral axons and/or from the vagally derived intrinsic neurons in the hypoganglionic region. These different elements appear to intersect (arrows). D: Diagram summarizing the findings for Ednrb−/− aganglionic colon. Sacral extrinsic fibers and cells (green) projecting from the pelvic ganglia (PG) intersect with the vagal myenteric plexus (red) in the mid-colon. A population of cells and smaller fascicles (blue) appear at the vagal wavefront. They exit the myenteric locale and reside in the serosal region superficial to the longitudinal muscle (LM) where they appear to have connections with vagal ganglia. The larger sacral fascicles continue orally between the muscle layers where they appear to intermingle with the vagal ganglia. CM: circular muscle. E: Ednrb+/−. YFP+ sacral fibers (green) extending from the pelvic ganglia (PG) into the distal colon contain TH+ cells (red, arrows). A single TH+ cell (arrowhead) is incorporated into ganglia formed by VNCCs. F: E16.5 Ednrb+/− colon. A confocal image showing TH+ (red, arrows) YFP+ SNCCs among the YFP+ VNCCs (green) forming nascent ganglia. Note a single TH+ cell that is not YFP+ (arrowhead). G: Diagram summarizing the findings for Ednrb+/− ganglionated colon. Fibers leaving the pelvic ganglion travel the longest distance superficial to the longitudinal muscle before penetrating the muscle and terminating between the muscle layers. SNCC (green) cells move along extrinsic fibers to reach VNCC myenteric ganglia (red) where they become incorporated into the ganglia. Arrows inside scale bar indicate oral direction. Scale bars = 50 μm in A,E; 250 μm in B,C; 25 μm in F; D,G not to scale. A magenta-green copy of this figure is available as Supporting Figure 4.

Since many fibers projected from the pelvic ganglion, we investigated whether the fibers found in the aganglionic colon arose from neurons in the pelvic ganglion. We placed pieces of DiI crystals on fibers in P19 and P29 aganglionic colons that were then cultured for 2–3 days and fixed. As shown in Figure 4, DiI appears in some pelvic ganglion neurons and nerve fibers projecting into the aganglionic colon. This result indicates that some of the fibers originate from neurons in the pelvic ganglion. To see if the sacral contribution was similar in Ednrb+/− animals, DiI was also used to label fibers near the pelvic ganglia (Fig. S1). The fibers appear to be associated with the myenteric ganglia but do not appear to extend aborally a great distance after entering the muscle layers.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Cells in the pelvic ganglion from a P29 Ednrb−/− mouse are fluorescent after application of DiI crystals to nerve fibers in the mid-colon. Scale bar = 50 μm.

The pelvic ganglia produce a number of neurotransmitter-associated markers including TH and VIP (Wanigasekara et al., 2003). We found many sacral fibers in the Ednrb−/− colon were immunoreactive (IR) for TH (Fig. 5), a few were IR for VIP, and none were IR for nitric oxide synthase (data not shown). The sacral fibers also contained βIII-tubulin and neurofilament protein-IR (Fig. 6A,F).

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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P17 Sacral nerve fibers. Some of YFP+ sacral fibers (A) are immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase (B, TH). Scale bar = 50 μm.

Sacral neural crest-derived cells

The pelvic ganglia arise from SNCCs (Kapur, 2000; Anderson et al., 2006). Because we observed some of the extrinsic fibers in the aganglionic region to originate from this ganglion, we further examined these fibers for the presence of SNCCs. We found cells clustered along nerve fibers in both fetal and postnatal preparations. At E14.5 individual YFP+ cells appeared at intervals along βIII-tubulin-IR fibers that leave the pelvic ganglion (Fig. 6A). At E15 many YFP+ cells are spaced along fibers as observed in whole mounts of E15 distal colon (Fig. 6B). Sections of E15 distal colon indicate that the cells are associated with fibers located between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers (Fig. 6C,D). At E17 the majority of cells are found near the pelvic ganglia and at the most oral position of fibers, with a few in between. Some of the cells in the colon near the pelvic ganglia become Hu+ at this age (data not shown). In postnatal colon more cells become Hu+ (Fig. 6E; S2A), with most appearing close to the pelvic ganglion, some in the most proximal fiber locations on the colon, and a few in between. Consistent with the position of the extrinsic fibers between the circular and longitudinal muscle, the Hu+ cells are found in the site normally occupied by myenteric ganglia (Fig. 6F–H). Usually individual Hu+ cells are found but occasionally a cluster of 2–4 cells occurs (data not shown).

One of the characteristics of VNCCs is their expression of TH between E10–12 (Baetge and Gershon, 1989). To determine whether the SNCCs might share this property and express TH, we immunostained preparations at E13.5–16.5, when SNCCs appear in the colon, for both TH and YFP. In each of the three Ednrb−/− and three Ednrb+/− E16.5 preparations examined, ≈30–40 TH-IR cells were found along nerve fibers entering the most distal colon (Fig. 7A,E,F). In the Ednrb+/− preparations we found TH+ cells that appeared to be incorporated into a myenteric ganglion (Fig. 7E,F). Sacral cells and fibers reach the vagal ganglia in a path diagramed in Figure 7G. Our impression is that the number of TH+ cells was not different between the two genotypes. The presence of the TH+ cells is consistent with the identification of the YFP+ cells on the extrinsic fibers being SNCCs. Together these data show that SNCCs invade both the aganglionic and the ganglionated hindgut. In both genotypes the number of TH+ cells is small; even in the absence of ganglia the SNCCs fail to expand sufficiently to form ganglia.

Why do SNCCs fail to colonize the colon? One explanation comes from experiments indicating that the expression of Ret, the GDNF receptor that controls many activities of enteric neural crest-derived cells, is reduced in SNCCs compared to VNCCs (Delalande et al., 2008). We used a different technique, real-time PCR, to measure whether differences in Ret expression occurred between VNCCs and SNCCs, both of which lack EDNRB, in the same piece of colon. Each crest cell receives only one copy of the YFP gene, and we assume but do not know whether the SNCCs and VNCCs have similar levels of YFP expression. We used the values of YFP expression as a measure of the number of YFP cells to calculate the value of Ret expression. We found that the RET mRNA levels of VNCCs at the vagal wavefront relative to the SNCCs was 2.87 ± 0.74 in Ednrb−/− E16.5 tissues. These data indicate that SNCCs express less Ret than VNCCs, a result consistent with a reduced capacity to proliferate (Pachnis et al., 1993; Gianino et al., 2003; Delalande et al., 2008).

DISCUSSION

By using a mouse model of HSCR in which the distal colon remains uncolonized, we are able to view only SNCCs and study their contribution to the terminal portion of the colon. We find the projections from the pelvic ganglion appear in the colon at E13.5, become abundant in the aganglionic region, and then extend into the hypoganglionic region. Retrograde labeling revealed that some fibers arose from neurons in the pelvic ganglion. Unlike the superficially located fibers in the Ednrb+/−, most fibers traveled between the circular and longitudinal muscles in the aganglionic colon of Ednrb−/− mice. SNCCs are found alongside or within these fibers in Ednrb−/− fetal and post-natal colons and some differentiated into Hu+ neurons found between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers. Some SNCCs express TH and TH+ SNCCs are found in a few vagal-derived Ednrb+/− ganglia. We hypothesize that SNCCs move along nerve fibers from the pelvic ganglia to enter the terminal portion of aganglionic and ganglionated colon and some form neurons.

Sacral cell colonization of the mouse aganglionic colon and the bird are similar

The entry path of rodent SNCCs into the hindgut is homologous to that described for avian SNCCs entering the colon. In birds, sacral crest form the ganglionated NoR that extends from the cloaca to the initial part of the jejunum. Neurons in the NoR project processes into the gut and subsequently sacral crest move along these fibers to enter the bowel and contribute to nascent myenteric ganglia (Burns and Le Douarin, 1998). The entry of the fibers from the NoR into the colon occurs around E8, the same time as the chemorepellent Sema3A disappears from the outer muscular layers (Shepherd and Raper, 1999), while the SNCCs enter around E10 (Burns and Le Douarin, 1998). Consistent with these avian studies, Anderson et al. (2007) observed that a small number of SNCCs and fibers made a premature advance into Sema3a null mouse E13.5 hindgut. Our data indicate that sacral crest migrate on fibers of the pelvic ganglion to enter the rodent colon, an arrangement similar to the bird. Another similarity is that both NoR and the pelvic ganglion share the property of having both sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons (Teillet, 1978; Keast, 1995).

Although the route of entry of rodent sacral crest cells into the colon has been unclear, SNCCs are found in a number of aganglionic preparations: near the anal region in the null Ret (Durbec et al., 1996), within the wall of the colon in the null GFRa1 mouse (Cacalano et al., 1998), and in the avian hindgut after ablation of the vagal neural crest (Burns et al., 2000). Anderson et al. (2006) described the presence of sacral crest-derived Hu+ cells along nerve fibers in the fetal colon of null Ret preparations. They found that the number of Hu+ cells increased with fetal age, did not colonize beyond 1.25 mm of the colon terminus, and showed a reduced expression of NOS compared to Ret+/− preparations that contain both VNCCs and SNCCs. Using a preparation in which Ret is functional, we have expanded on their observations to describe the presence of the Hu+ neurons in the gut wall in postnatal preparations. These data show that SNCCs can enter a hindgut lacking VNCCs and embed between the circular and longitudinal muscle to form Hu+ neurons along the length of an aganglionic preparation. These results suggest that the colon of Ednrb−/− mice permits the entry of SNCCs. In a previous report (Druckenbrod and Epstein, 2009) we observed that VNCCs did not enter the proximal colon after E14.5. The reason for this difference is not clear but could be dissimilar properties of the vagal and sacral crest cells and/or the different regions of the colon involved.

While our data do not provide any information on the movement of the SNCCs, we hypothesize that the SNCCs move along the fibers. This arrangement of neural progenitors along nerve fibers has also been seen in other preparations: TH+-positive VNCCs are found along the vagus nerve in the E10.5 mouse and use it as a pathway into the bowel (Baetge and Gershon, 1989; Baetge et al., 1990), SNCCs enter the hindgut along fibers projecting from NoR in the E10.5 avian embryo (Burns and Le Douarin, 1998), and Hu+ cells are found in the E7.5 chick vagus (Fairman et al., 1985) and on fibers from NoR entering the distal colon (Conner et al., 2003).

TH is expressed in some SNCCs

Since TH expression is detected in VNCCs at E10–12, which never take on a sympathetic fate (Baetge and Gershon, 1989), we wished to determine whether it is also found in SNCCs. We immunostained the YFP-labeled ENS progenitors in the hindgut. We observed a few TH+ cells among the nascent YFP+ ganglia in the E16.5 Ednrb+/− colon and associated with nerve fibers entering the hindgut in Ednrb+/− and Ednrb−/− colons. This small number of TH+ cells is similar to the proportion of TH+ cells we observed in the VNCCs population in the E11.5 mouse foregut (data not shown). It is possible that these TH+ cells are derived from SNCCs that migrated from the pelvic ganglion.

Sacral projections in the aganglionic colon

Investigators have previously studied the sources of extrinsic neural fibers in the ganglionated hindgut, especially the pelvic ganglion that has been characterized extensively by Keast and colleagues (reviewed in Keast, 2006). In the rat the processes of pelvic ganglion neurons terminate via the rectal nerves mostly in the myenteric plexus but not in the mucosa or submucosa (Luckensmeyer and Keast, 1998a). In addition to the two pelvic ganglia, sacral-derived adventitial ganglia are present in the rectum near the anus and project to the internal anal sphincter and adjacent circular muscle (Luckensmeyer and Keast, 1998b).

Much of our information about the changes resulting from the absence of ganglia comes from studies of the null lethal-spotted (ls) mouse. The ls mutant, which lacks endothelin-3, a ligand for EDNRB, shows a phenotype similar to our null EDNRB preparation. Endothelin-3 is expressed by the mesenchymal cells, while EDNRB is found in both mesenchymal and neural crest derived cells along the developing gut (Wu et al., 1999; Barlow et al., 2003). In the ls mouse nerve fibers are hypertrophied and are densely arranged in the submucosa, where they extend orally to the hypoganglionic portion of the colon (Payette et al., 1987). These investigators also reported an increase in both the number of fiber bundles in the adventitia located near the anus and the number of adventitial ganglia of unusual morphology within these fiber bundles. The adventitial ganglia showed an unusual morphology in that they were situated on the serosal side of circular muscle at sites lacking longitudinal muscle. Payette et al. (1987) also reported that nerve fibers near the anus of both control and null ls mice had cell bodies located in L6 to S2 dorsal root ganglia, the inferior myenteric ganglion, and the ventral portion of L6-S1 motorcolumns. In the Ednrb−/− mouse, which has an aganglionic region of about 20 mm, in contrast to the 2 mm in the null ls mouse, we found that some fibers arose from neurons in the pelvic ganglion. Furthermore, our observations indicate a difference between the route taken by these fibers in aganglionic and ganglionated colon. Whereas the fibers in the colon containing ganglia remained outside the gut wall until terminating, those in the aganglionic colon traveled within the muscle wall. In the Ednrb−/− we observed fibers in the submucosa, in the space between the circular and longitudinal muscles (the location normally occupied by myenteric neurons), and occasionally in the circular muscle. Our observation of fibers in the submucoa is consistent with Payette’s report in the ls mouse and fibers in the myenteric region are consistent with that of Luckensmeyer and Keast in the control mouse (1998a). The difference in paths taken in ganglionic compared to aganglionic colon may reflect the presence of ganglia producing a repellant that prevents a long fiber trajectory but permits entry of just the terminal process.

Why don’t more sacral cells colonize the colon?

The number of sacral cells is small compared to the number of vagal crest in the same Ednrb−/− preparation. In the postnatal animals, the YFP+ sacral crest were less dense than in the fetus. Some expressed the neuronal marker Hu, and were found as individual cells or small clusters along the entire portion of the aganglionic gut. Previous work suggests that the small number of sacral crest cells is attributed to the reduced level of Ret found in avian sacral compared to vagal ENCCs (Burns et al., 2002; Delalande et al., 2008). Our analysis of Ret in Ednrb−/− sacral and vagal-derived crest cells supports their finding of a reduced expression of Ret in SNCCs, although the experiments were substantially different. Using real-time PCR, we analyzed intact tissue removed from a mouse preparation that lacked EDNRB in neural crest cells only. Our values of mRNA were normalized to YFP expression and thus controlled for the number of crest cells in the sample. In contrast Delalande et al. (2008) obtained a value of 4.27 after measuring differences in cDNA binding to an array using avian crest cells that migrated off the neural tube and were cultured for 18 hours.

In summary, our findings indicate that SNCCs invade the aganglionic colon along nerve fibers, some of which arise from the pelvic ganglia, and form a small number of neurons at the site occupied by myenteric ganglia. The SNCCs do not proliferate in sufficient numbers to form ganglia; this failure may be related to reduced levels of the RET receptor. However, our observations are limited to sacral crest cells that are subject to the same defects that can affect vagal crest colonization in HSCR so that the pattern of colonization in nulls may be different from that in Ednrb+/− or wildtype mice. Further investigations are needed to determine whether the same pattern occurs in the ganglionated colon.

Supplementary Material

Supplementary Figure 1. Supplementary Figure 1.

DiI labeling of YFP+ P7 Ednrb+/−sacral fibers. (A) DiI crystals were placed on large sacral fascicles near the pelvic ganglia (PG). The fibers were labeled (magenta) and visualized as they entered the colon. (B) Higher magnification of box in A showing the sacral fibers in proximity to myenteric ganglia (green). The identity of the DiI labeled structures along the fibers (arrowheads) is uncertain. Arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction. Scale bar: (A) 500 μm, (B) 50 μm.

Supplementary Figure 2. Supplementary Figure 2.

(A) P23 Ednrb−/− whole-mount showing Hu/YFP just oral to the pelvic ganglion. Hu cells (green) accompany sacral nerve fascicles (magenta). (B) The same P23 preparation as A at the transition site between ganglionic and aganglionic regions. Ganglia and single Hu+ cells (green, arrows) are found along a YFP+ fascicle (magenta) superficial to the longitudinal muscle. The most aboral myenteric ganglion (green, arrowhead) is found in a deeper location in the same area. Arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction. Scale bar: (A, B) 50 μm.

Supplementary Figure 3. Supplementary Figure 3.

(A magenta-green copy of Fig. 6 for the assistance of color blind readers.) Cells on nerve fibers in Ednrb−/− preparations. (A) Surface view. E14.5 YFP+ SNCCs (red) appear along βIII-tubulin-immunoreactive nerve fibers (green) within the distal colon. (B) Surface view. E15.5 YFP+ cells are found along nerve fibers in the distal colon heading in an oral direction (arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction). (C) Section through another E15.5 distal colon just oral to the pelvic ganglion. A βlll-tubulin-immunoreactive fiber (green) and YFP+ cells (red) together enter the wall of the colon where many YFP+ cells are already present. (D) Section through the E15.5 distal colon in a position more oral than C. A YFP+ cell (red) and βlll-tubulin-immunoreactive fibers (green) are colocalized (arrow); numerous YFP+ cells are found between the muscle layers. (E) Whole mount of P7 distal colon. Hu+ (green) cells are found on YFP+ (red) nerve fibers near the pelvic ganglia. (F–H) Cross section of P31 distal colon. (F) Both a faintly–stained YFP+ cell and neurofilament-immunoreactive nerve fibers (green, arrowhead) are located between the muscle layers while nerve fibers are also found at the edge of the muscle-submucosa interface. The submucosa and the mucosa were removed. (G) A Hu+(red) neuron is found between the muscle layers usually occupied by the myenteric ganglia. (H) Overlay of images with bright field image and the circular (CM) and longitudinal muscles (LM) labeled. Scale bars: (A,C–H) 50 μm, (B) 100 μm.

Supplementary Figure 4. Supplementary Figure 4.

(A magenta-green copy of Fig. 7 for the assistance of color blind readers.) (A) E16.5 Ednrb−/−. TH+ cells (arrows) and fibers accompany sacral fibers projecting orally from the PG into the colon. Note the absence of ganglia. Inset, upper right: Two TH+ cells within box are shown at higher magnification. (B) P27 Ednrb−/−. Changes in position of extrinsic fibers when encountering intrinsic ganglia. Neural crest-derived cells are labeled with β-galactosidase. Cells and fibers on the serosal surface are sharp and dark while cells and fibers within the muscle layers are lighter and blurry. (C) Overlay of fibers shown in B. At the site where the sacral fibers extend into the region of vagal ganglia in the midcolon, large sacral fibers (green) are located between the muscle layers, the same level as vagal ganglia (red). There are also ganglia in the serosal region (blue), above the vagal ganglia, whose origin could be either cells that traveled from sacral axons and/or from the vagally-derived intrinsic neurons in the hypoganglionic region. These different elements appear to intersect (arrows). (D) Diagram summarizing the findings for Ednrb−/− aganglionic colon. Sacral extrinsic fibers and cells (green) projecting from the pelvic ganglia (PG) intersect with the vagal myenteric plexus (red) in the mid-colon. A population of cells and smaller fascicles (blue) appear at the vagal wavefront. They exit the myenteric locale and reside in the serosal region superficial to the longitudinal muscle (LM) where they appear to have connections with vagal ganglia. The larger sacral fascicles continue orally between the muscle layers where they appear to intermingle with the vagal ganglia. (CM: circular muscle) (E) Ednrb+/−. YFP+ sacral fibers (green) extending from the pelvic ganglia (PG) into the distal colon contain TH+ cells (red, arrows). A single TH+ cell (arrowhead) is incorporated into ganglia formed by VNCCs. (F) E16.5 Ednrb+/− colon. A confocal image showing TH+ (red, arrows) YFP+ SNCCs among the YFP+ VNCCs (green) forming nascent ganglia. Note a single TH+ cell that isn’t YFP+ (arrowhead). (G) Diagram summarizing the findings for Ednrb+/− ganglionated colon. Fibers leaving the pelvic ganglion travel the longest distance superficial to the longitudinal muscle before penetrating the muscle and terminating between the muscle layers. SNCC (green) cells move along extrinsic fibers to reach VNCC myenteric ganglia (red) where they become incorporated into the ganglia. Arrows inside scale bar indicate oral direction. Scale bar: (A, E) 50 μm, (B, C) 250 μm, (F) 25 μm, (D, G) not to scale.

Acknowledgments

Grant sponsor: National Institutes of Health; Grant number: R01-DK081634.

We thank P.C. Emson for the gift of sheep anti-NOS antibody and the W.M. Keck Laboratory for Biological Imaging and Lance Rodenkirch for the use of their confocal.

This article is dedicated to the memory of Jeffery W. Walker (1954–2010), esteemed colleague who left us much too soon.

Footnotes

NOTE ADDED IN PROOF

Sacral crest advance on extrinsic fibers in wildtype mice, a finding similar to ours in Ednrb−/− and Ednrb+/− mice. Wang, X et al. 2011., Gastroenterology 141:992–1002.

Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article.

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Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary Figure 1. Supplementary Figure 1.

DiI labeling of YFP+ P7 Ednrb+/−sacral fibers. (A) DiI crystals were placed on large sacral fascicles near the pelvic ganglia (PG). The fibers were labeled (magenta) and visualized as they entered the colon. (B) Higher magnification of box in A showing the sacral fibers in proximity to myenteric ganglia (green). The identity of the DiI labeled structures along the fibers (arrowheads) is uncertain. Arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction. Scale bar: (A) 500 μm, (B) 50 μm.

NIHMS418031-supplement-Supplementary_Figure_1.tif (3.2MB, tif)
Supplementary Figure 2. Supplementary Figure 2.

(A) P23 Ednrb−/− whole-mount showing Hu/YFP just oral to the pelvic ganglion. Hu cells (green) accompany sacral nerve fascicles (magenta). (B) The same P23 preparation as A at the transition site between ganglionic and aganglionic regions. Ganglia and single Hu+ cells (green, arrows) are found along a YFP+ fascicle (magenta) superficial to the longitudinal muscle. The most aboral myenteric ganglion (green, arrowhead) is found in a deeper location in the same area. Arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction. Scale bar: (A, B) 50 μm.

NIHMS418031-supplement-Supplementary_Figure_2.tif (2.2MB, tif)
Supplementary Figure 3. Supplementary Figure 3.

(A magenta-green copy of Fig. 6 for the assistance of color blind readers.) Cells on nerve fibers in Ednrb−/− preparations. (A) Surface view. E14.5 YFP+ SNCCs (red) appear along βIII-tubulin-immunoreactive nerve fibers (green) within the distal colon. (B) Surface view. E15.5 YFP+ cells are found along nerve fibers in the distal colon heading in an oral direction (arrow inside scale bar indicates oral direction). (C) Section through another E15.5 distal colon just oral to the pelvic ganglion. A βlll-tubulin-immunoreactive fiber (green) and YFP+ cells (red) together enter the wall of the colon where many YFP+ cells are already present. (D) Section through the E15.5 distal colon in a position more oral than C. A YFP+ cell (red) and βlll-tubulin-immunoreactive fibers (green) are colocalized (arrow); numerous YFP+ cells are found between the muscle layers. (E) Whole mount of P7 distal colon. Hu+ (green) cells are found on YFP+ (red) nerve fibers near the pelvic ganglia. (F–H) Cross section of P31 distal colon. (F) Both a faintly–stained YFP+ cell and neurofilament-immunoreactive nerve fibers (green, arrowhead) are located between the muscle layers while nerve fibers are also found at the edge of the muscle-submucosa interface. The submucosa and the mucosa were removed. (G) A Hu+(red) neuron is found between the muscle layers usually occupied by the myenteric ganglia. (H) Overlay of images with bright field image and the circular (CM) and longitudinal muscles (LM) labeled. Scale bars: (A,C–H) 50 μm, (B) 100 μm.

NIHMS418031-supplement-Supplementary_Figure_3.tif (5.2MB, tif)
Supplementary Figure 4. Supplementary Figure 4.

(A magenta-green copy of Fig. 7 for the assistance of color blind readers.) (A) E16.5 Ednrb−/−. TH+ cells (arrows) and fibers accompany sacral fibers projecting orally from the PG into the colon. Note the absence of ganglia. Inset, upper right: Two TH+ cells within box are shown at higher magnification. (B) P27 Ednrb−/−. Changes in position of extrinsic fibers when encountering intrinsic ganglia. Neural crest-derived cells are labeled with β-galactosidase. Cells and fibers on the serosal surface are sharp and dark while cells and fibers within the muscle layers are lighter and blurry. (C) Overlay of fibers shown in B. At the site where the sacral fibers extend into the region of vagal ganglia in the midcolon, large sacral fibers (green) are located between the muscle layers, the same level as vagal ganglia (red). There are also ganglia in the serosal region (blue), above the vagal ganglia, whose origin could be either cells that traveled from sacral axons and/or from the vagally-derived intrinsic neurons in the hypoganglionic region. These different elements appear to intersect (arrows). (D) Diagram summarizing the findings for Ednrb−/− aganglionic colon. Sacral extrinsic fibers and cells (green) projecting from the pelvic ganglia (PG) intersect with the vagal myenteric plexus (red) in the mid-colon. A population of cells and smaller fascicles (blue) appear at the vagal wavefront. They exit the myenteric locale and reside in the serosal region superficial to the longitudinal muscle (LM) where they appear to have connections with vagal ganglia. The larger sacral fascicles continue orally between the muscle layers where they appear to intermingle with the vagal ganglia. (CM: circular muscle) (E) Ednrb+/−. YFP+ sacral fibers (green) extending from the pelvic ganglia (PG) into the distal colon contain TH+ cells (red, arrows). A single TH+ cell (arrowhead) is incorporated into ganglia formed by VNCCs. (F) E16.5 Ednrb+/− colon. A confocal image showing TH+ (red, arrows) YFP+ SNCCs among the YFP+ VNCCs (green) forming nascent ganglia. Note a single TH+ cell that isn’t YFP+ (arrowhead). (G) Diagram summarizing the findings for Ednrb+/− ganglionated colon. Fibers leaving the pelvic ganglion travel the longest distance superficial to the longitudinal muscle before penetrating the muscle and terminating between the muscle layers. SNCC (green) cells move along extrinsic fibers to reach VNCC myenteric ganglia (red) where they become incorporated into the ganglia. Arrows inside scale bar indicate oral direction. Scale bar: (A, E) 50 μm, (B, C) 250 μm, (F) 25 μm, (D, G) not to scale.

NIHMS418031-supplement-Supplementary_Figure_4.tif (3MB, tif)

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