Table 1.
Changes in 5 dpf intestinal motility analyzed with volumetry. Motility is separated into retrograde and anterograde contractions with average differences in frequency of contraction (cycles/min), distance (μm), and velocity (μm/s) (n=10 for each group). WT retrograde contractions occur at almost double the frequency of anterograde contractions, but travel about half the distance. Velocity for both retrograde and anterograde contractions are similar. While there is not much change in frequency and distance of retrograde ascl1a−/− contractions, anterograde contractions are absent. Anterograde contractions are replaced by occasional movement, which appears to involve pressure release from the enlarged proximal intestine. The entire distal intestine opening is represented by high velocity of contraction but similar distance to WT. Anterograde contractions are restored to frequency, distance, and velocity similar to WT in ascl1a−/− embryos with the addition of 5HT at near physiological concentrations. Mean value is represented followed by standard deviation. This table shares the WT data with Table 2. A one-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the groups; retrograde frequency F(4,1190)=3.793, p=0.00, distance F(4,1901)=87.06, p=0.00, velocity F(4,1901)=14.16, p=0.00; anterograde frequency F(4,524)=4.685, p=0.00, distance F(4,558)=12.92, p=0.00, velocity F(4,558)=78.72, p=0.00. In post-hoc tests, ascl1a−/− or ascl1a−/− with 5HT were compared to WT to determine either equal or unequal variances using the Fisher test and the appropriate T test was utilized (for equal of unequal variances). Values that differ significantly after Bonferroni correction (p<0.01). from WT are indicated in bold with p value from T test
| Retrograde | Frequency | Distance | Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|
| WT | 2.8±1.6 | 174.6±58.2 | 9.2±4 |
| ascl1a−/− | 2.8±1.3 | 170.7±60.3 | 10.4±5.3 (P=3.7×10−4) |
| ascl1a−/− 5HT | 2.9±1.7 | 172.6±61.7 | 9.2±4.7 |
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| |||
| Anterograde | Frequency | Distance | Velocity |
|
| |||
| WT | 1.6±1.5 | 371.8±58 | 11.5±2.7 |
| ascl1a−/− | 0.05±0.16 (P=1.1×10−20) | 335.8±34.2 | 37.1±7.4 (P=6.1×10−3) |
| ascl1a−/− 5HT | 1.9±3.2 | 318.1±56.1 (P=2.5×10−10) | 12.0±4.0 |