Figure 3.

Neurons and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are present along the colon of Nup35^F192L/F192L-mutant mice. A–F: Whole-mount preparations of external muscle and myenteric plexus from the distal colon (A and B) and midcolon (C–F) of 6- to 8-week-old wild-type (WT; A–C) and Nup35-mutant (D–F) mice after immunostaining for the pan neuron marker, neuronal class III β-tubulin (Tuj)-1 (A and B); the ICC marker, Kit (C and D); and the macrophage marker, F4/80 (E and F). A and D: Tuj1⁺ myenteric neurons in the distal colon. C and D: Although circular smooth muscle cells have been largely replaced by connective tissue, Kit⁺ ICCs are present in the circular muscle layer of mutants. However, ICCs in the mutants have simpler morphology and fewer processes than do ICCs in the circular muscle of WT mice. E and F: In WT mice, F4/80⁺ macrophages are present in the external muscle and are stellate in shape, as described previously.26, 34