Figure 3.

Inhibition of smooth muscle formation leads to disruption of enteric nervous system (ENS) patterning. E5 guts were placed in catenary culture for 3 days in the presence of smooth muscle inhibitors FK‐506 and AG‐1295 (A–E) or the solvent dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as control (F–J). Expression of smooth muscle actin (SMA) and calponin were inhibited in the mid‐gut (B–B′′), while only calponin was inhibited in the hindgut (D–D′′). ENS patterning was severely disrupted in the mid‐gut (C), but normal in the hindgut (E). Control guts showed normal SMA, calponin and ENS development in the mid‐gut (G–H) and hindgut (I–K). Scale bar in (A) corresponds to 300 μm (A,F) and 120 μm (B–E, G–J). Calp, calponin; hg, hindgut; mg, mid‐gut; Ncad, N‐cadherin.