Figure 1.

EGCs development, distribution, and classification. EGCs originate from the vagal (somites 1–5) and sacral (somite 24) neural crest cells during embryonic development in the mouse. Progenitor cells of EGCs sequentially express the specific markers, including SOX10 at E9.5, B-FABP at E11.5, PLP-1 at E12.5, S100β at E14.5, and GFAP at E16.5. In the gastrointestinal tract of adult mice, EGCs could be classified into subtypes I to IV based on cellular morphology and distribution within different anatomical layers. As an integral part of the enteric nervous system, EGCs are present both inside and outside the submucosal and myenteric plexus.