Journal
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
Volume 196, Issue 5, Pages 365-371Publisher
ELSEVIER GMBH
DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2014.04.001
Keywords
Megaesophagus; Achalasia; Smooth muscle cells; Lower esophageal sphincter
Categories
Funding
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [SFB-TR84 C3, SFB-TR84 C6, DFG OP 86/7-1, SFB-TR84 A1, SFB-TR84 C2]
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Megaesophagus in mice has been associated with several genetic defects. In the present study we expand the range of genes associated with esophageal function and morphology by protein kinase C alpha (PKC alpha). PKC alpha-deficient mice showed a six times increased prevalence of megaesophagus at the age of 9-10 weeks compared to wild-type animals. In contrast, in a restricted number of 14-month-old animals of both genotypes a similar prevalence of megaesophagus was found. Megaesophagus was associated with an increased portion of the distal esophagus lined by smooth muscle cells. Achalasia-like degeneration or loss of neuronal cells, inflammation or fibrosis was not present in any of the animals. The results of the study therefore suggest that PKC alpha expression is associated with a delayed replacement of embryonic smooth muscle by skeletal muscle at the distal esophagus and consecutive megaesophagus in young mice, which, however, is not present at the same prevalence at an advanced age. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
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