De novo neurogenesis in the post-embryonic zebrafish enteric nervous system from Schwann cell precursors rather than resident cell types

Abstract

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is essential for normal gastrointestinal motility, and defects in its function define several difficult to treat conditions. While the developmental origin of the ENS from neural crest cells is well understood, there is conflicting evidence regarding postnatal enteric neurogenesis and neuronal homeostasis. Using zebrafish as a model due to its simplified ENS which is amenable to live-imaging, we sought to explore the origin of enteric neurons that arise in post-embryonic life in both normal development and upon injury, and tested effects of the 5-HT₄ receptor agonist, prucalopride, in this process.

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