Temporal and regional morphological differences as a consequence of FGF-2 deficiency are mirrored in the myenteric proteome.

The enteric nervous system with its intricate network of neurons and glia shows a high plasticity, which not only changes during pre- and postnatal development, but also with disease or changing dietary habits. FGF as a potent neurotrophic factor in the central nervous system might also play a specific role for the ENS development, FGF-2 knockout and corresponding wild-type mice were histologically and functionally analyzed. FGF-2 knockout mice are viable and thrive normally and do apparently not display any obvious neurological deficit. Morphological differences were studied on whole mount preparations of muscle and submucous layer using either cuprolinic blue or immunohistochemical stainings for the neuronal marker PGP 9.5. Ussing-chamber and isometric muscle contraction experiments were performed on isolated gut wall, respectively muscle preparations. Intravital microscopy with GFP-transfected E. coli bacteria was used to investigate influences upon bacterial translocation. In additional experiments the protein pattern of the isolated myenteric plexus of knockout and wild-type mice were compared using 2D-DIGE technology. The morphometric analysis of the myenteric plexus revealed significant differences between FGF-2 knockout and wild-type animals, resulting in larger neurons in the knock out animals, embedded in less densely packed enteric ganglia. While muscle contractility appeared not to be affected, there was a significant difference in bacterial translocation as well as differences in basal chloride secretion to be seen. The observed morphological differences were reflected in the varying protein patterns, which were revealed by 2D-DIGE. A large number of differentially expressed proteins were found in both colonic and duodenal samples. FGF obviously influences the development of well established gastrointestinal functions by various means, thus leading to minor but significant deficiencies. Whether the revealed deficits in the mucous barrier are indebted to the morphological alterations in the ENS cannot yet be proved, but is very likely.