BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: @entity8302 ( @entity8302 ) recently have been identified as intestinal pacemaker cells. Abnormalities in @entity8302 are increasingly recognized in a number of @entity4670 such as infantile @entity2202 , @entity1963 , and transient @entity8442 . The aim of this study was to determine the fetal and postnatal differentiation and development of @entity8302 in the @entity1 gastrointestinal tract to aid interpretation of pathological specimens. METHODS: Specimens of @entity1 gastrointestinal tract from (1) fetuses (9 to 17 weeks' gestation; n = 12), (2) premature and full-term neonates with non-gut motility-related disorders, (age 26 to 59 weeks' gestation; n = 13), and (3) @entity1 (age 4 months to 13 years; n = 7) were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies to @entity2467 (a marker for @entity8302 ) and @entity5855 ( @entity5855 , a marker for neural tissue). RESULTS: (1) @entity2467 -positive @entity8302 were present throughout the gut in all specimens including those from the earliest gestational ages. @entity2467 and @entity5855 immunoreactivities were present in different cell populations. (2) The distribution of @entity8302 varied with gestational age and with region of the gut. (3) Maturation of @entity8302 continues postnatally in a region-specific manner. CONCLUSIONS: @entity8302 are present from an early stage in @entity1 gut development. Interpretation of apparent abnormalities in @entity8302 distribution as being of pathological significance should be tempered by the knowledge that @entity8302 continue to develop postnatally and that @entity8302 development varies throughout the gut.

Ontogeny of interstitial cells of Cajal in the XXXX intestine.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'human'] @entity2202 :: ('MESH:D046248', 'Disease') :: ['hypertrophic pyloric stenosis'] @entity4670 :: ('MESH:D009358', 'Disease') :: ['neonatal disorders'] @entity8442 :: ('MESH:D007418', 'Disease') :: ['intestinal pseudo-obstruction'] @entity1963 :: ('MESH:D006627', 'Disease') :: ["Hirschsprung's disease"] @entity5855 :: ('7345', 'Gene') :: ['PGP9.5', 'protein gene product 9.5'] @entity8302 :: ('MESH:D007984', 'Disease') :: ['ICC', 'Interstitial cells of Cajal', 'ICC networks'] @entity2467 :: ('3815', 'Gene') :: ['c-kit', 'C-kit']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['human']
