Creating enteric neuro-epithelial co-cultures in a microfluidic device. (IMAGE)

Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Creating enteric neuro-epithelial co-cultures in a microfluidic device.

Caption

Creating enteric neuro-epithelial co-cultures in a microfluidic device. a Intestinal epithelial cells are located on the luminal lining of the gut. Upon receiving physical or chemical stimuli, intestinal epithelial cells communicate with enteric neurons such as IPANs in the myenteric plexus which is located between the circular and longitudinal layers of muscularis externa of the gut. Neuro-epithelial communications trigger expansion or contraction of the muscle layers in the gut. b Our microfluidic culture system was designed to recapitulate aspects of the neuro-epithelial interactions observed in vivo. This culture platform allowed to define and visualize neuro-epithelial contacts.

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