NOVEL APPROACHES TO TESTING GASTRO INTESTINAL FUNCTION IN VITRO: CONTROLLING SIGNAL ACQUISITION, TISSUE COMPOSITION, OR THE PLATFORM

Propulsion in the gut is orchestrated by a rhythmic complex called the neuromuscular apparatus which includes smooth muscle, enteric neurons, and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). Depletions of these cell populations are associated with several motility disorders, and their significant effects on function are uncertain. In this thesis, several different approaches are studied to understand the relationship of each key gastrointestinal cell to tissue function. Here, the focus is on the specific contribution of each cell population to tissue function using physiology of ex vivo tissue, bioengineered tissues, and a 3D printed platform. Initiation of muscular relaxation was dependent on a functional neural population. Then, ICC transduced neural-mediated relaxation through electrical pacing, in order to relax muscle with enhanced rhythm and coordination. These promising models can provide approaches for an investigator test new hypotheses by modeling clinical populations to study, alter, or repair function.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Knutson, Dylan Thomas

• Diabetes

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/82259

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/82259