Isolation of myenteric and submucosal plexus from mouse gastrointestinal tract and subsequent flow cytometry and immunofluorescence

Tomasz Ahrends; Molly Weiner; Daniel Mucida

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101157

Isolation of myenteric and submucosal plexus from mouse gastrointestinal tract and subsequent flow cytometry and immunofluorescence

STAR Protoc. 2022 Jan 20;3(1):101157. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101157. eCollection 2022 Mar 18.

Authors

Tomasz Ahrends¹, Molly Weiner¹, Daniel Mucida^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
² Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.

Abstract

The myenteric plexus is located between the longitudinal and circular layers of muscularis externa in the gastrointestinal tract. It contains a large network of enteric neurons that form the enteric nervous system (ENS) and control intestinal functions, such as motility and nutrient sensing. This protocol describes the method for physical separation (peeling) of muscularis and submucosal layers of the mouse intestine. Subsequently, the intestinal layers are then processed for flow cytometry and/or immunofluorescence analysis. For complete details on the use and execution of this profile, please refer to Ahrends et al. (2021).

Keywords: Flow Cytometry/Mass Cytometry; Immunology; Microscopy; Neuroscience.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Flow Cytometry / methods
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Gastrointestinal Tract / physiology*
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Myenteric Plexus / cytology*
Submucous Plexus / cytology*