L. erinacea, or the little skate, is a basal fish that exhibits a unique gut structure known as the spiral intestine. Unlike the human intestine, the spiral valve intestine contains an inner fold that turns around itself to create a spiral-shaped lumen. The shape allows the intestine to efficiently absorb nutrients while minimizing the space it takes up in the body cavity. Space in the body cavity is limited as two large livers fill the cavity and are required to maintain buoyancy. Our lab previously demonstrated that constrictive forces from within the gut tube contribute to shaping of the spiral intestine. However, the source of these forces and how they contribute to the development of the spiral intestine are not known. Research in the chick and mouse has demonstrated the role of smooth muscle differentiation on the formation of intestinal structures, including the formation of villi that line the interior of all intestines. We are investigating the role smooth muscle differentiation plays in the development of the spiral and villification in L. erinacea, with the goal of establishing a timeline coordinating these processes.
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