Enteric neurons are Ret-dependent
•GDNF
binds to GRFa1 and stimulates
Ret.
•Mice that lack Ret (or GDNF or GFRa1) lack enteric neurons
below the level of the
esophagus.
•Loss of function mutations in RET, GDNF, or GFRa1 are associated with
Hirschsprung’s disease
Wild-type
Ret -/-