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Brief Communication

Nature Neuroscience 8, 855–857 (1 July 2005) | doi:10.1038/nn1485

Loss of mammalian Sprouty2 leads to enteric neuronal hyperplasia and esophageal achalasia

Takaharu Taketomi , Daigo Yoshiga , Koji Taniguchi , Takashi Kobayashi , Atsushi Nonami , Reiko Kato , Mika Sasaki , Atsuo Sasaki , Hitoshi Ishibashi , Maiko Moriyama , Kei-ichiro Nakamura , Junji Nishimura & Akihiko Yoshimura

We report here that loss of the Sprouty2 gene (also known as Spry2) in mice resulted in enteric nerve hyperplasia, which led to esophageal achalasia and intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) induced hyperactivation of ERK and Akt in enteric nerve cells.