An image-based model of the interstitial cells of cajal network in the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) electrical activity is generated by pacemaker cells called the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), which are located throughout the GI tract. An extended description of the variations of ICC may help improve our understanding of digestive functions. The main aim of this study is to create an image-based structural model of an extended ICC network. Feature extraction techniques were applied to dual-stained images of ICC to obtain cell distribution, fiber orientation and connectivity. In a sample image, 20 nuclei were isolated and the cell bodies were joined perpendicular to each other in a grid-like network with two principal axes orientated at approximately 20 and 80 degrees to the vertical axis. An extended virtual network model was developed to resemble the cell count and orientation. In conclusion, an extended image-based virtual ICC network was generated. This network model can be adapted to generate the ICC network structure required for large-scale GI electrical simulations and to predict the functional significance of ICC loss in diseases.