1503-Intestinal Muscle Plasticity Instructs Gut Size

This research identifies intestinal muscles as active drivers of adult organ size and function rather than passive bystanders. Scientists discovered that these muscles exhibit sex-specific differences and significant reproductive plasticity in both Drosophila and mice. In females, mating triggers a structural remodeling of muscle sarcomeres, which elongates the gut and slows digestion to support the high metabolic costs of reproduction. By genetically manipulating sex determination pathways like transformer, researchers found they could intrinsically alter muscle thickness and extrinsically dictate the overall dimensions of the intestine. The study concludes that hormonal signaling—specifically involving juvenile hormone—coordinates this adaptive muscle growth to sustain fertility.References:Mineo A, Blackie L, Milona A, et al. The sex and reproductive plasticity of intestinal muscles instruct gut size[J]. Cell, 2026.前往小宇宙评论区与主播互动