Hedgehog signaling controls homeostasis of adult intestinal smooth muscle

► We examine two adult transgenic models of altered intestinal Hh signaling in mice. ► Inhibition of Hh signals leads to crypt expansion and loss of villus smooth muscle. ► Overexpression of Ihh leads to progressive expansion of villus smooth muscle. ► Hh signals activate expression of the myogenic transcription factor Myocardin in vivo and in vitro. ► Hh signaling is a critical regulator of intestinal villus smooth muscle populations.