Role of vasoactive intestinal peptide and inflammatory mediators in enteric neuronal plasticity.

Eva Ekblad, A J Bauer

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Abstract

Complex circuits involving both local intrinsic neurones (i.e. enteric nervous system; ENS) and extrinsic neurones achieve nervous control of digestive functions. The ENS is comprised of many functionally different types of neurons: sensory neurons, interneurons and secreto-motor neurons. Each neuronal population is required to manifest local reflex behavior and is central to the regulation of both motor and secretory activities. It must be emphasized, however, that not only muscle and secretory cells but also other intestinal cells are targeted by enteric neurones, i.e. endocrine cells, interstitial cells of Cajal, immune cells, blood vessels and enteric glia. In addition to the ENS the gastrointestinal tract receives an extrinsic innervation by sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory fibres. Neuronal projections from the intestine to prevertebral ganglia also exist. Taken together, the picture of a complex nervous regulation of digestive functions highly integrated with the central nervous system and the rest of the autonomic nervous system has emerged. The ENS is adaptive and plastic, but also vulnerable, system and ENS disturbances may be of pathogenic importance in functional bowel disease. In particular the interplay between the enteric neurones and the immune cells is suggested to be of crucial importance. The review discusses possible roles of the mediators vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and prostanoids in ENS plasticity in response to injury and inflammation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)123-128
JournalNeurogastroenterology and Motility
Volume16
Issue numberSuppl 1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Neuroendocrine Cell Biology (013212008), Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology (LUR000004)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Cell and Molecular Biology

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