Enteric Nervous System in the Small Intestine: Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Behtash Ghazi Nezami, Emory University; Shanthi Srinivasan, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2010-10
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010
• Final Published Version (URL): http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11894-010-0129-9
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Current Gastroenterology Reports
• ISSN: 1522-8037
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 358
• End Page: 365
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the following grants: National Institutes of Health DK080684 (Dr. Srinivasan) and Veterans Administration Merit award (Dr. Srinivasan).
• Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Enteric nervous system; Diabetes mellitus; Small intestine; Neurotransmitters; Intestinal secretion; Irritable bowel syndromes
• Research Categories: Biology, General; Biology, Physiology; Health Sciences, General

Abstract

The digestive system is endowed with its own, local nervous system, referred to as the enteric nervous system (ENS). Given the varied functions of small intestine, its ENS has developed individualized characteristics relating to motility, secretion, digestion, and inflammation. The ENS regulates the major enteric processes such as immune response, detecting nutrients, motility, microvascular circulation, intestinal barrier function, and epithelial secretion of fluids, ions, and bioactive peptides. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the signaling pathways in this complex system and how they work. In this article, we focus on recent advances that have led to new insights into small intestinal ENS function and the development of new therapies.