REGIONALLY UNIQUE NEURAL NETWORKS THAT CONTROL GUT MOTILITY

Society: AGA

This session will focus on intercellular signaling mechanisms between neurons and non-neuronal cells that control gut motor functions. New data show that the activity and output of enteric neurons is regulated by multiple non-neuronal cell types including glia, interstitial cells of Cajal, fibroblast like cells, macrophages, and enterochromaffin cells. Understanding how these cells shape enteric neuromuscular function and how perturbations to these processes lead to motility disorders is important for ultimately treating gut motility disorders.