The gastrointestinal tract is the only internal organ to have evolved with its own independent
nervous system, known as the enteric nervous system (ENS). This Review provides an …

Hirschsprung disease is defined by the absence of enteric neurons at the end of the bowel.
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the intrinsic nervous system of the bowel and regulates …

Smooth muscles are complex tissues containing a variety of cells in addition to muscle cells.
Interstitial cells of mesenchymal origin interact with and form electrical connectivity with …

Myofibroblasts are a unique group of smooth-muscle-like fibroblasts that have a similar
appearance and function regardless of their tissue of residence. Through the secretion of …

Our understanding of human colonic motility, and autonomic reflexes that generate motor
patterns, has increased markedly through high-resolution manometry. Details of the motor …

Mice carrying certain mutations in the white spotting (W) locus (ie, c-kit) exhibit reduced c-kit
tyrosine kinase-dependent signaling that results in mast cell deficiency and other phenotypic …

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are implicated in the regulation of gut peristalsis and are
immunostained by antibodies against Kit (CD117), a tyrosine kinase receptor. Most …

Peristaltic motor activity of the gut is an essential activity to sustain life. In each gut organ, a
multitude of overlapping mechanisms has developed to acquire the ability of coordinated …

Background & Aims: The cause of slow-transit constipation is incompletely understood.
Recent observations suggest a central role for interstitial cells of Cajal in the control of …

Networks of interstitial cells of Cajal embedded in the musculature of the gastrointestinal
tract are involved in the generation of electrical pacemaker activity for gastrointestinal …