scholarly journals The Enteric Nervous System and Its Emerging Role as a Therapeutic Target

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Mark A. Fleming ◽  
Lubaina Ehsan ◽  
Sean R. Moore ◽  
Daniel E. Levin
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Therapeutic Target ◽  
Normal Function ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
Current Therapies ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Local Reflex ◽  
And Function ◽  
Myenteric Plexuses

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is innervated by the enteric nervous system (ENS), an extensive neuronal network that traverses along its walls. Due to local reflex circuits, the ENS is capable of functioning with and without input from the central nervous system. The functions of the ENS range from the propulsion of food to nutrient handling, blood flow regulation, and immunological defense. Records of it first being studied emerged in the early 19th century when the submucosal and myenteric plexuses were discovered. This was followed by extensive research and further delineation of its development, anatomy, and function during the next two centuries. The morbidity and mortality associated with the underdevelopment, infection, or inflammation of the ENS highlight its importance and the need for us to completely understand its normal function. This review will provide a general overview of the ENS to date and connect specific GI diseases including short bowel syndrome with neuronal pathophysiology and current therapies. Exciting opportunities in which the ENS could be used as a therapeutic target for common GI diseases will also be highlighted, as the further unlocking of such mechanisms could open the door to more therapy-related advances and ultimately change our treatment approach.

scholarly journals The Enteric Nervous System and Its Emerging Role as A Therapeutic Target

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Fleming II ◽  
Lubaina Ehsan ◽  
Sean Moore ◽  
Daniel Levin
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Therapeutic Target ◽  
Normal Function ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
Early 19Th Century ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Local Reflex ◽  
And Function ◽  
Myenteric Plexuses

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is innervated by the enteric nervous system (ENS), an extensive neuronal network that traverses along its walls. Due to local reflex circuits, the ENS is capable of functioning with and without input from the central nervous system. The functions of the ENS range from the propulsion of food to nutrient handling, blood flow regulation and immunological defense. Records of it first being studied emerged in the early 19th century when the submucosal and myenteric plexuses were discovered. This was followed by extensive research and further delineation of its development, anatomy, and function during the next two centuries. The morbidity and mortality associated with the underdevelopment, infection or inflammation of the ENS highlights its importance and the need for us to completely understand its normal function. This review will provide a general overview of the ENS to date and connect specific GI disorders such as short bowel syndrome with neuronal pathophysiology. Exciting opportunities in which the ENS could be used as a therapeutic target for common GI diseases will also be highlighted, as the further unlocking of such mechanisms could open the door to more therapy-related advances, and ultimately change our approach to GI disorders.

scholarly journals The Baseline Structure of the Enteric Nervous System and Its Role in Parkinson’s Disease

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 732
Author(s):  
Gianfranco Natale ◽  
Larisa Ryskalin ◽  
Gabriele Morucci ◽  
Gloria Lazzeri ◽  
Alessandro Frati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
Multiple Control ◽  
Fine Control ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Degenerative Alterations ◽  
Comprehensive Classification

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is provided with a peculiar nervous network, known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), which is dedicated to the fine control of digestive functions. This forms a complex network, which includes several types of neurons, as well as glial cells. Despite extensive studies, a comprehensive classification of these neurons is still lacking. The complexity of ENS is magnified by a multiple control of the central nervous system, and bidirectional communication between various central nervous areas and the gut occurs. This lends substance to the complexity of the microbiota–gut–brain axis, which represents the network governing homeostasis through nervous, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways. The present manuscript is dedicated to identifying various neuronal cytotypes belonging to ENS in baseline conditions. The second part of the study provides evidence on how these very same neurons are altered during Parkinson’s disease. In fact, although being defined as a movement disorder, Parkinson’s disease features a number of degenerative alterations, which often anticipate motor symptoms. Among these, the GI tract is often involved, and for this reason, it is important to assess its normal and pathological structure. A deeper knowledge of the ENS is expected to improve the understanding of diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

scholarly journals Regional cytoarchitecture of the adult and developing mouse enteric nervous system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Hamnett ◽  
Lori Bowe Dershowitz ◽  
Vandana Sampathkumar ◽  
Ziyue Wang ◽  
Vincent De Andrade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
The Central Nervous System

The enteric nervous system (ENS) populates the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and controls GI function. In contrast to the central nervous system, macrostructure of the ENS has been largely overlooked. Here, we visually and computationally demonstrate that the ENS is organized in circumferential stripes that regionally differ in development and neuronal composition. This characterization provides a blueprint for future understanding of region-specific GI function and identifying ENS structural correlates of GI disorders.

scholarly journals Somatostatin as an Active Substance in the Mammalian Enteric Nervous System

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 4461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slawomir Gonkowski ◽  
Liliana Rytel
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Active Substance ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Secretory Activity ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Complex Organization ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
High Degree

Somatostatin (SOM) is an active substance which most commonly occurs in endocrine cells, as well as in the central and peripheral nervous system. One of the parts of the nervous system where the presence of SOM has been confirmed is the enteric nervous system (ENS), located in the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It regulates most of the functions of the stomach and intestine and it is characterized by complex organization and a high degree of independence from the central nervous system. SOM has been described in the ENS of numerous mammal species and its main functions in the GI tract are connected with the inhibition of the intestinal motility and secretory activity. Moreover, SOM participates in sensory and pain stimuli conduction, modulation of the release of other neuronal factors, and regulation of blood flow in the intestinal vessels. This peptide is also involved in the pathological processes in the GI tract and is known as an anti-inflammatory agent. This paper, which focuses primarily on the distribution of SOM in the ENS and extrinsic intestinal innervation in various mammalian species, is a review of studies concerning this issue published from 1973 to the present.

Natural Products for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (34) ◽  
pp. 5790-5828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ze Wang ◽  
Chunyang He ◽  
Jing-Shan Shi
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Natural Products ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Neuroprotective Effect ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Progressive Degeneration ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
And Function

Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) are the common neurodegenerative diseases, which typically occur in people over the age of 60. With the rapid development of an aged society, over 60 million people worldwide are suffering from these uncurable diseases. Therefore, the search for new drugs and therapeutic methods has become an increasingly important research topic. Natural products especially those from the Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs), are the most important sources of drugs, and have received extensive interest among pharmacist. In this review, in order to facilitate further chemical modification of those useful natural products by pharmacists, we will bring together recent studies in single natural compound from TCMs with neuroprotective effect.

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