The pacemaker functions of visceral interstitial cells of Cajal / 生理学报
Acta Physiologica Sinica
;
(6): 387-397, 2010.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-337735
ABSTRACT
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are located in most parts of the digestive system. Although they have been found over 100 years, their functions began to be unravelled only recently. ICCs are considered as pacemaker cells which elicit spontaneous rhythmic electric activity termed "basic electrical rhythm" or "slow waves" in gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, they also mediate neurotransmission from neurons to smooth muscle in gastrointestinal tract. ICC-like cells also exist in other visceral smooth muscles, such as urinary tract, genital system and vascular smooth muscle. In this paper we review the progress of research about the functions of visceral ICCs.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Periodicity
/
Physiology
/
Biological Clocks
/
Viscera
/
Enteric Nervous System
/
Synaptic Transmission
/
Myocytes, Smooth Muscle
/
Gastrointestinal Tract
/
Interstitial Cells of Cajal
/
Gastrointestinal Motility
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Acta Physiologica Sinica
Year:
2010
Type:
Article
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