title: Autonomic nervous system and secretion across the intestinal mucosal surface.
abstract: Chloride secretion is important because it is the driving force for fluid movement into the intestinal lumen. The flow of accumulated fluid flushes out invading micro-organisms in defense of the host. Chloride secretion is regulated by neurons in the submucosal plexus of the enteric nervous system. Mechanosensitive enterochromaffin cells that release 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and activate intrinsic afferent neurons in the submucosal plexus and initiate chloride secretion. Mechanical stimulation by distention may also trigger reflexes by a direct action on intrinsic afferent neurons. Dysregulation of 5-HT release or altered activity of intrinsic afferents is likely to occur in states of inflammation and other disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, 333 West 10th Avenue, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Jianjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Candice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Askwith
authors.forename: Najma H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D012701:Serotonin