title: The emergence of neural activity and its role in the development of the enteric nervous system.
abstract: The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a vital part of the autonomic nervous system that regulates many gastrointestinal functions, including motility and secretion. All neurons and glia of the ENS arise from neural crest-derived cells that migrate into the gastrointestinal tract during embryonic development. It has been known for many years that a subpopulation of the enteric neural crest-derived cells expresses pan-neuronal markers at early stages of ENS development. Recent studies have demonstrated that some enteric neurons exhibit electrical activity from as early as E11.5 in the mouse, with further maturation of activity during embryonic and postnatal development. This article discusses the maturation of electrophysiological and morphological properties of enteric neurons, the formation of synapses and synaptic activity, and the influence of neural activity on ENS development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, the University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Marlene M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Joel C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bornstein
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanden Berghe
authors.forename: Alan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lomax
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Jaime P P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Foong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000196:embryology / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents