Ca2+ imaging in interstitial cells of Cajal during rhythmic activity.

Accession number;04A0196240
Title;Ca2+ imaging in interstitial cells of Cajal during rhythmic activity.
Author; YAMAZAWA TOSHIKO (Univ. Tokyo, Graduate School of Medicine, JPN) IINO MASAMITSU (Univ. Tokyo, Graduate School of Medicine, JPN)
Journal Title;Folia Pharmacologica Japonica
Journal Code:G0740A
ISSN:0015-5691
VOL.123;NO.3;PAGE.155-162(2004)
Figure&Table&Reference;FIG.5, REF.38
Pub. Country;Japan
Language;Japanese
Abstract;Spontaneous contraction of intestinal smooth muscles is required for bowel movement and its failure results in disorders including irritable bowel syndrome. Rhythmic spontaneous depolarizations in intestinal smooth muscle cells, often referred to as slow waves, are essential for the movement of the gastrointestinal tract. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) lie adjacent to smooth muscle layers and are implicated to be the pacemaker cells generating slow waves, because mutant mice lacking this cell type show gut rhythm disorders. However, the pace-making mechanism remains unclear. Here we review intracellular Ca2+ signals of both ICC and smooth muscle cells during rhythmic activity in the gastrointestinal tract. (author abst.)
FULLTEXT