Open AccessCalcium‐associated mechanisms in gut pacemaker activity
Author(s) -
Nakayama Shinsuke,
Kajioka Shunichi,
Goto Kazunori,
Takaki Miyako,
Liu HongNian
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2007.00107.x
Subject(s) - interstitial cell of cajal , gastrointestinal tract , calcium , intracellular , cytosol , calcium in biology , pacemaker potential , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemistry , neuroscience , electrophysiology , medicine , endocrinology , smooth muscle , biochemistry , enzyme
• Introduction ‐ Voltage‐operated Ca 2+ channels ‐ Non‐selective cation channels ‐ Cl − channels ‐ [Ca 2+ ] i oscillations ‐ Intracellular Ca 2+ release channels ‐ ICC‐like cells in auxiliary digestive organsAbstract A considerable body of evidence has revealed that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), identified with c‐Kit‐immunoreactivity, act as gut pacemaker cells, with spontaneous Ca 2+ activity in ICC as the probable primary mechanism. Namely, intracellular (cytosolic) Ca 2+ oscillations in ICC periodically activate plasmalemmal Ca 2+ ‐dependent ion channels and thereby generate pacemaker potentials. This review will, thus, focus on Ca 2+ ‐associated mechanisms in ICC in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including auxiliary organs.