Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: ClC2 , ClC4

Title: Enteric nervous system: sensory physiology, diarrhea and constipation.

Authors: Jackie D Wood

Journal, date & volume: Curr. Opin. Gastroenterol., 2010 Mar , 26, 102-8

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19926984

Abstract
The enteric nervous system integrates secretion and motility into homeostatic patterns of behavior susceptible to disorder. Progress in understanding mechanosensory detection in these processes, disordered enteric nervous system integration in diarrhea and constipation and pharmacotherapy is summarized.Most neurons in the enteric nervous system discharge in response to distortion. Drugs acting directly to open chloride conductance channels in the mucosal epithelium are therapeutic options for constipation.Mechanoreception is required for negative feedback control. At issue is identification of the neurons that fulfil the requirement for mechanoreception. Understanding secretomotor neurons is basic to understanding neurogenic secretory diarrhea and constipation and therapeutic strategies. A strategy for treatment of chronic constipation is development of agents that act directly to open Cl channels, which thereby increases the liquidity of the luminal contents. Lubiprostone, a recently Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, increases intraluminal liquidity by opening Cl channels. The future for the drug is clouded by controversy over whether its action is directly at one or the other of chloride channel type 2 (ClC-2) or cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channels or both and whether action reflects involvement of G protein-coupled prostaglandin receptors expressed by mucosal epithelial cells.