Gut 1999;45(Suppl 2):II-II16 ( September )

Fundamentals of neurogastroenterology

J D Wood^a, D H Alpers^b, P L R Andrews^c

^a Co-Chair, Committee on Basic Science: Brain-Gut, Multinational Working Teams to Develop Diagnostic Criteria for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Departments of Physiology and Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus, Ohio, USA, ^b Co-Chair, Committee on Basic Science: Brain-Gut, Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA, ^c Department of Physiology, St Georges Hospital Medical School, London, UK

Correspondence to: Jackie D Wood, Ph.D, Professor of Physiology and Internal Medicine, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 302 Hamilton Hall, 1645 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. Email: wood.13{at}osu.edu

Current concepts and basic principles of neurogastroenterology in relation to functional gastrointestinal disorders are reviewed. Neurogastroenterology is emphasized as a new and advancing subspecialty of clinical gastroenterology and digestive science. As such, it embraces the investigative sciences dealing with functions, malfunctions, and malformations in the brain and spinal cord, and the sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric divisions of the autonomic innervation of the digestive tract. Somatomotor systems are included insofar as pharyngeal phases of swallowing and pelvic floor involvement in defecation, continence, and pelvic pain are concerned. Inclusion of basic physiology of smooth muscle, mucosal epithelium, and the enteric immune system in the neurogastroenterologic domain relates to requirements for compatibility with neural control mechanisms. Psychologic and psychiatric relations to functional gastrointestinal disorders are included because they are significant components of neurogastroenterology, especially in relation to projections of discomfort and pain to the digestive tract.


Keywords: enteric nervous system; brain-gut axis; autonomic nervous system; nausea; gut motility; mast cells; gastrointestinal pain; Rome II

---

© 1999 by Gut
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Viscusi, E. R., Gan, T. J., Leslie, J. B., Foss, J. F., Talon, M. D., Du, W., Owens, G. (2009). Peripherally Acting Mu-Opioid Receptor Antagonists and Postoperative Ileus: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applicability. Anesth. Analg. 108: 1811-1822 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lalatta-Costerbosa, G., Mazzoni, M., Clavenzani, P., Di Guardo, G., Mazzuoli, G., Marruchella, G., De Grossi, L., Agrimi, U., Chiocchetti, R. (2007). Nitric Oxide Synthase Immunoreactivity and NADPH-d Histochemistry in the Enteric Nervous System of Sarda Breed Sheep With Different PrP Genotypes in Whole-mount and Cryostat Preparations. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 55: 387-401 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gangula, P. R. R., Maner, W. L., Micci, M.-A., Garfield, R. E., Pasricha, P. J. (2007). Diabetes induces sex-dependent changes in neuronal nitric oxide synthase dimerization and function in the rat gastric antrum. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 292: G725-G733 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sutton, D. H., Harrell, S. P., Wo, J. M. (2006). Diagnosis and Management of Adult Patients With Chronic Intestinal Pseudoobstruction. Nutr Clin Pract 21: 16-22 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Baker, D. E. (2005). Rationale for using serotonergic agents to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Am J Health Syst Pharm 62: 700-711 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gelderman, K A, Zijlmans, H J M A A, Vonk, M J, Gorter, A (2004). CD55 expression patterns on intestinal neuronal tissue are divergent from the brain. Gut 53: 507-513 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Porcelli, P., Bagby, R. M., Taylor, G. J., De Carne, M., Leandro, G., Todarello, O. (2003). Alexithymia as Predictor of Treatment Outcome in Patients with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. Psychosom. Med. 65: 911-918 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Weydert, J. A., Ball, T. M., Davis, M. F. (2003). Systematic Review of Treatments for Recurrent Abdominal Pain. Pediatrics 111: e1-11 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Weber, E., Neunlist, M., Schemann, M., Frieling, T. (2001). Neural components of distension-evoked secretory responses in the guinea-pig distal colon. J. Physiol. 536: 741-751 [Abstract] [Full Text]