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The pacemaker functions of visceral interstitial cells of Cajal

HUANG Xu, XU Wen-Xie^*

上海交通大学医学院生理教研室，上海 200240

Abstract

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are located in most parts of the digestive system. Although they have been found over 100years, their functions began to be unravelled only recently. ICCs are considered as pacemaker cells which elicit spontaneous rhythmicelectric activity termed “basic electrical rhythm” or “slow waves” in gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, they also mediate neurotransmissionfrom neurons to smooth muscle in gastrointestinal tract. ICC-like cells also exist in other visceral smooth muscles, such asurinary tract, genital system and vascular smooth muscle. In this paper we review the progress of research about the functions ofvisceral ICCs.

Key words: interstitial cells of Cajal; pacemaker cells; neurotransmission

Received: 2010-08-11　　Accepted: 2010-09-15

Corresponding author: 许文燮　　E-mail: wenxiexu@sjtu.edu.cn

Citing This Article：

HUANG Xu, XU Wen-Xie. The pacemaker functions of visceral interstitial cells of Cajal. Acta Physiol Sin 2010; 62 (5): 387-397 (in Chinese with English abstract).