MINIREVIEW
The Pacemaker Activity of Interstitial Cells of Cajal and
Gastric Electrical Activity
P. ČAMBOROVÁ, P. HUBKA1, I.
ŠULKOVÁ, I. HULÍN
Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine,
Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, 1Third
Department of Physiology, JW Goethe University, Frankfurt
am Main, Germany
Received
January 16,
2002
Accepted July 15, 2002
Summary
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are the pacemaker cells in the
gut. They have special properties that make them unique in their
ability to generate and propagate slow waves in gastrointestinal
muscles. The electrical slow wave activity determines the
characteristic frequency of phasic contractions of the stomach,
intestine and colon. Slow waves also determine the direction and
velocity of propagation of peristaltic activity, in concert with
the enteric nervous system. Characterization of receptors and
ion channels in the ICC membrane is under way, and manipulation
of slow wave activity markedly alters the movement of contents
through the gut. Gastric myoelectrical slow wave activity
produced by pacemaker cells (ICC) can be reflected by
electrogastrography (EGG). Electrogastrography is a perspective
non-invasive method that can detect gastric dysrhythmias
associated with symptoms of nausea or delayed gastric emptying.
Key
words
Interstitial cells of Cajal • Gastric electrical activity •
Pacemaker of the stomach • Kit-receptor • Electrogastrography
Reprint
requests
Petra Čamborová, M.D., Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of
Medicine, Commenius University, Sasinkova 4, 81108 Bratislava,
Slovak Republic, Fax: 00421 2 59357 601,
e-mail:
pcambor@email.cz
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