Although often viewed as a simple element of the digestive system, the gut has a much more complex role, according to numerous studies. Its role is central, having multiple vital functions for the body, with a wide range of implications.
The digestive system is not just a simple organ, but houses the enteric nervous system (ENS), a complex network of millions of neurons and glial cells, which are the two main types of cells also present in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
Known as the “second brain”, the NES produces the same neurotransmitters and developed long before the central nervous system appeared in the brain. The functions of the NES are vital for survival and extend beyond the digestive domain, regulating immunity and intestinal secretions and facilitating a complex, two-way communication between the gut and the brain.
This explains why gut health is closely related to mental state and behavior, providing insight into how digestive issues can influence mood.
Scientists have long argued that SNE develops from the neural crest before birth and that this process does not change after birth.
However, a recent article published in the medical journal eLife by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), affiliated with Harvard University in the US, presents an entirely new paradigm. This paradigm holds that NES development continues after birth, with evidence presented in mouse studies and human tissue samples.
This discovery could change the way we understand the fundamental biology of the enteric nervous system and neuroscience in general. The research provides evidence of a non-ectodermal and mesodermal origin for a significant number of postnatal enteric neurons, which could have significant implications for the health and disease of the organism.
The research team used transgenic mouse models, high-resolution microscopy techniques and genetic analyzes to analyze the evolution of neuronal populations in the SNE in adult mice and in human tissues. The results showed that the development of early postnatal SNE cells is initially related to the neural crest, but changes as the animal matures.
The researchers documented the development and expansion of a new population of enteric neurons originating from the mesoderm, the same genetic lineage that generates muscle and heart cells. These neurons increased in number with age, accounting for a significant proportion of total enteric neurons in adolescent and adult mice.
This discovery not only changes the understanding of the development of NES, but may also provide new targets for drug development for diseases associated with the enteric nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, especially in aging.
In conclusion, this research brings new insight into the development and functions of the enteric nervous system, showing that it continues to evolve after birth and can influence the health and aging of the body.
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2023-08-10 19:53:43
#discoveries #specialists #connection #nerve #cells #brain #republikaNEWS
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