| A special kind of cells who was observed with methyl blue and argyrophylis dyeing in enteric nervous system by spainish nerval anatomist Cajal in 1893, these cells were qualified as " interstitial cells of Cajal" (ICC). ICC is a special kind of interstitial cells in in enteric nervous system neither unnerval nor myocyte. Phasic gastrointestinal muscles are characterized by continuous, rhythmic electrical activity known as slow waves. Current evidence suggests that the interstitial cells of Cajal generate the electrical pacemaker activity in gastrointestinal muscles. Smooth muscle cells, which are electrically coupled to ICC, respond to slow-wave depolarizations with activation of a variety of voltage-dependent ionic conductances. Recently, it has been shown that ICC are unique and distinct cell types in the gut, morphologically intercalated between nerves and smooth muscle cells. They are arranged in two or three dimensional networks and bundles in association with neural networks in the gastrointestinal musculature throughout the GI-tract. Their ultrastructure is predominantly "myoid" (smooth muscle-like), with several fibroblast-like traits. Synapse like contacts between ICC and nerve endings are characteristic, ICC make contact with smooth muscle cells by means of close appositions or gap junctions. There is now convincing evidence that subpopulations of ICC are gut pacemaker cells as well as key cell for mediation of gut inhibitory innervation. The ultrastructural characterization of ICC also in human gut, now permits detailed studies of ICC in human GI diseaseThe natriuretic peptides family has been known to be a kind of polypeptide with many bioactivities. CNP was first found in porcine brain by Sudoh, et al, in 1990 and it was a peptide with 22 amino acid residues. CNP has been found in the central nervous system, in the cardiovascular system, in the digestive system, in the reproductive system, in the pulmonary system and widely distributed almost all over the body. It has been... |
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