Enteric ganglia can maintain integrated functions, such as the peristaltic
reflex, in the absence of input from the central nervous system, which has
a modulatory role. Several clinical and experimental observations suggest t
hat homeostatic control of gut function in a changing environment may be ac
hieved through adaptive changes occurring in the enteric ganglia, A distinc
tive feature of enteric ganglia, which may be crucial during the developmen
t of adaptive responses, is the vicinity of the final effector cells, which
are an important source of mediators regulating cell growth. The aim of th
is review is to focus on the possible mechanisms underlying neuronal plasti
city in the enteric nervous system and to consider approaches to the study
of plasticity in this model. These include investigations of neuronal conne
ctivity during development, adaptive mechanisms that maintain function afte
r suppression of a specific neural input, and the possible occurrence of ac
tivity-dependent modifications of synaptic efficacy, which are thought to b
e important in storage of information in the brain. One of the applied aspe
cts of the study of plasticity in the enteric nervous system is that knowle
dge of the underlying mechanisms may eventually enable us to develop strate
gies to correct neuronal alterations described in several diseases.