Plasticity in the enteric nervous system

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.