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Review
. 2010 Jul 14;16(26):3239-48.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i26.3239.

Interstitial cells of Cajal, the Maestro in health and disease

Randa-M Mostafa  1 , Yasser M Moustafa, Hosam Hamdy
Affiliations
Review

Interstitial cells of Cajal, the Maestro in health and disease

Randa-M Mostafa et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are important players in the symphony of gut motility. They have a very significant physiological role orchestrating the normal peristaltic activity of the digestive system. They are the pacemaker cells in gastrointestinal (GI) muscles. Absence, reduction in number or altered integrity of the ICC network may have a dramatic effect on GI system motility. More understanding of ICC physiology will foster advances in physiology of gut motility which will help in a future breakthrough in the pharmacological interventions to restore normal motor function of GI tract. This mini review describes what is known about the physiologic function and role of ICCs in GI system motility and in a variety of GI system motility disorders.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagram showing functional organization of ICC in the canine gastric antrum[41]. ICC: Interstitial cells of Cajal.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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