Schemann M, Neunlist M
Department of Human Biology, TU Munich, Freising, Germany.
Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2004 Apr;16 Suppl 1:55-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-3150.2004.00476.x.
Decades of work in animal models have demonstrated that the enteric nervous system (ENS) plays a key role in controlling gut functions. Recent advances made it possible to extend such studies to the ENS of man in health and even in disease. Such studies have already provided new insights into the pathophysiology of inflammatory and possibly functional bowel diseases. Studies on human ENS revealed both important similarities and differences between the ENS of man and of experimental animals. Here we summarize the current state of knowledge of the electrophysiology and neurochemistry of the human ENS, including relevant reflex mediated functions in the human gut. Additionally, we review disease associated changes in human ENS properties. Finally, we highlight some research areas that hold special promise in advancing our understanding of the human ENS.
数十年来在动物模型上开展的研究表明，肠神经系统（ENS）在控制肠道功能方面发挥着关键作用。最近的进展使得将此类研究扩展至健康甚至患病状态下的人类肠神经系统成为可能。此类研究已经为炎症性肠病以及可能的功能性肠病的病理生理学提供了新的见解。对人类肠神经系统的研究揭示了人类与实验动物肠神经系统之间既存在重要的相似之处，也存在差异。在此，我们总结人类肠神经系统电生理学和神经化学的当前知识状态，包括人类肠道中相关的反射介导功能。此外，我们回顾与疾病相关的人类肠神经系统特性变化。最后，我们重点介绍一些在推进我们对人类肠神经系统理解方面具有特殊前景的研究领域。
