The Quanta Podcast In the Gut's 'Second Brain,' Key Agents of Health Emerge
May 15, 2024
Delve into the world of glial cells in the gut's 'second brain' and their crucial roles in digestion and disease. Explore the intricate processes of nutrient absorption, discover new insights into gut health, and unravel the fascinating research surrounding enteric glial cells. Witness the transformative impact of technologies like chemogenetics and optogenetics on understanding the functions of these key agents of health, and uncover their implications for gastrointestinal disorders and neural inflammation.
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Gut Has Its Own Complex Nervous Network
- The enteric nervous system contains neurons and glia that together control digestion largely independently of the brain.
- Enteric glia perform active physiological roles once attributed only to neurons, reshaping how we view gut control.
Hub Cells Link Stress To Inflammation
- Glial 'hub' cells change behavior under diverse stresses and can amplify inflammation and pain by recruiting immune responses.
- They sit at interfaces between neurons, immune cells, and microbiome, linking many physiological processes.
CNS Methods Accelerate ENS Discovery
- Advances from CNS methods—chemogenetics, optogenetics, calcium reporters—have been adapted to study the ENS.
- These cross-field tools accelerated discovery of enteric glial functions and diversity.