Calcium‐associated mechanisms in gut pacemaker activity

Abstract

• Introduction ‐ Voltage‐operated Ca²⁺ channels ‐ Non‐selective cation channels ‐ Cl⁻ channels ‐ [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations ‐ Intracellular Ca²⁺ release channels ‐ ICC‐like cells in auxiliary digestive organs Abstract A considerable body of evidence has revealed that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), identified with c‐Kit‐immunoreactivity, act as gut pacemaker cells, with spontaneous Ca²⁺ activity in ICC as the probable primary mechanism. Namely, intracellular (cytosolic) Ca²⁺ oscillations in ICC periodically activate plasmalemmal Ca²⁺‐dependent ion channels and thereby generate pacemaker potentials. This review will, thus, focus on Ca²⁺‐associated mechanisms in ICC in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including auxiliary organs.