The enteric nervous system III: a target for pharmacological treatment

Pharmacol Toxicol. 2003 Jul;93(1):1-13. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0773.2003.930101.x.

Abstract

The past decade has seen major advances in the pharmacological understanding of the nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract, the enteric nervous system, and its importance for gut functions in several states of disease. Indeed, the enteric nervous system has become a promising target in the treatment of many gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders. Some of these new therapeutic concepts, such as botulinum toxin for achalasia and serotonergic drugs for functional bowel diseases, are already in clinical use. This paper is part 3 of three Minireviews in Pharmacology & Toxicology, and presents the neurogastrointestinal pharmacological therapeutic options in gastrointestinal pain, functional gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, cancer and related conditions with focus on future drug targets. The diagnosis of gastrointestinal neuropathy, the role of serotonin and related neuroendocrine transmitters, serotonergic drugs, and neurotrophic factors in neurogastrointestinal pharmacology will be addressed in this context.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / physiology
  • Animals
  • Enteric Nervous System / drug effects*
  • Enteric Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / drug therapy
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / physiopathology
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Receptors, Serotonin / physiology
  • Serotonin / physiology

Substances

  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Serotonin
  • Acetylcholine