In Vitro Contractile Study from Excised Human Gastrointestinal Specimens: an Important Tool for Understanding Mechanisms of Motility Disorders

It is well known fact that enteric nervous system plays a major role in regulation of contractile functions of intestinal smooth muscle. A number of neurotransmitters (excitatory/inhibitory) including Acetylcholine (ACh), Histamine, Serotonin, NO, Substance P, Bombesin, Motilin, ATP, VIP, Met-encephalin and Leu-encephalin, Polypeptide Y, Somatostatin are involved in gastrointestinal (GIT) motility mechanism. They are secreted by different neurons of enteric nervous system to modulate contractile and secretory functions of GIT. Dysregulation of some of these transmitters or their receptors have been already implicated in pathophysiology of certain GIT motility disorders. The present paper discusses how an in vitro study on diseased excised specimens may be useful in understanding the pathophysiology of various motility related GIT problems and thereby may be helpful for better medical and surgical management.