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 Ca(2+) activity in ICC as the probable primary mechanism. Namely, intracellular (cytosolic) Ca(2+) oscillations in ICC periodically activate plasmalemmal Ca(2+)-dependent ion channels and thereby generate pacemaker potentials. ...

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare form of mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, accounting for 1% of malignant neoplasms [1]. Most gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors are GISTs, originating from interstitial cells of Cajal or precursors of these cells. Although several reports regarding GIST have incrementally advanced our understanding of this condition in recent years...

Multiple-unit recordings were obtained from the interstitial nucleus of Cajal, nucleus of Darkschewitsch and the superior colliculus of the cat during acquisition of classically conditioned pupillary dilation. Multiple-unit responses in all regions were enhanced by conditioning procedures. However, only the acquisition functions for the accessory oculomotor nuclei, i.e., interstitial nucleus of...