Glial populations in the enteric nervous system
Gut has one of the largest population of glia outside the brain. To date, glial cells in the enteric nervous system have been categorized by spatial location and morphology.
Glia has diverse functions in the gut including intestinal peristalsis and immunity, but different subtypes and their role in gut homeostasis is not well understood.
Here, the researchers `define distinct subtypes of enteric glia that align with this spatial classification, They found that mucosal glia most resembled microglia, while muscularis glia resembled satellite glia.
and identify tachykinin signaling (Tacr3, encoding the receptor for neuropeptide neurokinin B (NKB)) as a key mediator of glial diversification and subtype-specific function in intestinal motility.
