Figure 1.

A variety of mechanical forces associated with GI motility may be sensed by mechanosensitive EECs. (A) An example of a range of forces associated with propulsive GI motility due to proximal (oral) contraction and distal (aboral) relaxation leading to tension at the wall and shear stress from flowing luminal contents. (B) Piezo2+ mechanosensitive EEC senses forces via Piezo2 mechanosensitive ion channels, which produce a “receptor current” leading to intracellular Ca²⁺ increase possibly due amplification by membrane signaling via voltage gated calcium channels (Ca_vs) and Ca²⁺ release from intracellular stores.