Table 1.
Functions of selected active substances in the enteric nervous system.
| Active Neuronal Substance in the ENS (Alphabetical Order) | Selected Functions | References |
|---|---|---|
| Acetylcholine (Ach) | Stimulation of the intestinal motility | [78,79,80] |
| Stimulation of electrolyte, water, enzymes and hormones secretion | [81,82,83,84] | |
| Participation in protective mechanisms | [82,85,86] | |
| Ant-inflammatory and immunostymulatory effects | [87,88,89] | |
| Blood flow regulation | [90] | |
| Cocaine and Amphetamine Regulated Transcript (CART) | Inhibition of gastric acid secretion | [91] |
| Regulation of the intestinal motility | [92] | |
| Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) | Participation in sensory and pain stimuli conduction | [71,72,93,94,95] |
| Regulation of the intestinal motility | [94] | |
| Blood flow regulation | [96,97,98,99] | |
| Protective roles | [73,99,100,101] | |
| The influence on intestinal absorption | [74] | |
| Galanin (GAL) | Intestinal motility regulation | [66,67,68,69,70,102] |
| Influence on secretory activity | [103,104,105] | |
| Participation in inflammatory processes | [103,105,106] | |
| Nitric Oxide (NO) | Inhibition of the intestinal motility | [106,107,108] |
| Participation in inflammatory processes | [109] | |
| Regulation of intestinal secretion, water and electrolyte transport | [110,111,112,113] | |
| Regulation of blood flow | [114,115] | |
| Participation in inflammatory processes | [116,117] | |
| Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) | Inhibition of the intestinal motility | [118,119] |
| Stimulation of gastric secretory activity | [120,121] | |
| Regulation of ion transport and Luminal fluid regulation in the large intestine | [121,122,123] | |
| Regulation of blood flow | [124] | |
| Substance P (SP) | Protective roles | [100] |
| Sensory stimuli conduction | [93,125] | |
| Regulation of the intestinal motility | [125,126,127] | |
| Regulation of water and electrolytes secretion | [125,128,129] | |
| Participation in inflammatory processes | [125,130] | |
| Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) | Neuroprotective functions | [131] |
| Regulation of the intestinal motility | [132,133] | |
| Vasodialtory activity | [132,134] | |
| Participation in intestinal immunomodulation | [135,136,137] | |
| Influences on intestinal secretion | [138,139,140] |