Gastrointestinal motility enhancement

Gastrointestinal motility enhancement refers to the therapeutic modulation or stimulation of coordinated smooth muscle contractions along the gastrointestinal tract to facilitate the movement and transit of luminal contents. This process is not a single molecular target, but involves multiple molecular targets, including various receptors (e.g., serotonin 5-HT4, motilin, ghrelin, dopamine D2/D3), ion channels, smooth muscle contractile pathways, and the enteric nervous system. Therapies aimed at enhancing GI motility are referred to as 'prokinetics' and are used in conditions such as gastroparesis, constipation, and other functional GI disorders. Prokinetics act via diverse mechanisms, including direct stimulation of GI smooth muscle, modulation of neural input, or interaction with hormonal control of GI tract contractility. Because 'gastrointestinal motility enhancement' does not refer to a unique molecule or receptor, it should not be used as a canonical target entry.

Other names

GI motility enhancementprokinetic effectenhanced gastrointestinal movement

Agonism of serotonin 5-HT4 receptor, Antagonism of dopamine D2/D3 receptor, Agonism of motilin receptor, Agonism of ghrelin receptor, Cholinesterase inhibition, Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonism, Modulation of enteric nervous system neurotransmission, Activation of interstitial cells of Cajal or other pacemaker cells