Intestinal mucosal nerve endings

Intestinal and colonic mucosal nerve endings are the terminal projections of extrinsic primary afferent neurons and intrinsic enteric neurons that innervate the lamina propria of the gastrointestinal tract (Blackshaw et al., 2007). These structures are essential for visceral sensation, detecting luminal stimuli such as mechanical stretch, pH changes, and inflammatory mediators (Grundy, 2002). In pathological states like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), these nerve endings often exhibit visceral hypersensitivity, contributing to chronic abdominal pain (Brierley & Linden, 2014). While not a single molecular target, these endings house various receptors and ion channels, including guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which are targeted by pharmacological agents. Drugs like linaclotide act on these endings to modulate pain signaling and intestinal secretion (Castro et al., 2013). Consequently, these nerve endings are a focal point for developing treatments for functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Other names

Colonic mucosal nerve endingsEnteric sensory nerve endingsMucosal afferent fibersGut sensory terminals

Pharmacological agents interact with specific receptors or ion channels located on these nerve endings to modulate neuronal excitability. For instance, GC-C agonists like linaclotide stimulate the production of cGMP, which is released extracellularly to inhibit the activity of pain-sensing afferent fibers (Castro et al., 2013). Other drugs, such as local anesthetics or opioid agonists, bind to sodium channels or opioid receptors on these terminals to block the transmission of nociceptive signals to the central nervous system (Brierley, 2012).