Sensation of mechanical forces is critical for normal function of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
and abnormalities in mechanosensation are linked to GI pathologies. In the GI tract there are
several mechanosensitive cell types—epithelial enterochromaffin cells, intrinsic and
extrinsic enteric neurons, smooth muscle cells and interstitial cells of Cajal. These cells use
mechanosensitive ion channels that respond to mechanical forces by altering
transmembrane ionic currents in a process called mechanoelectrical coupling. Several …