Analysis of enteric neurons, glia and their interactions using explant cultures of the myenteric plexus

The enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gastrointestinal tract is the largest and most complicated division of the peripheral nervous system. The ENS possesses reflex pathways composed of motor neurons, interneurons and sensory neurons which act in an integrated fashion together with input from the central nervous system to control gut function. The neurons, morphologically and electrophysiologically a very heterogeneous group containing a large number of different proven and putative neurotransmitters, are intimately associated with enteric glia, which both at the morphological and molecular level resemble astrocytes. In this review we describe how explant cultures from the ENS have been used to investigate the neurochemical, molecular and electrophysiological characteristics of ENS neurons, the molecular properties of enteric glia and their interactions with one another.