What is the enteric nervous system (the gut brain)?
Most people probably associate the intestines with nothing more than a tube where food is digested and ultimately excreted in stool. But they have much more to offer, as they are also our largest immune organ, containing over 80% of all our body's immune cells. Furthermore, the intestines are equipped with over 100,000 nerve cells that form the enteric nervous system (the "gut brain") and communicate extensively with our brain.
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Functions of the Enteric Nervous System
The functions of the enteric nervous system are diverse. On one hand, it communicates with the immune system and the gut microbiota (formerly called gut flora). On the other hand, it ensures intestinal motility and stimulates the production of digestive juices.
Research Projects on the Gut-Brain Axis (Enteric Brain)
As early as 2000, there were first indications of a connection between the gut and the brain. In Walkerton, Canada, 4,561 people were infected with Campylobacter and Escherichia coli contaminated water. 1,166 people subsequently developed irritable bowel syndrome as well as anxiety and depression. This led to many further research projects on the topic of the "gut-brain axis".
80% of Information Goes to the Brain
Researchers now assume that 80% of the information from the gut is transmitted to the brain. The gut microbiota also has a decisive influence on various signaling pathways. The microbiota communicates via the immune system and the nervous system and contributes to the production of various neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine.
Gut to Brain
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute found that there are two important types of nerve cells that control satiety and blood sugar levels. One type sends appetite-suppressing signals to the brain and lowers our blood sugar. The other nerve cells are controlled by the gut and do not influence food intake but increase our blood sugar. This discovery could play a decisive role in new therapies against obesity and diabetes.
Disturbed Gut Microbiota
Clinical studies show that a disturbed gut microbiota can lead to many diseases associated with the brain. Notably, many patients exhibit behavioral and cognitive deficits, especially learning and memory deficits. Severe conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, autism, and pronounced anxiety are associated with a disturbed gut microbiota.
Conclusion
The enteric nervous system is represented in the gut by over 100,000 nerve cells and communicates extensively with the brain. Clinical studies show that 80% of information is transmitted from the gut to the brain and that shifts in the microbiota can be associated with serious conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and autism.
Sources:
- Wang et al. 2014: The role of microbiome in central nervous system disorders. Brain Behav Immun. 2014 May;38:1–12. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2013.12.015.
- Max Planck Society: Gut to Brain: Nerve cells recognize what we eat, June 2, 2021.
- Anglin et al. 2015: Lost in Translation: The gut microbiota in psychiatric illness. Can J Psychiatry. 2015 Oct;60(10):460–63. doi:10.1177/070674371506001007.
- Lima-Ojeda et al. 2017: "I am I and my bacterial circumstances": Linking gut, microbiome, neurodevelopment and depression. Front Psychiatry. 2017;8:153. Published online 2017 Aug 22. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00153.
