Sensory Nerves and Neuropeptides in Gastroenterology: From Basic Science to Clinical Perspectives

In the past 15 years much evidence has accumulated which indicates the paramount importance of sensory nerves in reg­ ulating functions of the gastrointestinal tract. In parallel, the attention of researchers in this field has been increasingly attracted to the role played by neuropeptides in the normal and diseased gut. Basic research on the peculiar properties of capsaicin, the pungent ingredient from plants of the genus Capsicum, has allowed the gap between these two areas of research to...