Cellular Organization of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is composed of basic tissue types (ep-ithelia, connective, blood, lymphatic, muscle, and nerve tissue) formed from different structural and functional units that determine fundamental life processes. This chapter provides detailed and contemporary information on the structural and functional characteristics of the cells that constitute the GI tract. Abbreviations 5-HT 5-Hydroxytryptamine ABC ATP-binding cassette AQP Aquaporin ATP Adenosine triphosphate BiP Binding immunoglobulin protein CCAAT Cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine COP Coat protein complex DAA Derivatives of arachidonic acid DHA Docosahexaenoic acid DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid EC Enterochromaffin cell ER Endoplasmic reticulum ERM Ezrin, radixin, moesin GI Gastrointestinal GIP Gastric inhibitory peptide GLP-1 and GLP-2 Glucagon-like peptide 1 & 2 GLUT1 Glucose transporter type 1 GM2 Ganglioside monosialic type 2 GPI Glycosylphosphatidylinositol