United States: Scientists at Caltech found that mice have special brain cells in their abdomen that help control digestion. These brain cells, called neurons, work with the brain and digestive system in a way known as the gut-brain connection, where they send signals back and forth. 

This discovery shows that neurons in the body can do important jobs, just like the ones in the brain. According to Yuki Oka, a scientist on the team, these neurons in the body have special roles in digestion. 

As reported by the npr.org, this can be true, says Frank Duca of the University of Arizona, who was not involved in the study: “The peripheral nervous system is smart.” 

‘You have certain neurons in this system which are doing all sorts of things, with the help of the brain and sometimes even independently,” he told. 

Fight or flight gut check 

The peripheral nervous system was the scope of interest of the research, particularly the sympathetic division of the system that is activated as soon as the brain perceives threat. 

” Your adrenaline goes up and your glucose level in the blood is really high because you need to fight or flight,” Oka says. 

At the same time, the sympathetic nervous system decreases anything which is considered less critical at the time such as digestion and the movement of food in the gut. 

But what shapes the work of the system to address each internal organ with the right message? 

Thus, Oka’s team expected the answer to be in the specific neurons that can send distinct signals to different organs; thus, the researchers worked with abdominal ganglia neurons. 

‘So we analysed one of those massive ganglia that manages the lower bowel functions, which also encompass the intestine, spleen, stomach and liver,’ Oka adds. 

To describe the neurons in that cluster, the team employed state of the art genetic methods. They identified two key forms of cells, which performed very specific roles. 

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The investigation provides backing to a developing hypothesis among researchers that particular neurons in the body are involved in modulating GBI and other functions such as hunger and even mood. 

As much as the study focused on signals that originate in brains and are directed towards the gut, Duca continues to say that this was not in vain as other analyses show that neurons are also used by gut’s side to send information to the brain.