Gut Sensory Transduction
Nutrient assimilation is essential for life and is regulated by a complex system that coordinates the ingestion, absorption, and digestion of food. Central to this process is the body’s ability to assess its nutritional needs and adjust food intake to meet those needs. Sensing the nutrient content of food and relaying those signals to the brain to control food intake is one of the first steps in assuring adequate nutrition. Residing in the gastrointestinal tract are specialized sensory cells that are uniquely adapted to detect nutrients and microbes and relay signals in the form of hormones or neural impulses throughout the body to coordinate food digestion. This chapter describes the sensory cells of the gut, the hormones and transmitters they produce, and how they coordinate the digestive process.
