Enteroendocrine Cell Function

The gut is the largest endocrine organ in the human body. Enteroendocrine cells are hormone-producing cells that are sprinkled throughout the gut epithelium. In response to chemical and mechanical stimuli, these cells secrete a variety of important hormones, such as GLP-1 and GLP-2, PYY, CCK, and serotonin.

The enterochromaffin cell is a type of enteroendocrine cell that makes the vast majority of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is released by the enterochromaffin cell in response to chemical and mechanical stimuli. Understanding how mechanical forces lead to serotonin secretion in the enterochromaffin cell is the focus of this study.