The Enteric Glial Network Acts in the Maintenance of Intestinal Homeostasis and in Intestinal Disorders

The enteric nervous system (ENS), also known as second brain, innervates our gastrointestinal tract controlling its functions, such as motility, fluid secretion, nutrient absorption, and even involvement in the control of immunity and inflammatory processes. In the gut, the gliocytes are known as enteric glial cells (EGCs). Enteric glial cells form a network that permeates the entire gut. Enteric glia express the cell surface hemichannel of connexin-43 (Cx43) necessary for the propagation of Ca2 + responses, necessary to maintain their functions. In this chapter, besides the development of ENS and its glial cells and the similarities with the astrocytes in the central nervous system, we approached the important role of the glial network in the control of gut homeostasis, in the interaction with the immune system, and its participation in pathological conditions. EGCs are even capable of replacing lost neurons. Thus the enteric glia is a multifunctional cell, which through its multiple interactions maintains the integrity of the ENS allowing it to be resistant to the different and constant aggressions suffered by the digestive system.