[Regulation of secretion and synthesis of gastrointestinal hormones: studies with cultured gut endocrine cells].

Small number of endocrine cells are diffusely distributed in the gut mucosa. Studies on their secretory mechanisms have been further complicated by numerous neural, paracrine, and endocrine factors affecting their response. Recent technical development for isolation and culture of gut endocrine cells has circumvented these problems and enabled to study their receptors, signal transduction mechanism, and biosynthesis of gut hormones. In this review, current progress made in the cellular physiology of gut endocrine cells is summarized.