Dissecting the gut-brain axis

Neuroscience It is generally believed that cells in the gut transduce sensory information through the paracrine action of hormones. Kaelberer et al. found that, in addition to the well-described classical paracrine transduction, enteroendocrine cells also form fast, excitatory synapses with vagal afferents (see the Perspective by Hoffman and Lumpkin). This more direct circuit for gut-brain signaling uses glutamate as a neurotransmitter. Thus, sensory cues that stimulate the gut could potentially be manipulated to influence specific brain functions and behavior, including those linked to food choices. Science , this issue p. [eaat5236][1]; see also p. [1203][2] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aat5236 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aau9973