Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are recognized as the pacemaker of rhythmic activity in gastrointestinal smooth muscle tissues. However, in other spontaneously active smooth muscles, the role of Kit positive cells is more controversial as they do not appear to act as pacemakers in some tissues, while Kit negative cells are spontaneously active in other smooth muscles. Thus, the nature of the pacemaker cells in smooth muscle is heterogeneous. The mechanisms of rhythmic activity generation in smooth muscle also appear to be diverse, so that comparative studies are required before a better understanding of smooth muscle rhythms is realized.
We are planning to have a symposium on smooth muscle rhythms in Miyazaki, Japan in February 2010. This symposium will focus on the diversity of rhythmic activity in smooth muscles, and papers related to the properties of pacemaker cells in smooth muscle are welcome.
5th International Symposium on ICC
