Sensing and signalling in the upper gastrointestinal tract

The research findings presented in this thesis add to our knowledge on the role of the proximal part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in the maintenance of ‘gut health’. The GI tract is a large sensory organ, which responds to a variety of signals that arise and are perceived in the lumen. In this respect, sensing and signalling in the upper GI tract has a major role in gut and systemic homeostasis and consequently in preserving gut and systemic health. The focus of this thesis was the role of the proximal GI tract and its ability to sense the chemical content of the lumen in order to orchestrate responses to preserve GI homeostasis. The research focused on two areas: 1) mechanisms to control satiety and food intake and 2) the role of TRP channels and the mucosal barrier and their involvement in pain generation in the proximal GI tract.