ABSTRACT
The enteric nervous system is one of the main actors involved in control of gut motility and secretion. It constitutes a part of the autonomic nervous system, but may act independently of central input. This chapter attempts to summarise the current knowledge about the development of the enteric nervous system in fish, with emphasis on its role in controlling gut motility. A proper development of the enteric nervous system is dependent on the development of the gut itself. Enteric reflexes underlie distinct motility patterns like peristalsis, the aboral propulsion of luminal content. Enteric neurones in fish, as in other vertebrates, are derived from the neural crest. Enteric neurones contain combinations of neurotransmitters of different types including acetylcholine, amines, neuropeptides and dissolved gaseous molecules.
