Enteric neuronal progenitor cells

Enteric neuronal progenitor cells (ENPCs) are stem/precursor cells that give rise to the neurons and glia of the enteric nervous system (ENS). Primarily active during embryonic development, they migrate, proliferate, and differentiate to colonize the entire gut. Some progenitor-like cells may persist in adults, offering potential for ENS plasticity and repair. Defects in their migration cause Hirschsprung's disease, a congenital absence of ENS neurons in the distal colon.