Fructooligosaccharides slow colonic motility and activate myenteric neurons via calcium sensing and 5-HT₃ receptors in the proximal colon

Calcium sensing receptors (CaSR) regulate a variety of functions in the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, prebiotic-independent effects of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on epithelial barrier function were found to be mediated by CaSR. Here we tested the hypothesis that FOS acts via the CaSR to regulate colonic motility and neuronal activity in the enteric nervous system. Using immunohistochemistry, we determined that CaSR was localized on the colonic epithelium of the mouse proximal colon, and...