What are neuropods?

Neuropods are specialized cells located in the gut that communicate directly with the nervous system. Discovered by Dr. Diego Bohórquez's lab at Duke University, these cells are involved in sensing the presence of nutrients like sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids. When these neuropods detect such nutrients, they send electrical signals to the brain via the vagus nerve, specifically through a cluster of neurons known as the nodose ganglion. This signaling can influence behaviors like craving and seeking out more of the particular nutrient sensed, such as sugar 1 2 3.

These cells are neuroepithelial and can discharge electricity, allowing them to relay precise information about the gut's contents to the brain more directly and quickly than hormonal signaling 4 5. Neuropods play a crucial role in the gut-brain axis, illustrating the complex and dynamic interactions between our gut and brain 1 6.