The Interstitial cell of Cajal (ICC) is a type of interstitial cell found in the gastrointestinal tract that serves as a pacemaker which creates the basal electrical rhythm leading to contraction of the smooth muscle (peristalsis & Segmentation).

Many types of smooth muscle tissues have now been shown to contain ICC, but with few exceptions the function of these cells is not known and is currently an area of active research. An international society (International Society for ICC, www.isicc.org) has recently been formed to provide a forum to discuss research in ICC in a variety of tissues.

These cells are derived from mesoderm.

ICC serve as electrical pacemakers and generate spontaneous electrical slow waves in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Electrical slow waves spread from ICC to smooth muscle cells and the resulting depolarization initiates calcium ion entry and contraction. Slow waves organize gut contractions into phasic contractions that are the basis for peristalsis and segmentation.

Interstitial cell refers to any one of a number of different types of cells characterized by their interstitial nature (i.e., their interposition between other cells that were usually characterized earlier or more completely.)

Examples include: