Our findings provide evidence that: a) under normal conditions, P2X7 receptors, expressed in myenteric ganglia, take a minor part in a tonic inhibitory control on excitatory cholinergic motility, acting at neuronal level; b) the induction of colonic inflammation is associated with an increase in extracellular ATP concentrations; c) in the presence of bowel inflammation, a marked increase in P2X7 receptor immunostaining, and an enhanced modulating action of these receptors on colonic neuromotility become evident. The gene discussed is P2RX7; the disease is colitis.