SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “MYENTERIC PLEXUS”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 865 records · Page 48Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

[PGP 9.5 immunohistochemical study on the development of the enteric nervous system of trisomy 16 mouse embryos and their normal littermates].

OBJECTIVE: To study the development of the intestinal innervation of trisomy 16 mouse embryos and their normal littermates from embryonic days 13-18 (ED13-ED18). METHODS: (1) Trisomy 16 mouse embryos used in this study were produced by crossing NMR-1 females with males carrying the two Robertsonian (Rb) translocation chromosomes Rb (11, 16) and Rb (16,17) 8 LubtwLub3. (2) Cytogenetic analysis: accurate ascertainment of trisomy 16 was provided by the demonstration of two Rb metecentric chromosomes and a count of 41 chromosome arms. (3) Rabbit-anti-human protein gene product 9.5 antibody was used in PAP and Avidin-biotin methods: RESULTS: At ED13, neither nervous plexuses nor neurons were found in the gut of trisomy 16 mouse embryos and their normal littermates. And in the gut of normal littermates there appear only a scattering neurons with light staining nucleuses at ED14, the irregular network of the myenteric plexus composed of scattering distribution neurons and their processes at ED15 and the regular meshworks of the myenteric plexus with developed ganglia at ED16. However, in trisomy 16 mouse embryos at ED14-ED16, enteric nervous system (ENS) was composed of only some scattering neurons with different distribution density and size. The development of ENS was well in ED17-ED18 normal littermates. The developed myenteric plexus was composed of nervous meshworks with regular distribution. The submucosal plexus had irregularly shaped. The interconnecting strands were frequent visible between the myenteric and submucosal plexuses. In the gut of trisomy 16 mouse embryos the submucosal plexus was absent and the development and differentiation of the myenteric plexus were lower compared with their normal littermates. An important finding was that 5 mm aganglionic bowel was firstly found in the end of colon. In this study, the developed mesentery nervous fibers were persent and innervated in both type animal guts from ED14 to ED18. CONCLUSIONS: It was original report to find the developmental delay of the ENS, absence of submucosal plexus and the aganglionic segment of colon ending in trisomy 16 mice, an animal model for Down syndrome.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Synaptic activation and properties of 5-hydroxytryptamine(3) receptors in myenteric neurons of guinea pig intestine.

The contribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin; 5-HT) acting at 5-HT(3) receptors to fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) and the properties of 5-HT(3) receptors in the guinea pig small intestinal myenteric plexus were investigated using electrophysiological methods. In 11% of neurons studied in the acutely isolated myenteric plexus, ondansetron (1 microM) inhibited hexamethonium (100 microM)-resistant fEPSPs. 5-HT elicited an inward current in neurons maintained in primary culture. The peak current reached maximum in <150 ms and desensitized with a double exponential time course (tau1 = 1.1 +/- 0.1 s; tau2 = 6.9 +/- 0.9 s). The whole-cell current/voltage relationship was linear, with a reversal potential of 2.7 +/- 1.5 mV. The rapidly activating and desensitizing current was completely blocked by ondansetron (1 microM) and partly inhibited by d-tubocurare (1 microM). The 5-HT(3)-receptor agonist, 2-methyl-5-HT (100 microM), caused a peak current that was 18% of the peak current caused by 5-HT in the same cells; 2-methyl-5-HT (1 microM) inhibited currents caused by 5-HT. 5-HT-activated single-channel currents in outside-out patches; this response was blocked by ondansetron. The single-channel conductance was 17 +/- 1 pS. The single-channel current/voltage relationship was linear between -110 and 70 mV and had a reversal potential near 0 mV. These data indicate that 5-HT contributes to fEPSPs in the myenteric plexus. The 5-HT(3) receptor expressed by guinea pig myenteric neurons has pharmacological and electrophysiological properties that distinguish it from 5-HT(3) receptors expressed by other autonomic neurons and neurons in the central nervous system.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Pathology of neuromuscular disorders of the small intestine and colon.

A variety of pathological abnormalities of the smooth muscle and myenteric plexus result in clinical syndromes of disordered small intestinal and colonic motility. These pathological abnormalities have been noted by conventional light microscopy and by utilization of Smith's technique for visualizing the myenteric plexus with silver. We have classified the neuromuscular disorders into two major categories, i.e., those affecting the myenteric plexus and those affecting the smooth muscle. The classification is further developed based on the variety of clinicopathological features of the various disorders. Although we can now identify the underlying pathology of these motor disorders and thus understand these illnesses better than we did a decade ago, we have much more to learn. With the great strides being made to understand the normal structure, function, and development of the myenteric plexus and smooth muscle, there is hope that we will be able to learn much more about the etiology and pathogenesis of these neuromuscular disorders in the decade to come.

Colon↗

PubMed2006

Platelet-activating factor in the enteric nervous system of the guinea pig small intestine.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a proinflammatory mediator that may influence neuronal activity in the enteric nervous system (ENS). Electrophysiology, immunofluorescence, Western blot analysis, and RT-PCR were used to study the action of PAF and the expression of PAF receptor (PAFR) in the ENS. PAFR immunoreactivity (IR) was expressed by 6.9% of the neurons in the myenteric plexus and 14.5% of the neurons in the submucosal plexus in all segments of the guinea pig intestinal tract as determined by double staining with anti-human neuronal protein antibody. PAFR IR was found in 6.1% of the neurons with IR for calbindin, 35.8% of the neurons with IR for neuropeptide Y (NPY), 30.6% of the neurons with IR for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and 1.96% of the neurons with IR for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the submucosal plexus. PAFR IR was also found in 1.5% of the neurons with IR for calbindin, 51.1% of the neurons with IR for NPY, and 32.9% of the neurons with IR for ChAT in the myenteric plexus. In the submucosal plexus, exposure to PAF (200-600 nM) evoked depolarizing responses (8.2 +/- 3.8 mV) in 12.4% of the neurons with S-type electrophysiological behavior and uniaxonal morphology and in 12.5% of the neurons with AH-type electrophysiological behavior and Dogiel II morphology, whereas in the myenteric preparations, depolarizing responses were elicited by a similar concentration of PAF in 9.5% of the neurons with S-type electrophysiological behavior and uniaxonal morphology and in 12.0% of the neurons with AH-type electrophysiological behavior and Dogiel II morphology. The results suggest that subgroups of secreto- and musculomotor neurons in the submucosal and myenteric plexuses express PAFR. Coexpression of PAFR IR with ChAT IR in the myenteric plexus and ChAT IR and VIP IR in the submucosal plexus suggests that PAF, after release in the inflamed bowel, might act to elevate the excitability of submucosal secretomotor and myenteric musculomotor neurons. Enhanced excitability of motor neurons might lead to a state of neurogenic secretory diarrhea.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Cholecystokinin-8 increases Fos-like immunoreactivity in myenteric neurons of the duodenum and jejunum more after intraperitoneal than after intravenous injection.

The objective of this study was to measure the relative efficacy and potency of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) given by intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intravenous (i.v.) injection to stimulate Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) in neurons of the myenteric plexus in the duodenum and jejunum. The subjects for his experiment were 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into eight treatment groups (n=5 rats per treatment). Four groups of rats were injected with 5, 10, and 40 microg/kg sulfated CCK-8 and saline (control) i.p., and the remaining groups with the same treatments i.v. We then detected Fos-LI, a marker for neuronal activation, in the myenteric plexus of the duodenum and jejunum, in response to the previous doses and routes. All of the CCK-8 doses administered by both routes increased Fos-LI in the myenteric plexus of the duodenum and jejunum significantly more than saline did. Although both routes were efficacious in increasing Fos-LI, CCK-8 i.p. was significantly more potent than CCK-8 i.v. These data provide immunohistochemical evidence that i.p. administration of CCK-8 is a more potent stimulant of Fos-LI in the neurons of the myenteric plexus of the duodenum and jejunum than i.v. injection.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

[Adrenosensitive neurons of the myenteric (Auerbach's) plexus].

Experiments were conducted on the myenteral plexus of the isolated stips of the small and large intestine; the presence of adrenosensitive cells which reacted to the application of different adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) concentrations by a distinct acceleration of the activity rhythm was demonstrated. NA with a greater range of action than A (from 10(-9) to 10(-5 g/ml) has the most marked effect. Introduction into the irrigating solution of phentholamine eliminated the mentioned effects in the majority of cases. "Silent" neurons without any spontaneous activity responded to the A and NA administration along with those possessing this activiy. As supposed, catecholamines could take a direct part in the modulation of the processes realized by the ganglionic neurons of the myenteral plexus.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Paraneoplastic visceral neuropathy as a cause of severe gastrointestinal motor dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to define the cause of severe gastrointestinal motor dysfunction in 7 patients with lung cancer. Six patients had small cell carcinoma and 1 patient had pulmonary carcinoid. Their ages ranged from 58 to 74 yr. All had intestinal pseudoobstruction and obstipation/constipation; 6 of 7 patients had gastroparesis; 4 of 4 patients had esophageal peristaltic abnormalities; and 2 patients had neurogenic bladders, autonomic insufficiency, and peripheral neuropathy. Five of 7 patients had dilated small bowel with 4 of them showing slow transit of barium; 2 of 7 patients had dilated colons; and 3 of 7 patients had slow colonic transit. Five patients died 4-9 mo after onset of gastrointestinal symptoms, and 2 survived. Post-mortem or surgical samples of the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, and colon showed neuron and axon degeneration and dropout, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, and glial cell proliferation within the myenteric plexus of 6 patients. The antrum from the seventh patient had inflammatory cells within the myenteric plexus but without neuron dropout. Neuron numbers were significantly less than normal in each area of the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, we conclude that lung cancer may be complicated by severe gastrointestinal motor dysfunction resulting from visceral neuropathy of the myenteric plexus, a paraneoplastic effect of the cancer.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Membrane potential in myenteric neurons associated with tolerance and dependence to morphine.

Chronic treatment of guinea pigs with morphine produces subsensitivity (tolerance) of the longitudinal smooth muscle-myenteric plexus preparation to a variety of inhibitory agonists (e.g., mu opioid, alpha adrenoceptor and adenosine receptor agonists) and supersensitivity (dependence) to a variety of excitatory agonists (e.g., nicotine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and potassium ions). The present investigation was to determine if these changes in sensitivity could be related to changes in electrical properties of the S and AH neurons in the myenteric plexus. S neurons from morphine-implanted animals were significantly depolarized (7 mV) relative to those from placebo-implanted animals, whereas the membrane potential of AH neurons was unchanged. Approximately 60% of S neurons were hyperpolarized by morphine. In this subset of neurons, membranes were significantly depolarized but the threshold was unchanged in morphine-implanted animals. This means that resting potentials of S neurons from tolerant preparations are closer to threshold. The hyperpolarization produced by morphine (0.1 microM) was similar in preparations from morphine- and placebo-implanted animals. Thus, the partially depolarized state of S neurons in the myenteric plexus is the cause of the subsensitivity and supersensitivity to agonists and can explain both tolerance and dependence. Changes in opioid receptors or their coupling to potassium channels do not appear to contribute to tolerance in the longitudinal smooth muscle-myenteric plexus.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1982

Histamine receptors in the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum: H1- and H2-receptor-mediated potentiation of the contractile response to electrical stimulation.

The effect of histamine on the contractile response to low frequency-electrical field stimulation in the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation of the guinea-pig ileum was investigated. By blocking the direct increase in smooth muscle tone caused by histamine with low concentrations of pyrilamine (10(-9)--5 x 10(-8) M) a dose-dependent, histamine-induced potentiation of the twitch response to electrical stimulation was observed. Blocking the direct actions of histamine with concentrations of pyrilamine greater than 10(-7) M resulted in a biphasic histamine dose-response curve: lower histamine concentrations produced a dose-dependent decrease of the twitch response; higher concentrations produced a potentiation. The potentiating effect of histamine was inhibited by high concentrations of H2-receptor antagonists. Tiotidine (ICI 125, 211) had a pA2 of 5.25, 100 times greater than its pA2 in isolated guinea-pig atria. Blockade of the actions of the H2-receptor agonists dimaprit and tetrahydrozoline also required greater antagonist concentrations. The selective H1-receptor agonist, 2-(2-thiazolyl)-ethylamine, also enhanced the response to electrical stimulation. The potentiating effect of histamine could be blocked by hexamethonium (10(-7)--10(-5) M) but not by atropine. Atropine (10(-9)--10(-8) M) did prevent the decrease in the contraction amplitude induced by histamine in the presence of 10(-7) M pyrilamine. The purinergic antagonist theophylline, adrenergic antagonists or depletion of endogenous catecholamines were without effect. Tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M) inhibited the augmentation induced by histamine. Our results demonstrate that histamine potentiates the acetylcholine-mediated contractile response to electrical field stimulation of guniea-pig ileum via H1- and what may be an H2-receptor subtype.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Intestinal motility changes in rats after enteric serotonergic neuron destruction.

The myenteric plexus consists of several subpopulations of morphologically and chemically distinct neurons known to contain a variety of peptides and amines, one of which is serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). These neurons are considered essential for nerve-to-nerve transmission. In the present study, we investigated the effect of 5,6- and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT; 5,7-DHT), indoleamine neurotoxins that selectively and irreversibly injure the serotonergic neurons of the myenteric plexus. Treatment with 5,6-, or 5,7-DHT caused marked disruption of the activity front of the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC), increased its duration, and decreased its propagation velocity. At higher doses, 5,7-DHT also reduced the slow-wave frequency. Immunohistochemical techniques showed that tissue from rats treated with 5,7-DHT was depleted of serotonin-like immunoreactivity within the myenteric plexus neurons. Reserpine also caused motility and immunohistochemical changes similar to those induced by the two neurotoxins. Therefore, destruction of enteric serotonergic neurons disrupts the MMC. These studies support the cellular concepts that serotonergic neurons function as interneurons in the myenteric plexus, modulating and processing the neural stimuli, and that serotonin is an important neurotransmitter in the small intestine.

5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine↗

PubMed1998

Identification of motor neurons to the circular muscle of the guinea pig gastric corpus.

The projections of enteric neurons to the circular muscle of the guinea pig gastric corpus were investigated systematically by using the retrogradely transported fluorescent carbocyanine dye 1,1'-didodecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI), applied to the muscle layer or myenteric plexus in vitro. DiI-labeled motor neuron cell bodies were located up to 6.3 mm aboral, 17 mm oral, and up to 20 mm circumferential to the DiI application site. Labeled nerve fibers ran for long distances from the DiI application site toward the greater and lesser curvatures, where they coursed parallel to the bundles of the "gastric sling" muscle. The majority of labeled cells were located toward the lesser curvature of the stomach. Nerve cell bodies that were aboral to the DiI application site were usually small, immunoreactive for choline acetyltransferase, and, thus, were likely to be excitatory motor neurons. Neurons that were located orally were larger, fewer in number, and immunoreactive for nitric oxide synthase and, thus, were likely to be inhibitory motor neurons. Application of DiI directly to the myenteric plexus filled neurons up to 15 mm aborally and up to 21 mm orally but labeled few neurons circumferentially. All nerve cells that were filled from either the circular muscle or the myenteric plexus had Dogiel type I morphological features. These results demonstrate a clear polarity of projection of inhibitory and excitatory motor neurons and a functionally continuous innervation of the circular and gastric sling muscle layers. Nonmotor neurons in the myenteric plexus were demonstrated, but neurons with Dogiel type II morphological features are apparently absent.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Serotonin in the rabbit ileum: localization, uptake, and effect on motility.

Repeated experiments to localise serotonin in the myenteric plexus of rabbit ileum failed. After preincubation in serotonin (10(-5) M), an extensive varicose fibre system was detected by immunocytochemical methods. Stained fibres left the myenteric plexus and ran to the muscle layers. Labelled cell bodies could not be found, even after pretreatment with colchicine or pargyline. Application of reserpine (10(-5) M) and fluoxetine (10(-5) M) prevented serotonin uptake. Antisera against tryptophan hydroxylase revealed a rich fibre system, including those processes that entered the tertiary plexus. These fibres were able to accumulate serotonin, but again the cell bodies could not be detected. Serotonin caused concentration-dependent contraction in the longitudinal muscle layer of the rabbit ileum. Pretreatment with tetrodotoxin strongly reduced the effect of serotonin. Preapplication of atropine caused a slight decrease of response evoked by serotonin. Combined administration of tetrodotoxin and atropine significantly reduced the responses to serotonin, but did not abolish them. At the same time, agonists of 5-HT(2) and 5-HT(4) receptors caused concentration-dependent contractions. Our studies show that: 1). Without pretreatment, serotonin cannot be detected in the myenteric plexus of rabbit ileum. 2). An extensive uptake system works in this plexus. If released from myenteric nerve fibres, serotonin may evoke contractions in indirect and direct ways. 3). There may be an extrinsic serotoninergic innervation from the mesenteric ganglia. 4). Serotonin exerts its effect through 5-HT(2) and 5-HT(4) receptors on smooth muscle cells and nerve elements.

Animals↗

PubMed1981

Ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of substance P in the cat small intestine.

The immunocytochemical peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique was used to identify substance P (SP) in the cat small intestine at the ultrastructural level in the nerve plexuses. In the myenteric plexus the SP containing fibres form synapses with the other nerve terminals and run parallel to the circular muscle. The SP in these fibres is present in the vesicles of 80 to 120 nm or 150 to 250 nm in diameter. The results support the contention that SP containing nerve terminals are present in the enteric nervous system.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Embryonic development of the ganglion plexuses and the concentric layer structure of human gut: a topographical study.

In this study, we performed a detailed topographical study on the development of ganglion plexuses and the smooth muscle layers of human embryonic and fetal gut. Neuron and glia differentiation was investigated with anti-PGP9.5 and anti-S100 antibodies respectively. The differentiation of smooth muscle and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) was studied with anti-smooth muscle alpha-actin and anti-C-Kit antibodies respectively. By week 7, rostro-caudal neural crest cell (NCC) colonization of the gut was complete, and NCCs have differentiated into neurons and glia. At the foregut, neurons and glia were aggregated into ganglion plexus in the myenteric region, and the longitudinal and circular muscle layers have started to differentiate; however, neurons and glia were not found in the submucosa. At the hindgut, neurons and glia were dispersed within the mesenchyme. Myenteric plexus, longitudinal and circular muscle layers formed along the entire gut by week 9. Scattered and individual neurons and glia, and small ganglion plexuses were detected in the foregut and midgut submucosa by week 12. Ganglion plexus was not seen in the hindgut submucosa until week 14. Muscularis mucosae was formed at the foregut and midgut by week 12 but was only discernible at the hindgut 2 weeks later. As the gut wall developed, ganglion plexus increased in size with more neurons and glia, and the formation of intra-plexus nerve fascicle. ICCs were localized in the ganglion plexus as early as week 7. ICCs were initially dispersed in the plexus and were preferentially localized at the periphery of the plexus by week 20. The specification of the annular layers of human embryonic and fetal gut follows a strict spatio-temporal pattern in a rostro-caudal and centripetal manner suggesting that interaction between (1) homotypic and/or heterotypic cells; and (2) cells and the extracellular matrix is critical for the embryonic development of the gut mesenchyme and the enteric nervous system.

Actins↗

PubMed1988

Tissue content of opioid peptides in the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle of guinea-pig small intestine.

We have developed a method that is based on two HPLC systems and permits the separation of endogenous opioid peptides in tissue extracts. The individual peptides are bioassayed on the mouse isolated vas deferens; naloxone (100 nM) ensures opioid specificity. In the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation of the guinea-pig small intestine, the tissue content of prodynorphin-derived peptides is lower than those of proenkephalin-derived peptides. No beta-endorphin was detected. Of the prodynorphin fragments, alpha-neoendorphin, beta-neoendorphin, dynorphin A(1-8), and dynorphin B are present in equimolar concentrations (12-15 pmol/g) whereas the tissue content of dynorphin A is only 0.8 pmol/g. Processing of proenkephalin leads to at least six opioid peptides. The tissue contents of [Leu5]enkephalin, [Met5]enkephalyl-Arg-Gly-Leu, and [Met5]enkephalyl-Arg-Phe are 90-100 pmol/g and the content of [Met5]enkephalin is 405 pmol/g. BAM-18 and [Met5]enkephalyl-Arg-Arg-Val-NH2 are present in much lower concentrations, 24 and 5 pmol/g, respectively. Although present in low amounts, BAM-18 and [Met5]-enkephalyl-Arg-Arg-Val-NH2 have high affinity for the mu-opioid binding site and to a lesser extent for the kappa-site; this binding profile differs from that of the other proenkephalin fragments all of which have high affinities for the mu- and delta-sites.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The effects of age on the overall population and on sub-populations of myenteric neurons in the rat small intestine.

Previous studies on ageing animal and human subjects have demonstrated a significant overall decline in neuronal numbers in the myenteric plexus of the enteric nervous system (ENS). Our study aimed to confirm this observation by counting myenteric neurons stained with the panneuronal markers PGP 9.5 and NADH-diaphorase. We also wished to examine the possibility that particular subpopulations of neurons are vulnerable. Therefore, we have immunostained and counted a number of nerve cell groups within the myenteric plexus of old and young Sprague Dawley rats using markers which reflect some of the neuronal phenotypes present, including ChAT and VIP. The number of neurons demonstrating NADH-diaphorase activity was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) by approximately 15 % in old rats. However, the number of neurons stained for PGP 9.5 immunohistochemistry was not reduced and demonstrated larger numbers of neurons than the NADH-diaphorase method. None of the other neuronal markers studied showed any significant reductions with age. In contrast to previous work, this study has gathered little evidence for extensive cell loss in the myenteric plexus of the aged rat, either in overall populations, or in any of the principal functional groups of neurons.

Aging↗

PubMed1998

Neurocalcin-like immunoreactivity in the rat esophageal nervous system.

Neurocalcin is a newly identified neuronal calcium-binding protein. We tried here to investigate the immunohistochemical distribution of neurocalcin in the rat esophagus. Nerve cell bodies having neurocalcin immunoreactivity were found throughout the myenteric plexus. In the myenteric ganglia, two types of nerve terminals showed neurocalcin immunoreactivity. One was varicose terminals containing numerous small clear vesicles and forming a synapse with nerve cells. The other terminals were characterized by laminar or pleomorphic structure and many mitochondria. These laminar terminals were supposed to be sensory receptors of the esophageal wall. In the motor endplates of the striated muscles, nerve terminals containing many small clear vesicles and mitochondria also had neurocalcin immunoreactivity. After left vagus nerve cutting under the nodose ganglia, the number of immunopositive thick nerve fibers, laminar endings and nerve terminals on the striated muscles decreased markedly. Retrograde tracing experiments using Fast Blue showed extrinsic innervation of esophagus from ambiguus nucleus, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus, superior cervical ganglia, celiac ganglia, nodose ganglia and dorsal root ganglia. In the celiac ganglia, nodose ganglia and dorsal root ganglia, retrogradely labeled nerve cells were neurocalcin-immunoreactive. Neurons in the celiac ganglia may project varicose terminals, while nodose and dorsal root neurons project laminar terminals. Although cell bodies of motoneurons in the ambiguus nucleus lacked neurocalcin immunoreactivity, these neurons may contain neurocalcin only in the nerve terminals in the motor endplates. Neurocalcin immunoreactivity is distributed in many extrinsic and intrinsic neurons in the esophagus and this protein may play important roles in regulating calcium signaling in the neurons.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

CRF-induced calcium signaling in guinea pig small intestine myenteric neurons involves CRF-1 receptors and activation of voltage-sensitive calcium channels.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a 41-amino acid peptide with distinct effects on gastrointestinal motility involving both CRF-1 and CRF-2 receptor-mediated mechanisms that are generally claimed to be centrally mediated. Evidence for a direct peripheral effect is rather limited. Electrophysiological studies showed a cAMP-dependent prolonged depolarization of guinea pig myenteric neurons on application of CRF. The current study aimed to test the direct effect of CRF on myenteric neurons and to identify the receptor subtype and the possible mechanisms involved. Longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus preparations and myenteric neuron cultures of guinea pig small intestine were incubated with the calcium indicator Fluo-4. Confocal Ca(2+) imaging was used to visualize activation of neurons on application of CRF. All in situ experiments were performed in the presence of nicardipine 10(-6) M to reduce tissue movement. Images were analyzed using Scion image and a specifically developed macro to correct for residual minimal movements. A 75 mM K(+)-Krebs solution identified 1,076 neurons in 46 myenteric ganglia (16 animals). Administration of CRF 10(-6) M and CRF 10(-7) M during 30 s induced a Ca(2+) response in 22.4% of the myenteric neurons (n = 303). Responses were completely abolished in the presence of the nonselective CRF antagonist astressin (n = 55). The selective CRF-1 receptor antagonist CP 154,526 (n = 187) reduced the response significantly to 2.1%. Stresscopin, a CRF-2 receptor agonist, could not activate neurons at 10(-7) M, and its effect at 10(-6) M (15.3%, n = 59) was completely blocked by CP 154,526. TTX 10(-6) M (n = 70) could not block the CRF-induced Ca(2+) transients but reduced the amplitude of the signals significantly. Removal of extracellular Ca(2+) blocked all responses to CRF (n = 47). L-type channels did not contribute to the CRF-induced Ca(2+) transients. Blocking N- or P/Q-type Ca(2+) channels did not reduce the responses significantly. Combined L- and R-type Ca(2+) channel blocking (SNX-482 10(-8) M, n = 64) abolished nearly all responses in situ. Combined L-, N-, and P/Q-type channel blocking also significantly reduced the response to 8.6%. Immunohistochemical staining for CRF-1 receptors clearly labeled individual cell bodies in the ganglia, whereas the CRF-2 receptor staining was barely above background. CRF induces Ca(2+) transients in myenteric neurons via a CRF-1 receptor-dependent mechanism. These Ca(2+) transients highly depend on somatic calcium influx through voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels, in particular R-type channels. Action potential firing through voltage-sensitive sodium channels increases the amplitude of the Ca(2+) signals. Besides centrally mediated effects, CRF is likely to modulate gastrointestinal motility on the myenteric neuronal level.

Animals↗