Effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha on propulsive activity of the isolated segmental colon of the guinea-pig

Mechanisms underlying initiation of propulsion in guinea pig distal colon

Colonic motor complexes (CMCs) are a major neurogenic activity in guineapig distal colon. The identity of the enteric neurons that initiate this activity is not established. Specialized intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) are a major candidate. We aimed to test this hypothesis. To do this, segments of guineapig distal colon were suspended vertically in heated organ baths and propulsive forces acting on a pellet inside the lumen were recorded by isometric force transducer while pharmacological agents were applied to affect IPAN function. In the absence of drugs, CMCs acted periodically on the pellet, generating peak propulsive forces of 12.7 ± 5 g at 0.56 ± 0.22 cpm, lasting 49 ± 17 s (215 preparations; n = 60). Most but not all CMCs were abolished by nicotinic receptor blockade to inhibit fast excitatory synaptic transmission (50/62 preparations; n = 25). Remarkably, CMCs inhibited by hexamethonium were restored by a pharmacological strategy that aimed to enhance IPAN excitability. Thus, CMCs were restored by increased smooth muscle tension (using BAY K8644, bethanechol or carbachol) and by IPAN excitation using phorbol dibutyrate; NK3 receptor agonist, senktide; and partially by αCGRP. The IPAN inhibitor, 5,6-dichloro-1-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-one (DCEBIO), decreased CMC frequency. CGRP, but not NK3-receptor antagonists, decreased CMC frequency in naive preparations. Finally, CMCs were blocked by tetrodotoxin, and this was not reversed by any drugs listed above. These results support a major role for IPANs that does not require fast synaptic transmission, in the periodic initiation of neurogenic propulsive contractions. Endogenous CGRP plays a role in determining CMC frequency, whereas further unidentified signaling pathways may determine their amplitude and duration.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The colonic motor complex (CMC) initiates propulsion in guinea pig colon. Here, CMCs evoked by an intraluminal pellet were restored during nicotinic receptor blockade by pharmacological agents that directly or indirectly enhance intrinsic primary afferent neuron (IPAN) excitability. IPANs are the only enteric neuron in colon that contain CGRP. Blocking CGRP receptors decreased CMC frequency, implicating their role in CMC initiation. The results support a role for IPANs in the initiation of CMCs.

Differential peristaltic motor effects of prostanoid (DP, EP, IP, TP) and leukotriene receptor agonists in the guinea-pig isolated small intestine

1. Since the role of prostanoid receptors in intestinal peristalsis is largely unknown, the peristaltic motor effects of some prostaglandin (DP, EP, IP), thromboxane (TP) and leukotriene (LT) receptor agonists and antagonists were investigated. 2. Propulsive peristalsis in fluid-perfused segments from the guinea-pig small intestine was triggered by a rise of the intraluminal pressure and recorded via the intraluminal pressure changes associated with the peristaltic waves. Alterations of distension sensitivity were deduced from alterations of the peristaltic pressure threshold and modifications of peristaltic performance were reflected by modifications of the amplitude, maximal acceleration and residual baseline pressure of the peristaltic waves. 3. Four categories of peristaltic motor effects became apparent: a decrease in distension sensitivity and peristaltic performance as induced by the EP1/EP3 receptor agonist sulprostone and the TP receptor agonist U-46619 (1-1000 nM); a decrease in distension sensitivity without a major change in peristaltic performance as induced by PGD(2) (3-300 nM) and LTD(4) (10-100 nM); a decrease in peristaltic performance without a major change in distension sensitivity as induced by PGE(1), PGE(2) (1-1000 nM) and the EP1/IP receptor agonist iloprost (1-100 nM); and a decrease in peristaltic performance associated with an increase in distension sensitivity as induced by the EP2 receptor agonist butaprost (1-1000 nM). The DP receptor agonist BW-245 C (1-1000 nM) was without effect. 4. The peristaltic motor action of sulprostone remained unchanged by the EP1 receptor antagonist SC-51089 (1 micro M) and the DP/EP1/EP2 receptor antagonist AH-6809 (30 micro M), whereas that of U-46619 and LTD(4) was prevented by the TP receptor antagonist SQ-29548 (10 micro M) and the cysteinyl-leukotriene(1) (cysLT(1)) receptor antagonist tomelukast (10 micro M), respectively. 5. These observations and their pharmacological analysis indicate that activation of EP2, EP3, IP, TP and cysLT(1) receptors, but not DP receptors, modulate intestinal peristalsis in a receptor-selective manner, whereas activation of EP1 seems to be without influence on propulsive peristalsis. In a wider perspective it appears as if the effect of prostanoid receptor agonists to induce diarrhoea is due to their prosecretory but not peristaltic motor action.