Chronic extrinsic denervation of the small bowel: effect on adrenergic and cholinergic contractile mechanisms in canine ileal circular muscle

Sympathetic innervation of the ileocecal junction in horses

The distribution and chemical phenotypes of sympathetic and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons innervating the equine ileocecal junction (ICJ) were studied by combining retrograde tracing and immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity (IR) for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) was investigated. Sympathetic neurons projecting to the ICJ were distributed within the celiac (CG), cranial mesenteric (CranMG), and caudal mesenteric (CaudMG) ganglia, as well as in the last ganglia of the thoracic sympathetic chain and in the splanchnic ganglia. In the CG and CranMG 91 +/- 8% and 93 +/- 12% of the neurons innervating the ICJ expressed TH- and DBH-IR, respectively. In the CaudMG 90 +/- 15% and 94 +/- 5% of ICJ innervating neurons were TH- and DBH-IR, respectively. Sympathetic (TH-IR) fibers innervated the myenteric and submucosal ganglia, ileal blood vessels, and the muscle layers. They were more concentrated at the ICJ level and were also seen encircling myenteric plexus (MP) and submucosal plexus (SMP) descending neurons that were retrogradely labeled from the ICJ. Among the few retrogradely labeled DRG neurons, nNOS-, CGRP-, and SP-IR nerve cells were observed. Dense networks of CGRP-, nNOS-, and SP-IR varicosities were seen around retrogradely labeled prevertebral ganglia neurons. The CGRP-IR fibers are probably the endings of neurons projecting from the intestine to the prevertebral ganglia. These findings indicate that this crucial region of the intestinal tract is strongly influenced by the sympathetic system and that sensory information of visceral origin influences the sympathetic control of the ICJ.

Effects of the Tibetan herbal formula Padma Lax on visceral nociception and contractility of longitudinal smooth muscle in a rat model

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of functional bowel disorders among the general population contrasts with the limited number of pharmacological treatment options for this condition. This has led to an interest for alternative therapeutic approaches. Padma Lax is an herbal laxative on the basis of Tibetan formulas. Our aim is to examine the effect of Padma Lax on visceral nociception in vivo and (B) on contractile activity of longitudinal smooth muscle of the lower gut in vitro and ex vivo.

METHODS

(A) Visceral sensory function in response to colorectal distension was assessed by abdominal wall electromyography in male Wistar rats pretreated with Padma Lax. (B) Effects of Padma Lax on contractility of gut smooth muscles were studied both in vitro with superfusion of the agent and ex vivo following oral administration of the preparation. Activities were measured as area under the curve.

KEY RESULTS

(A) For visceral sensitivity, no differences were observed between the Padma Lax and the control group. (B) Proximal colon muscle strips of the Padma Lax pretreated group showed significantly lower spontaneous contractility ex vivo than controls. Cholinergic procontractile stimulation was reduced in Padma Lax pretreated group and in colon strips of naive rats when Padma Lax was superfused in vitro (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION & INFERENCES

Cholinergic mechanisms appear to be important in the modulation of rat proximal colon contractility of orally and directly applied Padma Lax. These findings help elucidate a potential mechanism of action of this herbal remedy which has undergone clinical testing in patients with constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Role of vagal innervation in diurnal rhythm of intestinal peptide transporter 1 (PEPT1)

BACKGROUND

Protein is absorbed predominantly as di/tripeptides via H(+)/peptide cotransporter-1 (PEPT1). We demonstrated previously diurnal variations in expression and function of duodenal and jejunal but not ileal PEPT1; neural regulation of this pattern is unexplored.

HYPOTHESIS

Complete abdominal vagotomy abolishes diurnal variations in gene expression and transport function of PEPT1.

METHODS

Twenty-four rats maintained in a 12-h light/dark room [6AM-6PM] underwent abdominal vagotomy; 24 other rats were controls. Four weeks later, mucosal levels of mRNA and protein were measured at 9AM, 3PM, 9PM, and 3AM (n = 6 each) by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blots, respectively; transporter-mediated uptake of dipeptide (Gly-Sar) was measured by the everted-sleeve technique.

RESULTS

Diurnal variation in mRNA, as in controls, was retained post-vagotomy in duodenum and jejunum (peak at 3PM, p < 0.05) but not in ileum. Diurnal variations in expression of protein and Gly-Sar uptake, however, were absent post-vagotomy (p > 0.3). Similar to controls, maximal uptake was in jejunum after vagotomy (V (max), nmol/cm/min: jejunum vs. duodenum and ileum; 163 vs. 88 and 71 at 3AM; p < 0.04); K (m) remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Vagal innervation appears to mediate in part diurnal variations in protein expression and transport function of PEPT1, but not diurnal variation in mRNA expression of PEPT1.

Acute denervation alters the epithelial response to adrenoceptor activation through an increase in alpha1-adrenoceptor expression on villus enterocytes

Loss of sympathetic input due to intestinal denervation results in hypersensitivity and increased intestinal secretion. It is unknown whether denervation-induced alterations in intestinal epithelial physiology are the result of changes in adrenoceptors on enterocytes (ENTs). The purpose of this study was to examine adrenoceptor distribution and pharmacology on small intestinal ENTs following acute intestinal denervation. Lewis rats underwent small bowel transplantation (SBT) or sham operation and proximal small intestinal segments were harvested 1, 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively. Intestinal electrolyte movement was assessed using short-circuit current (Isc) measurements of stripped epithelial sheets following stimulation with phenylephrine (PE), an alpha(1)-adrenoceptor agonist. The presence of adrenoceptor subtypes on separated villus and crypt ENTs was assessed using flow cytometry. Alpha(1)-adrenoceptors were found on approximately 27% of jejunal villus ENTs, but not crypt ENTs, following acute extrinsic denervation. ENTs from the Lewis rat have few beta-adrenoceptors. Alpha(1)-adrenoceptor stimulation of acutely denervated intestinal epithelial sheets decreased Isc by -13.45%. This effect was mediated by a reduction in chloride (Cl(-)) secretion; the absence of Cl(-) reversed the Isc to +13.79%. In conclusion, loss of sympathetic innervation to the gastrointestinal epithelium causes acute upregulation of alpha(1)-adrenoceptors on villus ENTs, leading to inhibition of Cl(-) secretion at the villus tip. The increase in adrenoceptors may reflect a compensatory mechanism to combat the increased secretory state of the bowel due to the loss of the sympathetic innervation and tonic control over intestinal secretion.

The diurnal periodicity of hexose transporter mRNA and protein levels in the rat jejunum: role of vagal innervation

BACKGROUND

Protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of the hexose transporters sodium-dependent glucose transporter-1, glucose transporter 2, and glucose transporter 5 follow a (daily) diurnal rhythm in rat jejunum. Because vagal innervation mediates the diurnal activity of other proteins in the rat small bowel, we hypothesized that the diurnal variation of mRNA and protein levels of these hexose transport proteins are mediated by vagal innervation.

METHODS

Forty-eight rats kept in a strictly maintained, alternating 12-hour light-dark room underwent either sham laparotomy (n = 24) or bilateral total abdominal vagotomy (n = 24). Four weeks postoperatively, jejunal mucosa was harvested from 6 rats in each group at 3 am, 9 am, 3 pm and 9 pm; mRNA levels were determined by reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction and protein levels by semiquantitative Western blot analysis. Transporter mRNA and protein levels were expressed as a ratio to the corresponding mRNA and protein levels of the stably expressed housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

RESULTS

mRNA and protein levels for all 3 hexose transporters showed diurnal variation in sham controls (P < or = .01 for all). After vagotomy, although mRNA levels of all 3 transporters showed diurnal variation (each P < .01), diurnal variation in all 3 hexose transporter protein levels was abolished (P > .10 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Vagal innervation appears to differentially mediate the diurnal changes in hexose transporter mRNA and protein expression in the rat jejunum by posttranscriptional, and/or posttranslational processes.