Serosal application of Ba(2+) induces oscillatory chloride secretion via activation of submucosal cholinergic neurones in guinea-pig distal colon

Calcimimetic R568 inhibits tetrodotoxin-sensitive colonic electrolyte secretion and reduces c-fos expression in myenteric neurons

AIMS

Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is expressed on neurons of both submucosal and myenteric plexuses of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and the CaSR agonist R568 inhibited Cl^- secretion in intestine. The purpose of this study was to localize the primary site of action of R568 in the ENS and to explore how CaSR regulates secretion through the ENS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two preparations of rat proximal and distal colon were used. The full-thickness preparation contained both the submucosal and myenteric plexuses, whereas for the "stripped" preparation the myenteric plexus with the muscle layers was removed. Both preparations were mounted onto Ussing chambers and Cl^- secretory responses were compared by measuring changes in short circuit current (I_sc). Two tissue-specific CaSR knockouts (i.e., neuron-specific vs. enterocyte-specific) were generated to compare the effect of R568 on expression of c-fos protein in myenteric neurons by immunocytochemistry.

KEY FINDINGS

In full-thickness colons, tetrodotoxin (TTX) inhibited I_sc, both in proximal and distal colons. A nearly identical inhibition was produced by R568. However, in stripped preparations, while the effect of TTX on I_sc largely remained, the effect of R568 was nearly completely eliminated. In keeping with this, R568 reduced c-fos protein expression only in myenteric neurons of wild type mice and mutant mice that contained CaSR in neurons (i.e., ^villinCre/Casr^flox/flox mice), but not in myenteric neurons of ^nestinCre/Casr^flox/flox mice in which neuronal cell CaSR was eliminated.

SIGNIFICANCE

These results indicate that R568 exerts its anti-secretory effects predominantly via CaSR-mediated inhibition of neuronal activity in the myenteric plexus.

L-type Ca2+ channels in the enteric nervous system mediate oscillatory Cl- secretion in guinea pig colon

The enteric nervous system regulates epithelial ion and fluid secretion. Our previous study has shown that the low (0.2-1 mM) concentrations of Ba2+, a K+ channel inhibitor, evoke Ca2+-dependent oscillatory Cl- secretion via activation of submucosal cholinergic neurons in guinea pig distal colon. However, it is still unclear which types of Ca2+ channels are involved in the oscillation at the neuroepithelial junction. We investigated the inhibitory effects of organic and inorganic Ca2+ channel antagonists on the short circuit current (I(sc)) of colonic epithelia (mucosa-submucosa sheets) mounted in Ussing chambers. The amplitude (412 +/- 37 microA cm(-2)) and frequency (2.6 +/- 0.1 cycles min(-1)) of the Ba2+-induced I(sc) in normal (1.8 mM) Ca2+ solution (n = 26) significantly decreased by 37.6% and 38.5%, respectively, in the low (0.1 mM) Ca2+ solution (n = 14). The I(sc) amplitude was reversibly inhibited by either verapamil (an L-type Ca2+ channel antagonist) or divalent cations (Cd2+, Mn2+, Ni2+) in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentration of verapamil for half-maximum inhibition (IC50) was 4 and 2 microM in normal and low Ca2+ solution, respectively. The relative blocking potencies of metal ions were Cd2+ > Mn2+, Ni2+ in normal Ca2+ solution. In contrast, the frequency of I(sc) was unchanged over the range of concentrations of the Ca2+ channel antagonists used. Our results show that the oscillatory I(sc) evoked by Ba2+ involves L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. We conclude that L-type Ca2+ channels play a key role in the oscillation at the neuroepithelial junctions of guinea pig colon.

Restoration by VIP of the carbachol-stimulated Cl- secretion in TTX-treated guinea pig distal colon

To determine if vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) restores neural activity from tetrodotoxin (TTX) blockade, we studied the effects of VIP and related agents on carbachol (Cch)-induced Cl(-) secretion in control-isolated guinea pig distal colon and in that treated with TTX. The short circuit current (I(sc)) increased dose-dependently after serosal applications of Cch (10(-6) - 2 x 10(-5) M) and VIP (5 x 10(-9) - 10(-7) M). But no additive or synergistic increase in I(sc) was observed. Cch- and VIP-induced I(sc) was completely abolished by a serosal application of TTX (10(-6) M). However, a serosal application, not mucosal, of VIP (10(-7) M) and 8-bromo-cAMP (10(-3) M) restored the Cch-stimulated, TTX-inhibited I(sc) by 113% and 75.8%, respectively. Furthermore, mucosal and serosal applications of forskolin (aden late cyclase activator) restored the I(sc) by 43.9% and 65.3%, respectively. The restored I(sc) was completely abolished by atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist). These results suggest that VIP may restore the cholinergic activity by increasing the level of intracellular cAMP, and that cholinergic neuron is very likely to be responsible for the regulation of Cl(-) secretion at neuroepithelial junctions. The exact mechanism of VIP's effect on the TTX-inhibited epithelial Cl(-) secretion, and its possible usefulness in the treatment of TTX-induced pathophysiological conditions, remain to be determined.