Mediators of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory neurotransmission in porcine jejunum

Inhibitory Neural Regulation of the Ca 2+ Transients in Intramuscular Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Small Intestine

Gastrointestinal motility is coordinated by enteric neurons. Both inhibitory and excitatory motor neurons innervate the syncytium consisting of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and PDGFRα+ cells (SIP syncytium). Confocal imaging of mouse small intestines from animals expressing GCaMP3 in ICC were used to investigate inhibitory neural regulation of ICC in the deep muscular plexus (ICC-DMP). We hypothesized that Ca2+ signaling in ICC-DMP can be modulated by inhibitory enteric neural input. ICC-DMP lie in close proximity to the varicosities of motor neurons and generate ongoing Ca2+ transients that underlie activation of Ca2+-dependent Cl- channels and regulate the excitability of SMCs in the SIP syncytium. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) caused inhibition of Ca2+ for the first 2-3 s of stimulation, and then Ca2+ transients escaped from inhibition. The NO donor (DEA-NONOate) inhibited Ca2+ transients and Nω-Nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) or a guanylate cyclase inhibitor (ODQ) blocked inhibition induced by EFS. Purinergic neurotransmission did not affect Ca2+ transients in ICC-DMP. Purinergic neurotransmission elicits hyperpolarization of the SIP syncytium by activation of K+ channels in PDGFRα+ cells. Generalized hyperpolarization of SIP cells by pinacidil (KATP agonist) or MRS2365 (P2Y1 agonist) also had no effect on Ca2+ transients in ICC-DMP. Peptidergic transmitter receptors (VIP and PACAP) are expressed in ICC and can modulate ICC-DMP Ca2+ transients. In summary Ca2+ transients in ICC-DMP are blocked by enteric inhibitory neurotransmission. ICC-DMP lack a voltage-dependent mechanism for regulating Ca2+ release, and this protects Ca2+ handling in ICC-DMP from membrane potential changes in other SIP cells.

A commonly used ecto-ATPase inhibitor, ARL-67156, blocks degradation of ADP more than the degradation of ATP in murine colon

BACKGROUND

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is released extracellularly as a neurotransmitter and an autocrine or paracrine mediator in numerous systems, including the gastrointestinal tract. It is rapidly degraded to active and inactive metabolites by membrane-bound enzymes. Investigators frequently use inhibitors of ATP hydrolysis such as ARL-67156 and POM-1 to suppress the catabolism of ATP and prolong its effects in pharmacological studies. Our aim was to investigate directly the effects of ARL-67156 and POM-1 on the degradation of ATP and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) in mouse colonic muscles.

METHODS

The degradation of ATP and ADP was evaluated by superfusing tissues with 1,N(6) -etheno-ATP (eATP) and 1,N(6) -etheno-ADP (eADP) as substrates and monitoring the decrease in substrate and increase in products (i.e., eADP, eAMP, and e-adenosine) by high-performance liquid chromatography techniques with fluorescence detection. Relaxation responses to etheno-derivatized and non-derivatized ATP and ADP were examined in isometric tension experiments.

KEY RESULTS

ARL-67156 inhibits the degradation of ADP but not of ATP, whereas POM-1 inhibits the degradation of ATP but not of ADP in murine colonic muscles. Consequently, ARL-67156 enhances relaxation responses to both ATP and ADP, whereas POM-1 reduces relaxation to ATP and does not affect relaxation to ADP.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Studies that use ARL-67156 to inhibit ATP degradation in smooth muscle likely evaluate responses to accumulated ADP rather than ATP. POM-1 appears to be a more selective inhibitor of ATP degradation in the mouse colon. The choice of pharmacological tools in studies on extracellular ATP signaling may affect the interpretation of experimental data in functional studies.

α,β-meATP mimics the effects of the purinergic neurotransmitter in the human and rat colon

The purine receptor involved in inhibitory responses in the gastrointestinal tract has been recently identified. P2Y1 receptor activation mediates the fast component of the inhibitory junction potential (IJPf) and the non-nitrergic relaxation. The aim of the present work has been to investigate which purinergic agonist better mimics endogenous responses. We used different agonist and antagonist of P2 receptors. Contractility and microelectrode experiments were used to compare the effects of exogenously added purines and electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced nerve mediated effects in rat and human colonic strips. In rat colon, the IJPf and EFS-induced inhibition of contractions were concentration-dependently inhibited by the P2Y1 antagonist MRS2500 but not by iso-PPADS or NF023 (P2X antagonists) up to 1 μM. In samples from human colon, EFS-induced inhibition of contractions was inhibited by either MRS2500 or apamin (1 μM) but not by iso-PPADS. In both species, α,β-meATP, a stable analog of ATP, caused inhibition of spontaneous contractions. α,β-meATP effect was concentration-dependent (EC50: 2.7 μM rat, 4.4 μM human) and was antagonized by either MRS2500 or apamin but unaffected by P2X antagonists. ATP, ADP, β-NAD and ADP-ribose inhibited spontaneous contractions but did not show the same sensitivity profile to purine receptor antagonists as EFS-induced inhibition of contractions. The effect of α,β-meATP is due to P2Y1 receptor activation leading the opening of sKca channels. Accordingly, α,β-meATP mimics the endogenous purinergic mediator. In contrast, exogenously added putative neurotransmitters do not exactly mimic the endogenous mediator. Quick degradation by ecto-nuclease or different distribution of receptors (junctionally vs extrajunctionally) might explain these results.

The role of nitric oxide and L-type calcium channel blocker in the contractility of rabbit ileum in vitro

Nitric oxide (NO) and calcium channel blockers are two agents that can affect gastrointestinal motility. The goal of this work was to study the rabbit intestinal smooth muscle contraction response to (1) sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the NO donor, and its potential mechanism of action, and (2) nifedipine, the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker; to clarify the degree of participation by extra- and intracellular Ca(2+) in smooth muscle contraction. We used standard isometric tension and intracellular micro-electrode recordings. To record the activity of the longitudinal smooth muscle of the ileum, segments of 1.5 cm length of the ileum were suspended vertically in organ baths of Krebs solution. The mechanical activity of the isolated ileal longitudinal muscle was recorded. Different substances were added, and the changes produced on spontaneous contraction were recorded. We found that SNP produced significant decrease, while nitric oxide synthase inhibitor produced significant increase in the amplitude of spontaneous contractions. Both apamin, the Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channel blocker, and methylene blue, the inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, alone, partially decreased relaxation induced by SNP. Addition of both methylene blue and apamine together abolished the inhibitory effect produced by SNP on spontaneous contractions. Nifedipine produced significant decrease in the amplitude of spontaneous contractions. In conclusion, in longitudinal muscle of rabbit ileum, calcium channels blocker are potent inhibitors of spontaneous activity. However, both extracellular and intracellular Ca(2+) participates in the spontaneous contractions. NO also has inhibitory effect on spontaneous activity, and this effect is mediated by cGMP generation system and Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels.

Investigation of neurogenic excitatory and inhibitory motor responses and their control by 5-HT(4) receptors in circular smooth muscle of pig descending colon

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the pig colon descendens might be a good model for the responses mediated via the different locations of human colonic 5-HT(4) receptors. The intrinsic excitatory and inhibitory motor neurotransmission in pig colon descendens was therefore first characterized. In circular smooth muscle strips, electrical field stimulation (EFS) at basal tone induced only in the combined presence of the NO synthase inhibitor N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) and the SK channel blocker apamin voltage-dependent on-contractions. These on-contractions were largely reduced by the neuronal conductance blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) and by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine, illustrating activation of cholinergic neurons. The 5-HT(4) receptor agonist prucalopride facilitated submaximal EFS-evoked cholinergic contractions and this effect was prevented by the 5-HT(4) receptor antagonist GR113808, supporting the presence of facilitating 5-HT(4) receptors on the cholinergic nerve endings innervating circular muscle in pig colon descendens. Relaxations were induced by EFS in strips pre-contracted with substance P in the presence of atropine. The responses at lower stimulation voltages were abolished by TTX. L-NAME or apamin alone did not influence or only moderately reduced the relaxations, but L-NAME plus apamin abolished the relaxations at lower stimulation voltages, suggesting that NO and ATP act as inhibitory neurotransmitters in a redundant way. Prucalopride did not influence the EFS-induced relaxations at lower stimulation voltage, nor did it per se relax contracted circular muscle strips. No evidence for relaxing 5-HT(4) receptors, either on inhibitory neurons or on the muscle cells was thus obtained in pig colon descendens circular muscle.

Heme-oxygenase-2 immunolabelling in pig jejunum

Heme-oxygenase-2 generates carbon monoxide in the enteric nervous system and in interstitial cells of Cajal in the canine, mouse and human jejunum. Carbon monoxide is considered a non-adrenergic and non-cholinergic inhibitory neurotransmitter and it establishes and maintains the resting membrane potential in the stomach and small intestine. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of heme-oxygenase-2 in the enteric nervous system of the pig jejunum. Heme-oxygenase-2 immunoreactivity was found in neurons of myenteric ganglia and in nerve fibers in the circular and longitudinal muscle layers. These results suggest that carbon monoxide is produced in the enteric nervous system of the pig jejunum and might mediate inhibitory neural activity in myenteric ganglia and inhibitory neural input to smooth muscle cells in the circular and longitudinal muscle layers.

Non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibition of gastrointestinal smooth muscle and its intracellular mechanism(s)

Relaxation of gastrointestinal smooth muscle caused by release of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) transmitters from enteric nerves occurs in several physiologic digestive reflexes. Likely candidate NANC inhibitory agents include nitric oxide (NO), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), carbon monoxide (CO), protease-activated receptors (PARs), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), neurotensin (NT) and beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (beta-NAD). Multiple NANC transmitters work in concert, are pharmacologically coupled and are closely coordinated. Individual contribution varies regionally in the gastrointestinal tract and between species. NANC inhibition of gastrointestinal smooth muscle involves several intracellular mechanisms, including increase of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), increase of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and hyperpolarization of the cell membrane via direct or indirect activation of potassium ion (K+) channels.

Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs): vasodilatory, anti-ischaemic and anti-inflammatory activities

The well-known adverse effects of CO (carbon monoxide) intoxication are counterbalanced by its positive actions when small amounts are produced intracellularly by the cytoprotective enzyme HO-1 (haem oxygenase-1). As compelling scientific evidence accumulated to sustain that HO-1 plays a fundamental role in counteracting vascular and inflammatory disorders, we began to appreciate that a controlled delivery of CO to mammals may provide therapeutic benefits in a number of pathological states. This is the rationale for the recent development of CO-RMs (CO-releasing molecules), a group of compounds capable of carrying and liberating controlled quantities of CO in cellular systems, which offer a plausible tool for studying the pharmacological effects of this gas and identifying its mechanism(s) of action. The present review will highlight the encouraging results obtained so far on the vasodilatory, anti-ischaemic and anti-inflammatory effects elicited by CO-RMs in in vitro and in vivo models with an emphasis on the prospect of converting chemical CO carriers into CO-based pharmaceuticals.

P2Y1 receptors mediate inhibitory neuromuscular transmission and enteric neuronal activation in small intestine

There is increasing evidence that adenosine 5'-triphosphate or a related purine plays a crucial role in smooth muscle relaxation and enteric synaptic neurotransmission. Accordingly, the aim of the present work is to investigate the role P2Y(1) receptors in purinergic inhibitory neurotransmission (pig ileum) and enteric neuronal activation in the small intestine (guinea-pig ileum). Using contractility measurements, micro-electrode recordings and Ca(2+) imaging we found that (i) adenosine 5'-Omicron-2-thiodiphosphate (ADPbetaS) (10 micromol L(-1)) caused smooth muscle relaxation and hyperpolarization that was antagonized by MRS2179 (10 micromol L(-1)) a P2Y(1) receptor antagonist and apamin (1 micromol L(-1)); (ii) electrical field stimulation (EFS) caused a non-nitrergic inhibitory junction potential (IJP) and relaxation that was antagonized by MRS2179 (10 micromol L(-1)); (iii) P2Y(1) receptors were immunolocalized in smooth muscle cells and enteric neurons; (i.v.) superfusion of ADPbetaS (1 micromol L(-1)) induced Ca(2+) transients in myenteric neurons that were inhibited by MRS2179 (1 micromol L(-1)), but not by tetrodotoxin (1 micromol L(-1)); and (v) EFS induced calcium transients were partially inhibited by MRS2179 (1 micromol L(-1)). We conclude that in the small intestine purinergic neuromuscular transmission responsible for the IJP and non-nitrergic relaxation is mediated by P2Y(1) receptors located in smooth muscle cells. Functional P2Y(1) receptors are also present in guinea-pig myenteric neurons. Therefore, P2Y(1) receptors might be an important pharmacological target to modulate gastrointestinal functions.

Membrane potential gradient is carbon monoxide-dependent in mouse and human small intestine

The aims of this study were to quantify the change in resting membrane potential (RMP) across the thickness of the circular muscle layer in the mouse and human small intestine and to determine whether the gradient in RMP is dependent on the endogenous production of carbon monoxide (CO). Conventional sharp glass microelectrodes were used to record the RMPs of circular smooth muscle cells at different depths in the human small intestine and in wild-type, HO2-KO, and W/W(V) mutant mouse small intestine. In the wild-type mouse and human intestine, the RMP of circular smooth muscle cells near the myenteric plexus was -65.3 +/- 2 mV and -58.4 +/- 2 mV, respectively, and -60.1 +/- 2 mV and -49.1 +/- 1 mV, respectively, in circular smooth muscle cells at the submucosal border. Oxyhemoglobin (20 microM), a trapping agent for CO, and chromium mesoporphyrin IX, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase, abolished the transwall gradient. The RMP gradients in mouse and human small intestine were not altered by N(G)-nitro-l-arginine (200 microM). No transwall RMP gradient was found in HO2-KO mice and W/W(V) mutant mice. TTX (1 microM) and 1H-[1,2,4-]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (10 microM) had no effect on the RMP gradient. These data suggest that the gradient in RMP across the thickness of the circular muscle layer of mouse and human small intestine is CO dependent.

Regulation of interstitial cells of Cajal in the mouse gastric body by neuronal nitric oxide

The factors underlying the survival and maintenance of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are not well understood. Loss of ICC is often associated with loss of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in humans, suggesting a possible link. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of neuronal NO on ICC in the mouse gastric body. The volumes of ICC were determined in nNOS(-/-) and control mice in the gastric body and in organotypic cultures using immunohistochemistry, laser scanning confocal microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction. ICC numbers were determined in primary cell cultures after treatment with an NO donor or an NOS inhibitor. The volumes of myenteric c-Kit-immunoreactive networks of ICC from nNOS(-/-) mice were significantly reduced compared with control mice. No significant differences in the volumes of c-Kit-positive ICC were observed in the longitudinal muscle layers. ICC volumes were either decreased or unaltered in the circular muscle layer after normalization for the volume of circular smooth muscle. The number of ICC was increased after incubation with S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine and decreased by N(G)-nitro-l-arginine. Neuronally derived NO modulates ICC numbers and network volume in the mouse gastric body. NO appears to be a survival factor for ICC.

Differential inhibitory control of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers of Balb/C mouse small intestine

We examined the inhibitory mediators acting on each of the longitudinal (LM) and circular muscle (CM) layers of mouse small intestine in the presence of atropine, prazosin and timolol. Nitric oxide (NO) and apamin-sensitive mediators exerted an inhibitory tone on pacing frequency in CM, observed as an increased frequency upon treatment with N-omega-nitro-l-arginine (LNNA) or apamin. This effect was not seen in LM. 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-A)quinazoline-1-one (ODQ) abolished the relaxation in response to electric field stimulation (EFS) in LM in a manner similar to LNNA indicating that the inhibitory mediator in this layer in NO acting via soluble guanylate cyclase. On the other hand, in CM neither LNNA nor apamin was capable of reducing the inhibition in response to EFS and their combination left a residual relaxation of 25%. ODQ reduced the EFS-evoked relaxation more effectively than LNNA at higher frequencies indicating that another ODQ-sensitive mediator was active in CM. ODQ also blocked the relaxation to exogenous vasoactive intestinal peptide in CM. In LM, the relaxation due to sodium nitroprusside was equally blocked by ODQ and apamin, while in CM, its effects were only reduced by ODQ and not apamin. These results indicate that there are differences in the inhibitory mediators and the mechanisms of action involved in LM and CM relaxation.

Therapeutic applications of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules

Carbon monoxide (CO), which is formed in mammalian cells through the oxidation of haem by the enzyme haem oxygenase, actively participates in the regulation of key intracellular functions. Emerging evidence reveals that an increased generation of haem oxygenase-derived CO plays a critical role in the resolution of inflammatory processes and alleviation of cardiovascular disorders. The authors have identified a novel class of substances, CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs), which are capable of exerting a variety of pharmacological activities via the liberation of controlled amounts of CO in biological systems. A wide range of CO carriers containing manganese (CORM-1), ruthenium (CORM-2 and -3), boron (CORM-A1) and iron (CORM-F3) are currently being investigated to tailor therapeutic approaches for the prevention of vascular dysfunction, inflammation, tissue ischaemia and organ rejection.

Impact of caveolin-1 knockout on NANC relaxation in circular muscles of the mouse small intestine compared with longitudinal muscles

Recently, we showed that caveolin-1 (cav1) knockout mice (Cav1(-/-) mice) have impaired nitric oxide (NO) function in the longitudinal muscle (LM) layer of the small intestine. The defect was a reduced responsiveness of the muscles to NO compensated by an increase in the function of apamin-sensitive, nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) mediators. In the present study, we examined similarly the effects of cav1 knockout on the relaxation in circular muscle (CM) of the mouse small intestine. CM of Cav1(-/-) mice also showed defective NO function, but less than in LM, as well as more activation of apamin-sensitive NANC mediators. CM of Cav1(-/-) mice, like LM, lacked cav1 but retained small amounts of cav3 and caveolae in the outer CM layer. In addition, we also examined the effects of a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-alpha]quinazolin-1-one (ODQ), on electric field stimulation (EFS)-mediated relaxation in both LM and CM. ODQ had an effect similar to the block of NO synthesis. Moreover, we compared the actions of two NO donors in the LM and CM of control and Cav1(-/-) mice. Similar to LM, CM of Cav1(-/-) mice showed a reduced responsiveness to the NO donors sodium nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine. However, both ODQ and apamin blocked the inhibitory effects of the NO donors in LM, whereas apamin had no effect in CM. In conclusion, cav1 knockout affects NO function in both LM and CM, but its effects in CM differ significantly.

Caveolin-1 gene knockout impairs nitrergic function in mouse small intestine

Caveolin-1 is a plasma membrane-associated protein that is responsible for caveolae formation. It plays an important role in the regulation of the function of different signaling molecules, among which are the different isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be an important inhibitory mediator in the mouse gut. Caveolin-1 knockout mice (Cav1(-/-)) were used to examine the effect of caveolin-1 absence on the NO function in the mouse small intestine (ileum and jejunum) compared to their genetic controls and BALB/c controls. Immunohistochemical staining showed loss of caveolin-1 and NOS in the jejunal smooth muscles and myenteric plexus interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) of Cav1(-/-) mice; however, nNOS immunoreactive nerves were still present in myenteric ganglia. Under nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) conditions, small intestinal tissues from Cav1(-/-) mice relaxed to electrical field stimulation (EFS), as did tissues from control mice. Relaxation of tissues from control mice was markedly reduced by N-omega-nitro-L-arginine (10(-4) M), but relaxation of Cav1(-/-) animals was affected much less. Also, Cav1(-/-) mice tissues showed reduced relaxation responses to sodium nitroprusside (100 microM) compared to controls; yet there were no significant differences in the relaxation responses to 8-bromoguanosine-3': 5'-cyclic monophosphate (100 microM). Apamin (10(-6) M) significantly reduced relaxations to EFS in NANC conditions in Cav1(-/-) mice, but not in controls. The data from this study suggest that caveolin-1 gene knockout causes alterations in the smooth muscles and the ICC, leading to an impaired NO function in the mouse small intestine that could possibly be compensated by apamin-sensitive inhibitory mediators.

Pharmacologic characterization of intrinsic mechanisms controlling tone and relaxation of porcine lower esophageal sphincter

The neurotransmitters mediating relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) were studied using circular LES strips from adult pigs in organ baths. LES relaxation by sodium nitroprusside (1 nM-3 microM), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP; 1 nM-1 microM), ATP (10 microM-30 mM), and tricarbonyldichlororuthenum dimer (1 microM-1 mM) was unaffected by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) or l-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 100 microM). Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP; 1 nM-1 microM) did not affect LES tone. ATP relaxation was blocked by 1 microM apamin and the P2Y(1) antagonist MRS 2179 (N6-methyl 2'-deoxyadenosine 3',5'-bisphosphate; 10 microM). Apamin inhibited PACAP relaxation. VIP and PACAP relaxation was blocked by 10 U/ml alpha-chymotrypsin. L-NAME (-62.52 +/- 13.13%) and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazole-[4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 10 microM, -67.67 +/- 6.80%) similarly inhibited electrical LES relaxation, and apamin blocked non-nitrergic relaxation. Nicotine relaxation (100 microM) was inhibited by L-NAME (-60.37 +/- 10.8%) and ODQ (-41.90 +/- 7.89%), and apamin also blocked non-nitrergic relaxation. Non-nitrergic and apamin-sensitive LES relaxation by electrical stimulation or nicotine was strongly inhibited by MRS 2179, slightly inhibited by alpha-chymotrypsin and the P2X(1,2,3) receptor antagonist NF 279 (8,8 cent-[carbonylbis(imino-4,1-phenylenecarbonylimino-4,1-phenylenecarbonylimino)]bis-1,3,5-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid hexasodium salt; 10 microM), and unaffected by tin protoporphyrin IX (100 microM). Porcine LES relaxation after stimulation of intrinsic inhibitory motor neurons is mediated by two main neuromuscular pathways: nitric oxide through guanylate cyclase signaling and apamin-insensitive mechanisms and by non-nitrergic apamin-sensitive neurotransmission mainly mediated by ATP, ADP, or a related purine acting on P2Y1 receptors and a minor contribution of purinergic P2X1,2,3 receptors and PACAP. Nitrergic and purinergic co-transmitters show parallel effects of similar magnitude without major interplay. Our study shows no role for CGRP and only a minor one for VIP and carbon monoxide in porcine LES relaxation.