Neither a purine nor VIP is the mediator of inhibitory nerves of opossum oesophageal smooth muscle

Murine genetic deficiency of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS(-/-) ) and interstitial cells of Cajal (W/W(v) ): Implications for achalasia?

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important inhibitory mediator of esophageal function, and its lack leads to typical features of achalasia. In contrast, the role of intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC-IM) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function is still controversial. Therefore, we examined the function and morphology of the LES in vivo in NO-deficient (nNOS(-/-) ), ICC-IM-deficient (W/W(v) )-, and wild-type (WT) mice.

METHODS

Esophageal manometry was performed with a micro-sized transducer catheter to quantify LES pressure, swallow evoked LES relaxation, and esophageal body motility. The LES morphology was examined by semiquantitative analysis of the immunoreactivity (reduction grade I-IV) of neuronal NOS (nNOS), ICC-IM, and VIP and their correlation with esophageal function.

RESULTS

nNOS(-/-) in comparison to WT mice showed a significantly higher LES mean resting pressure with an impaired swallow induced relaxation, whereas W/W(v) mice had a hypotensive LES with decreased relaxation. W/W(v) and nNOS(-/-) mice demonstrated differing degrees of tubular esophageal dysfunction. The reduced immunoreactivity of nNOS correlated with an increased LES pressure and decreased LES relaxation, respectively. Cajal-cell reduction correlated with impaired LES relaxation, whereas VIP reduction revealed no correlation with esophageal function.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduction of ICC-IM and nNOS can cause dysfunction of the LES and esophageal peristalsis, whereas VIP reduction seems to have no effect. ICC-IM and nNOS deficiency might be independent relevant causes of esophageal dysfunction similar to that seen in human achalasia.

Deglutitive inhibition, latency between swallow and esophageal contractions and primary esophageal motor disorders

Swallowing induces an inhibitory wave that is followed by a contractile wave along the esophageal body. Deglutitive inhibition in the skeletal muscle of the esophagus is controlled in the brain stem whilst in the smooth muscle, an intrinsic peripheral control mechanism is critical. The latency between swallow and contractions is determined by the pattern of activation of the inhibitory and excitatory vagal pathways, the regional gradients of inhibitory and excitatory myenteric nerves, and the intrinsic properties of the smooth muscle. A wave of inhibition precedes a swallow-induced peristaltic contraction in the smooth muscle part of the human oesophagus involving both circular and longitudinal muscles in a peristaltic fashion. Deglutitive inhibition is necessary for drinking liquids which requires multiple rapid swallows (MRS). During MRS the esophageal body remains inhibited until the last of the series of swallows and then a peristaltic contraction wave follows. A normal response to MRS requires indemnity of both inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms and esophageal muscle. MRS has recently been used to assess deglutitive inhibition in patients with esophageal motor disorders. Examples with impairment of deglutitive inhibition are achalasia of the LES and diffuse esophageal spasm.

Regulation of basal tone, relaxation and contraction of the lower oesophageal sphincter. Relevance to drug discovery for oesophageal disorders

The lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) is a specialized region of the oesophageal circular smooth muscle that allows the passage of a swallowed bolus to the stomach and prevents the reflux of gastric contents into the oesophagus. The anatomical arrangement of the LOS includes semicircular clasp fibres adjacent to the lesser gastric curvature and sling fibres following the greater gastric curvature. Such anatomical arrangement together with an asymmetric intrinsic innervation and distinct proportion of neurotransmitters in both regions produces an asymmetric pressure profile. The LOS tone is myogenic in origin and depends on smooth muscle properties that lead to opening of L-type Ca(2+) channels; however it can be modulated by enteric motor neurons, the parasympathetic and sympathetic extrinsic nervous system and several neurohumoral substances. Nitric oxide synthesized by neuronal NOS is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in LOS relaxation. Different putative neurotransmitters have been proposed to play a role together with NO. So far, only ATP or related purines have shown to be co-transmitters with NO. Acetylcholine and tachykinins are involved in the LOS contraction acting through acetylcholine M(3) and tachykinin NK(2) receptors. Nitric oxide can also be involved in the regulation of LOS contraction. The understanding of the mechanisms that originate and modulate LOS tone, relaxation and contraction and the characterization of neurotransmitters and receptors involved in LOS function are important to develop new pharmacological tools to treat primary oesophageal motor disorders and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Interstitial cells of Cajal and neuromuscular transmission in the rat lower oesophageal sphincter

The distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and neurotransmission were investigated in lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) circular muscle strips from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, Ws/Ws mutant rats and their wild-type (+/+) siblings. Intramuscular c-Kit-positive cells, confirmed to be ICC-IM by electron microscopy, were observed throughout both muscle layers from SD and +/+ rats. In contrast, c-Kit-positive, ultrastructurally typical ICC-IM were absent in Ws/Ws. LES strips from Ws/Ws rats showed increased spontaneous contractile activity. Strips from SD and +/+ rats, responded to electrical neuronal stimulation with a relaxation that was in part L-NNA and in part apamin sensitive, followed by a contraction which was decreased by atropine. In Ws/Ws rats, similar to +/+ rats, neurally mediated relaxation was L-NNA and apamin sensitive and the contraction was decreased by atropine. We conclude that in the rat LES, relaxation is mediated by NO and an apamin-sensitive mediator, and contraction primarily by acetylcholine. Despite the absence of c-Kit-positive ICC, nerve-muscle interaction can be accomplished likely by diffusion of neurotransmitters to the smooth muscle cells. The lack of c-Kit-positive ICC is related to an increase in the basal tone and spontaneous contractile activity. The presence of fibroblast-like ICC in Ws/Ws rats might represent immature ICC whose possible functions need further investigation.

Fifty-eight years in science--a commentary

After 58 years in science, mostly in pharmacology, one gains perspective. Mine is that there have been important changes over this time, some good and some questionable. In this commentary, I try to reveal how I got to this stage, partially explaining my biases, and possibly helping others learn from my experiences including mistakes. Changing from seeking an M.D. to cellular biology and then to pharmacology early in my career were the best moves I made. The next best move was migration to Canada, away from the McCarthy-McCarran hysteria. Arriving at a time after the end of World War II when science in Canada was expanding was very good luck. I had an excellent opportunity to enjoy both the administration (as Chair of the first independent Department of Pharmacology at the University of Alberta) and the practice of pharmacology (as a practitioner of research on smooth muscle in health and disease). For me, the practice of research has always won over administration when a choice had to be made. Early on, I began to ask questions about educational practices and tried to evaluate them. This led me to initiate changes in laboratories and to seek nondidactic educational approaches such as problem-based learning. I also developed questions about the practice of anonymous peer review. After moving to McMaster in 1975, I was compelled to find a solution for a failed "Pharmacology Program" and eventually developed the first "Smooth Muscle Research Program". Although that was a good solution for the research component, it did not solve the educational needs. This led to the development of "therapeutic problems", which were used to help McMaster medical students educate themselves about applied pharmacology. Now these problems are being used to educate pharmacology honours and graduate students at the University of Alberta. The best part of all these activities is the colleagues and friends that I have interacted with and learned from over the years, and the realization that many of them have collaborated with me again in this volume.

Involvement of purinergic nerves in the NANC inhibitory junction potentials in pigeon oesophageal smooth muscle

1. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) (0.5 ms in train of 2-32 Hz for 300 ms) in smooth muscle of pigeon oesophagus, in the presence of atropine (1 microm) and guanethidine (1 microm), elicited an inhibitory response consisting of a transient hyperpolarization (inhibitory junction potential, IJP) associated with muscle relaxation. 2. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 100 microm) induced hyperpolarization correlated to mechanical relaxation. 3. The nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine (from 0.1 to 100 microm) caused a concentration-dependent reduction of electromechanical response to EFS indicating a role for NO in this response. 4. Apamin (1 microm) reduced both IJP and relaxation to EFS but was without effect on the response to SNP indicating a role for purines, which are also blocked by apamin. 5. Adenosine, AMP, ADP and ATP (all from 1 microm to 1 mm) application caused transient hyperpolarization and muscular relaxation with the following order of potency: adenosine > AMP > ADP > ATP. 6. Inhibitory responses evoked by purines are TTX (1 microm) insensitive but they were inhibited by apamin. This indicates that a purine component for the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) response exists but the purine receptor site is not located on the neurone. 7. Overall these results suggest that NANC inhibitory response elicited by EFS presents two different components apamin-sensitive, probably purines-mediated and apamin-insensitive probably NO-mediated as apamin only partially block the response to EFS.

Vagal ganglionic and nonadrenergic noncholinergic neurotransmission to the ferret lower oesophageal sphincter

In the present study we aimed to discretely characterise ganglionic and neuroeffector transmission to the ferret lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) using a novel preparation of LOS muscle with intact vagal innervation in conjunction with isolated LOS muscle strips. In this way we could compare vagally mediated LOS relaxation with that of enteric inhibitory motorneurones which were directly stimulated. Preparations of LOS muscle, with or without attached vagus nerves, were dissected from adult ferrets and maintained under preload in organ baths, where LOS muscle developed spontaneous tone. LOS relaxations in response to vagal stimulation (0.5-5 Hz, 30 V) were recorded, alone and following pretreatment with tetrodotoxin (TTX), hexamethonium (Hex), Hex and atropine and NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). Direct activation of enteric inhibitory motorneurones was performed via electrical field stimulation (EFS). Vagal stimulation elicited frequency-dependent relaxations of the LOS that were abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) and markedly reduced following L-NNA pretreatment (100 microM), but unaltered following pretreatment with the selective VIP or PACAP receptor antagonists VIP (10-28) or PACAP (6-38), respectively (each at 5 microM). The potent NOS inhibitor S-methyl-L-thiocitrulline (100 microM) inhibited LOS relaxation to the same degree at 5 Hz. Hex alone (500 microM) reduced maximal relaxation by 50%; in combination with atropine (2 microM), relaxation was almost abolished. In isolated LOS muscle strips, neither VIP (10-28) nor PACAP (6-38) altered EFS-induced relaxation. Taken together, these results suggest ganglionic neurotransmission to the ferret LOS occurs mainly through a combination of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors and utilises nitroxidergic enteric inhibitory motorneurones to relax the LOS. Moreover, LOS relaxation due to direct activation of inhibitory motorneurones also utilises primarily nitric oxide and other as yet undefined neurotransmitters. Neither VIP nor PACAP are involved in vagally mediated or direct enteric neuronally stimulated LOS relaxation in the ferret.

Role of cGMP as a mediator of nerve-induced motor functions of the opossum esophagus

Stimulation of esophageal nerves produces biphasic relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and an off response of circular esophageal muscle. Previously, we proposed that cGMP mediates nerve-induced hyperpolarization of circular LES muscle but not LES relaxation. These experiments explore whether cGMP mediates LES relaxation or the off response. Strips of muscle from the opossum esophagus and LES were connected to force-displacement transducers, placed in tissue baths containing oxygenated Krebs solution at 37 degrees C, and stimulated by an electrical field. 1H-[1,2, 4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a selective inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase, antagonized the off response, shortened its latency, and blocked the first phase of LES relaxation. ODQ also antagonized LES relaxation by exogenous nitric oxide (NO) but not relaxations by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Part of the nerve-induced LES relaxation and the off response appear to be mediated by the second messenger cGMP. These studies indicate that VIP-induced LES relaxation is not mediated by cGMP and therefore do not support the hypothesis that VIP produces LES relaxation by causing the generation of NO.

Cyclic GMP-associated apamin-sensitive nitrergic slow inhibitory junction potential in the hamster ileum

1. The mediators of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory junction potentials (i.j.ps) in the circular smooth muscle cells of the hamster ileum were studied. 2. Electrical field stimulation (EFS; 0.5 ms duration, 15 V) of the intramural nerves with a train of five pulses at 20 Hz evoked a rapidly developing hyperpolarization (fast i.j.p.) followed by a sustained hyperpolarization (slow i.j.p.). 3. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 50 - 200 microM) and NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; 50 - 200 microM), NO synthase inhibitors, inhibited or abolished the EFS-induced fast and slow NANC i.j.ps. The effects of these NO synthase inhibitors were reversed by L-arginine (5 mM) but not by D-arginine (5 mM). 4. Exogenously applied nitric oxide (NO; 1 - 100 microM) induced concentration-dependent hyperpolarizations. 5. Oxyhaemoglobin (5 - 50 microM), NO scavenger, inhibited only the slow i.j.p., and the NO-induced hyperpolarization. 6. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4, 3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ; 10 microM) and cystamine (10 mM), guanylate cyclase inhibitors, inhibited only the slow i.j.p. Zaprinast (100 microM), a phosphodiesterase type V inhibitor, enhanced the amplitude and duration of the slow i.j.p. 7. Apamin (100 nM), a small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel blocker, inhibited only the slow i.j.p., and NO-induced hyperpolarization. A high concentration of 8-bromoguanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-bromo-cGMP; 1 mM)-induced membrane hyperpolarization which was blocked by apamin. 8. These results suggest that NO, or a related compound, may be the inhibitory transmitter underlying the apamin-sensitive NANC slow i.j.p. and cyclic GMP mediates the slow i. j.p. in the hamster ileum. It is also likely that NO, without involvement of guanylate cyclase is associated with the fast i.j.p.

Biphasic relaxation of the opossum lower esophageal sphincter: roles of NO., VIP, and CGRP

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO.) are thought to mediate lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation. Transverse muscle strips from the opossum LES were used to test this hypothesis. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) produced a biphasic LES relaxation: a rapid component during the stimulus was more prominent at lower stimulus frequencies, and a sustained component was more prominent at higher frequencies. N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine and hemoglobin inhibited the rapid component but affected the sustained component less. Exogenous VIP decreased LES tone. A number of purported VIP antagonists blocked neither VIP-induced nor EFS-induced relaxation of the LES. The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist CGRP-(8-37) did not alter EFS-induced LES relaxation. EFS-induced relaxation of opossum LES muscle is biphasic, and the initial, rapid component of the relaxation is mediated primarily by NO. The mediator of the sustained component was not identified.

Notable postnatal alterations in the myenteric plexus of normal human bowel

BACKGROUND

Nitric oxide is the most important transmitter in non-adrenergic non-cholinergic nerves in the human gastrointestinal tract. Impaired nitrergic innervation has been described in Hirschsprung's disease, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND). Recent findings indicate that hyperganglionosis, one of the major criteria of IND, is age dependent. However, information is scanty regarding the neurone density in normal human bowel in the paediatric age group.

AIMS

To determine neurone density, morphology, and nitric oxide synthase distribution of the normal myenteric plexus at different ages during infancy and childhood.

METHODS

Specimens were obtained from small bowel and colon in 20 children, aged one day to 15 years, at postmortem examination. Whole mount preparations were made of the myenteric plexus, which were subsequently stained using NADPH diaphorase histochemistry (identical to nitric oxide synthase) and cuprolinic blue (a general neuronal marker). The morphology of the myenteric plexus was described and the neurone density estimated.

RESULTS

The myenteric plexus meshwork becomes less dense during the first years of life. The density of ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus decreases significantly with age during the first three to four years of life. The NADPH diaphorase positive (nitrergic) subpopulation represents about 34% of all neurones in the myenteric plexus.

CONCLUSIONS

The notable decrease in neurone density in the myenteric plexus during the first years of life indicates that development is still an ongoing process in the postnatal enteric nervous system. Applied to the clinical situation, this implies that interpretation of enteric nervous system pathology is dependent on the age of the patient.

Activation of outward K+ currents: effect of VIP in oesophagus

1. Electrical field stimulations (EFS) of the opossum and canine lower oesophageal sphincters (OLOS and CLOS respectively) and opossum oesophageal body circular muscle (OOBCM) induce non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxations of any active tension and NO-mediated hyperpolarization. VIP relaxes the OLOS and CLOS and any tone in OOBCM without major electrophysiological effects. These relaxations are not blocked by NOS inhibitors. Using isolated smooth muscle cells, we tested whether VIP acted through myogenic NO production. 2. Outward currents were similar in OOBCM and OLOS and NO increased them regardless of pipette Ca2+(i), from 50-8000 nM. L-NAME or L-NOARG did not block outward currents in OLOS at 200 nM pipette Ca2+. 3. Outward currents in CLOS cells decreased at 200 nM pipette Ca2+ or less but NO donors still increased them. VIP had no effect on outward currents in cells from OOBCM, OLOS or CLOS under conditions of pipette Ca2+ at which NO donors increased outward K+ currents. 4. We conclude, VIP does not mimic electrophysiological effects of NO donors on isolated cells of OOBCM, OLOS or CLOS. VIP relaxes the OLOS and CLOS and inhibits contraction of OOBCM by a mechanism unrelated to release of myogenic NO or an increase in outward current. 5. Also, the different dependence of outward currents of OOBCM and OLOS on pipette Ca2+ from those of CLOS suggests that different K+ channels are involved and that myogenic NO production contributes to K+ channel activity in CLOS but not in OLOS or OOBCM.

NANC relaxation of the circular smooth muscle of the oesophagus of the Agama lizard involves the L-arginine-nitric oxide synthase pathway

On carbachol (CCh; 10-30 microM) pre-contracted circular muscle strips of the Agama lizard oesophagus, electrical field stimulation evoked frequency-dependent relaxations in the presence of guanethidine (1 microM) and indomethacin (1 microM). These non-adrenergic inhibitory responses were concentration-dependently inhibited by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) within a concentration range of 30-300 microM but not D-NAME (up to 300 microM), although a component remained at 4-16 Hz even with 300 microM L-NAME. The inhibition by L-NAME (300 microM) was completely prevented when L-arginine (L-Arg; 15 mM) but not D-Arg (up to 15 mM) was applied simultaneously with L-NAME (300 microM). Increasing the L-NAME concentration to 1 mM had no additional inhibitory effect. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) concentration-dependently relaxed pre-contracted oesophageal strips, L-NAME (up to 300 microM) had no effect. Neither adenosine 5'-triphosphate (up to 0.1 mM) nor vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (up to 0.1 microM) caused the pre-contracted oesophagus to relax. This study has shown that the NANC inhibitory response of the Agama lizard oesophagus circular muscle largely involves the L-Arg-NOS pathway as seen by the effect of L-NAME, L-Arg and SNP. The identity of the L-NAME-resistant component(s) and the lack of effect of tetrodotoxin (up to 3 microM) and omega-conotoxin GVIA (up to 0.1 microM) in relation to the nature of the inhibitory response are discussed.

Oesophagitis-induced changes in capsaicin-sensitive tachykininergic pathways in the ferret lower oesophageal sphincter

Prolonged oesophageal acidification may impair lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) function in reflux disease. The aim of this study was to investigate aspects of altered LOS innervation in a model of oesophagitis. Oesophagitis was induced by acid (HCl, 0.15 M) and pepsin (0.1% w/v) infusions in anaesthetized ferrets. LOS muscle strip responses to the following stimuli were measured in vitro from control and acid/pepsin-treated ferrets: electrical field stimulation (EFS; 1-50 Hz), potassium chloride KCl; 20 mM), substance P, [beta-Ala8]-neurokinin A 4-10, [Sar9, Met (O2)11]-substance P (all 10(-10) to 10(-6) M) and capsaicin (10(-8) to 10(-6) M). LOS relaxation occurred in response to all stimuli except [beta-Ala8]-neurokinin A 4-10, which evoked contraction. In muscle strips from acid/pepsin-treated animals there were no differences in amplitude or sensitivity of relaxation following EFS, KCl or substance P vs controls. However, the inhibitory response to capsaicin was increased four-fold (10(-8) M; P < 0.05) and an increased sensitivity of the inhibitory response to [Sar9, Met (O2)11]-substance P occurred (pD2 = 8.64 +/- 0.12 acid/pepsin-treated vs 7.94 +/- 0.24 control, P < 0.05). We conclude that in acute oesophagitis, increased sensitivity of capsaicin-activated inhibitory pathways occurs in which activation of NK-1 receptors plays an integral role in the ferret LOS.

Nonadrenergic-noncholinergic relaxations of isolated circular muscle from South American opossum esophagogastric junction: is nitric oxide the inhibitory mediator?

Nonadrenergic-noncholinergic (NANC) inhibitory nerves are responsible for most of the nerve induced relaxations of gastrointestinal muscle. It has recently been proposed that NANC nerves may release nitric oxide (NO) or a related compound derived from L-arginine. We have recently shown that the South American (SA) opossum is another suitable model to elucidate the mechanism involved in these NANC relaxations. In the present study the effect of NO synthase inhibitors as well as NO inactivators on the NANC-nerve induced relaxations of the circular muscle of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) of the SA opossum was investigated. It was observed that the NO synthase inhibitors, L-NOARG and L-NAME, caused a concentration-dependent reduction of NANC-nerve induced relaxations which was reversed by L- but not D-arginine. The NO-donors sodium nitroprusside and hydroxilamine as well as NO caused concentration-dependent relaxations of the EGJ circular muscle. In the myenteric plexus of this region, NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons and nerve fibers were observed while in the circular muscle layer only numerous positive fibers were found. The NO inactivators, hydroquinone, pyrogallol and carboxy-PTIO, reduced NO-induced relaxations but failed to affect NANC nerve- and sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxations. Taken together, these findings indicate that NANC nerve induced relaxation of the SA opossum EGJ circular muscle is dependent on neural NO synthase activity and suggest that the neurotransmitter being released is a superoxide resistant molecule, which is unlikely to be the NO radical, or that the activity of NO synthase is required for the release of the actual neurotransmitter rather than for synthesizing the neuromediator.

Influence of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway on vasoactive intestinal polypeptide release and motility in the rat stomach in vitro

Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role as non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory transmitter in the gastrointestinal tract, especially in sphincter regions. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of NO on pyloric motility and on the release of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the isolated perfused rat stomach in vitro. Therefore, pyloric motility was continuously recorded by a special sleeve manometry catheter placed in the pyloric region and the concentration of VIP was determined in the venous effluent of the portal vein. Arterial perfusion with the nitrate agonist sodiumnitroprusside led to a dose-dependent reduction of the pyloric motility index (basal 166 +/- 48 mm Hg/min: sodiumnitroprusside 10(-6) M 30 +/- 20 mmHg/min: sodiumnitroprusside 10(-4) M 0: n = 8. P < 0.001) while VIP release was not influenced significantly. Inhibition of endogenous NO production by the NO-synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-Arg (L-NNA) significantly increased pyloric motility (basal motility index 175 +/- 28 mmHg/min: L-NNA 10(-4) M 348 +/- 48 mmHg/min: n = 8, P < 0.05). This effect was completely blocked by addition of L-Arg 10(-3) M (125 +/- 45 mm Hg/min: n = 8, P < 0.01), L-NNA and L-Arg both did not influence VIP release. Stimulation of the vagal nerve (VS: 20 V, 20 Hz, 1 ms) led to a significant decrease of the pyloric motility index (basal 181 +/- 15 mmHg/min; n = 7, P < 0.05), which was consistent even after addition of L-NNA 10(-4) M (basal 338 +/- 58 mmHg/min; VS 228 +/- 30 mmHg/min; n = 7, P < 0.05). Vagal stimulation increased VIP release significantly (basal 14.9 +/- 1.4 pmol/l; VS 20.1 +/- 2.6 pmol/l; n = 7, P < 0.05) while L-NNA had no influence on vagally induced VIP release. From these data, we conclude that the pylorus of the rat is under a tonic inhibition by endogenously released NO. Under the conditions studied. NO seems not to mediate the inhibitory effect of vagal stimulation exclusively and there seems to be no interaction between NO and VIP in the rat pylorus.

Characterization of the membrane conductance changes underlying the apamin-resistant NANC inhibitory junction potential in the guinea-pig proximal and distal colon

The nature of the electrically- or stretch-evoked nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) in circular smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig proximal and distal colon were investigated using standard intracellular microelectrode recording techniques. We have confirmed that the NANC IJP, recorded in the presence of hyoscine (1 microM) and nifedipine (1 microM), can be divided into two components with apamin (250 nM), a blocker of the small conductance Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels. Both the apamin-sensitive and the apamin-resistant components of the IJP were blocked by tetrodotoxin (1.6 microM) or by lowering the external Ca2+ concentration (to 0.25 mM). The apamin-sensitive IJP was also blocked by omega-conotoxin GVIA (100 nM), a blocker of 'N-type' Ca2+ channels. The apamin-resistant IJP and rebound post-stimulus depolarization (PSD) were reduced upon exposure to either NG-L-arginine (NOLA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), or the nitric oxide (NO) scavenger, haemoglobin. The effects of NOLA were partially reversed in the presence of excess L-arginine, a substrate for NOS, suggesting that NO, or a related NO-donor compound, is likely to be the apamin-resistant inhibitory transmitter. Blockade of either the apamin-sensitive or apamin-resistant IJP was associated with membrane depolarization and a decrease in the membrane conductance in the absence of nerve stimulation. In the proximal colon, the apamin-resistant IJP and PSD could both be demonstrated to arise from an increase in the membrane conductance after subtraction of a non-linear background conductance. The hyperpolarization upon repetitive NANC nerve stimulation was mimicked by the NO donor, S-nitroso-L-cysteine (2.5-25 microM), which evoked a transient apamin-sensitive, but omega-conotoxin GVIA resistant, component followed by a slower apamin-resistant component. These results suggest that neurally-released NO has a number of actions in the guinea-pig colon, causing apamin-resistant hyperpolarization and depolarization, as well as directly opening apamin-sensitive K+ channels.

Role of sarcoplasmic reticulum in inhibitory junction potentials and hyperpolarizations by nitric oxide donors in opossum oesophagus

1. Previous patch clamp studies of oesophageal circular muscle cells showed that nitric oxide (NO) modulated the opening of Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels involved in mediating the inhibitory junction potentials (i.j.ps). This study clarified the role of Ca2+ release from the superficial sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in the mechanism of i.j.ps or hyperpolarizing responses to NO-releasing compounds. Electrical and mechanical activities were simultaneously recorded by intracellular microelectrode or double sucrose gap techniques. 2. The NO-donors, sydnonimine (SIN-1) and sodium nitroprusside, each at 500 microM, hyperpolarized oesophageal circular muscle cells by 15-20 mV, like i.j.ps. 3. The selective inhibitors of SR Ca2(+)-ATPase (cyclopiazonic acid 10-30 microM and thapsigargin 5 microM) and the SR Ca2+ release channel activator (ryanodine 30 microM) caused depolarization and spontaneous contractions which were diminished after prolonged (> 30 min) incubation with these agents in Ca2(+)-containing medium. Moreover, these agents inhibited both the i.j.p. and NO-donor hyperpolarizations, suggesting that a functional SR Ca2+ uptake is necessary for the response to endogenous or exogenous NO. 4. These results, along with our previous findings of the dependence of i.j.ps and NO-donor hyperpolarizations on K+ channel activation and cyclic GMP elevation, support the hypothesis that subplasmalemmal (Ca2+)i elevation, via vectorial Ca2+ release from superficial SR toward the plasmalemma, may be an important mechanism by which NO, from NO-liberating compounds or released from inhibitory neurones induces relaxation and i.j.ps in opossum oesophagus.

Effects of nitric oxide (NO) and NO donors on the membrane conductance of circular smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig proximal colon

1. The membrane conductance changes underlying the membrane hyperpolarizations induced by nitric oxide (NO), S-nitroso-L-cysteine (NC) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were investigated in the circular smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig proximal colon, by use of standard intracellular microelectrode recording techniques. 2. NO (1%), NC (2.5-25 microM) and SNP (1-1000 microM) induced membrane hyperpolarization in a concentration-dependent manner, the hyperpolarizations to NO and NC developing more rapidly than those to SNP. The slower-developing responses to SNP were mimicked by the membrane permeable analogue of guanosine 3':5' cyclic-monophosphate (cyclic GMP), 8-bromo-cyclic GMP (500 microM), and by isoprenaline (10 microM). 3. The hyperpolarizations to NC and SNP were reduced in a low Ca2+ (0.25 mM) saline and upon the addition of haemoglobin (20 microM), but were not effected by NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) (100 microM) or omega-conotoxin GVIA (100 nM). the hyperpolarizations to SNP were also significantly reduced by methylene blue (50 microM). 4. Apamin (250 nM) depolarized the membrane potential approximately 10 mV and reduced the initial transient component of the hyperpolarization to NO (1%) and NC (25 microM), but had no effects on the hyperpolarizations to SNP and cyclic GMP. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) (5-15 mM), had little effect on the membrane responses to NO(1%), NC(2.5-25 microM), SNP(100(-1000) microM) or cyclic GMP(500 microM). However, TEA (5-15 mM) reduced the membrane hyperpolarizations to SNP (10 microM) and isoprenaline (10 microM) in a concentration-dependent manner. The hyperpolarization to isoprenaline (10 microM) remaining in the presence of 15 mM TEA was blocked by ouabain (10 microM). 5. The amplitude of electronic potentials (1 s duration) elicited during NO donor hyperpolarizations were little changed or only slightly reduced (5-25%). However, the amplitude of the electrotonic potentials elicited during maintained electrically-induced hyperpolarizations of similar amplitude were significantly increased (30-150%), suggesting that the non-linear membrane properties of the proximal colon partially mask an increase in membrane conductance elicited during the NO donor hyperpolarizations. 6. Membrane hyperpolarization in the presence of an NO donor, 8-bromo-cyclic GMP, isoprenaline, or upon application of a maintained hyperpolarizing electrical current, often evoked oscillations of the membrane potential. These oscillations were prevented by Cs+ (1 mM). 7. These results indicate that NO and NC hyperpolarize the circular muscle of the proximal colon by activating at least two TEA-resistant membrane K+ conductances, one of which is sensitive to apamin blockade. The K+ conductance increases activated by SNP or 8-bromo-cyclic GMP were little effected by apamin, perhaps suggesting a common mechanism. In contrast, the hyperpolarization to isoprenaline appears to involve the activation of TEA-sensitive Ca2(+)-activated K+ ('BK') channels, as well as a Na:K ATPase. Finally, the 'background' membrane conductance of the circular muscle cells of the proximal colon decreased upon membrane hyperpolarization to reveal oscillations of the membrane potential which may well represent 'pacemaker' or 'slow wave' activity.

Activation of delayed rectifier potassium channels in canine proximal colon by vasoactive intestinal peptide

1. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) inhibits phasic contractions and tone of gastrointestinal smooth muscles. This study examines electrical mechanisms that may mediate the inhibitory actions of VIP. 2. Electrical slow waves were recorded from canine proximal colon circular muscles. VIP (0.1 microM) decreased basal slow wave frequency but had no effect on amplitude or duration. When slow waves were enhanced with Bay K 8644 (1 microM), VIP decreased slow wave duration and inhibited contractions. 3. VIP inhibited slow waves and phasic contractions stimulated by tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA; 10 mM), but did not significantly reduce events stimulated by 4-amino-pyridine (4-AP; 10 mM). 4. Whole-cell outward currents were recorded from isolated myocytes, using the amphotericin B perforated patch technique. VIP (1 microM) increased charybdotoxin-insensitive outward currents. 5. Single voltage-dependent K+ channels were recorded in cell-attached patches. VIP increased reversibly the open probability, mean open time and mean burst duration of 4-AP-sensitive, charybdotoxin-insensitive K+ channels (KDR1). Two additional 4-AP- and charybdotoxin-insensitive K+ channels (approximately 90 pS and < 4 pS) were also observed in these patches, but were not significantly affected by VIP. 6. In summary, the effects of VIP on electrical slow waves may be due, in part, to activation of 4-AP-sensitive, 'delayed rectifier' K+ channels. Activation of these channels may contribute to premature slow wave repolarization, reduced Ca2+ entry, and inhibition of contractile force.

Non-adrenergic non-cholinergic nerve-mediated inhibitory control of pigeon oesophageal muscle

Pigeon oesophageal smooth muscle in vitro has spontaneous electromechanical activity. In the presence of atropine and guanethidine, electrical field stimulation evokes a transient TTX-sensitive response comprising inhibition of electric bursting activity and muscular relaxation. This NANC inhibitory response was analysed using the K+ channel blockers TEA and apamin, TEA perfusion (0.1-5 mM) induced a concentration-dependent reduction in amplitude of EFS-evoked relaxation. Responses to higher stimulation frequencies were more sensitive to TEA than those to lower ones. The maximum reduction in amplitude (29% of control) was obtained on 30 Hz EFS evoked responses during 5 mM TEA perfusion. In a similar way, apamin (0.01-10 microM) perfusion reduced NANC relaxation, up to 30% of control. These results suggest that in the pigeon oesophagus, NANC intramural neurons are responsible for muscular relaxation. We speculate that an increase in K+ conductance might be the main mechanism involved, although the residual response after K+ channel blockade indicates the existence of an additional ionic mechanism.

Plurichemical transmission and chemical coding of neurons in the digestive tract

The enteric nervous system contains neurons with well-defined functions. However, when neurons of the same function are examined in different regions or species, they are found to show subtle differences in their pharmacologies of transmission and different chemical coding. Individual enteric neurons use more than one transmitter, i.e., transmission is plurichemical. For example, enteric inhibitory neurons have three or more primary transmitters, including nitric oxide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and possibly adenosine triphosphate and pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide. Primary transmitters are highly conserved, although their relative roles vary considerably between gut regions. Multiple substances, including transmitters and their synthesizing enzymes and nontransmitters (such as neurofilament proteins), provide neurons with a chemical coding through which their functions and projections can be identified. Although equivalent neurons in different regions have the same primary transmitters, other chemical markers differ substantially. Caution must be taken in extrapolating pharmacological and neurochemical observations between species or even between regions in the one species. On the other hand, careful interregion and interspecies comparisons lead to an understanding of the features of enteric neurons that are highly conserved and can be used in valid extrapolation.

Failing deglutitive inhibition in primary esophageal motility disorders

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Primary esophageal motility disorders (achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm, and intermediate forms) are suggested to be caused by different degrees of inhibitory dysfunction; however, direct evidence for this hypothesis has never been presented in humans. The aim of this study was to measure the degree of inhibition that precedes deglutitive contractions in patients with primary motility disorders.

METHODS

Deglutitive inhibition was examined in patients with primary motility disorders: 9 with achalasia, 6 with symptomatic diffuse esophageal spasm, and 5 with intermediate forms. An artificial high-pressure zone was created in the esophageal body by inflating a balloon to a critical level, and pressure changes were measured at the interface between the balloon and esophageal wall. Inhibition was visualized as a relaxation of the artificial high-pressure zone.

RESULTS

An inverse relationship was found between the degree of inhibition and the propagation velocity of the deglutitive contraction (r = 0.75; P < 0.001). Normally propagated contractions were preceded by an inhibition of 84.2% +/- 3.6%; fast-propagating contractions were preceded by partial inhibition of 40.6% +/- 6.2%; and, in case of simultaneous contractions, inhibition was absent, i.e., 2.6% +/- 1.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

The spectrum of primary motility disorders is an expression of a progressively failing deglutitive inhibition.

Patients with achalasia lack nitric oxide synthase in the gastro-oesophageal junction

The abnormal function of the lower oesophageal sphincter in achalasia is likely to be due to impaired nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) inhibitory input. Since recent studies in animals suggest that nitric oxide (NO) is implicated physiologically in the inhibitory responses of the lower oesophageal sphincter, we have investigated whether the synthesis of NO is altered in the gastro-oesophageal junction of patients with achalasia. NO synthase activity was investigated in samples of tissue from the gastro-oesophageal junction obtained during surgery in eight patients with typical achalasia and six non-achalasic controls who underwent oesophagectomy for reasons other than sphincter dysfunction. The NO synthase activity was determined by the transformation of 14C-L-arginine into 14C-L-citrulline in tissue homogenates. In addition, immunohistochemical staining of the tissues was performed using a polyclonal antibody raised against a peptide sequence of rat brain NO synthase. Furthermore, the relaxant response to an exogenous NO donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) was measured in vitro in muscle strips obtained from two patients with achalasia and in two non-achalasic controls. NO synthase activity was detected in each of the samples obtained from six control patients (0.59 +/- 0.21 pmol mg-1 min-1; mean +/- SE). By contrast, none of the samples obtained from the eight patients with achalasia had any detectable NO synthase activity. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the presence of NO synthase in the myenteric plexus of the gastro-oesophageal junction of control patients and its absence in achalasia. SNP relaxed muscle strips precontracted with bethanechol in both control samples and those from patients with achalasia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nitric oxide affects mammalian distal colonic smooth muscle by tonic neural inhibition

1 The role of the L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway in tonic neural inhibition of spontaneous mechanical activity of distal colonic circular smooth muscle (DCCSM) was investigated in male Wistar rats. 2 Muscle strips were mounted in organ baths and spontaneous contractions recorded with isometric force transducers. They were characterized as low frequency (LFCs) 0.41 +/- 0.03 N cm-2 or high frequency contractions (HFCs) 0.22 +/- 0.04 N cm-2. The latter occurred intermittently to produce summation contractions (SCs) range 0.5-12 N cm-2. 3 Tetrodotoxin (100 nM) increased the forces of LFCs and SCs. Increase in force to tetrodotoxin did not occur after incubation of the muscle with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) 500 microM, an inhibitor of NO biosynthesis. 4 L-NMMA but not its enantiomer D-NMMA increased the force of LFCs (EC50: 200 microM) and SCS (EC50:175 microM) in a concentration-dependent manner which was reversed by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. 5 Muscle, precontracted by acetylcholine, relaxed to sodium nitroprusside (EC50:1.8 microM) NO gas (EV50:70 microliters) and NO solutions (EC50:4 microM) in a concentration-dependent manner. Guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate tissue concentrations (pmol mg-1 protein) were elevated in muscle after relaxation by sodium nitroprusside (500 microM) from 0.32 +/- 0.06 to 1.2 +/- 0.37 and by 1 ml of NO gas from 0.49 +/- 0.05 to 1.54 +/- 0.14. 6 These data suggest that DCCSM is under tonic neural inhibition mediated by NO biosynthesis.

Nitric oxide involvement in the peptide VIP-associated inhibitory junction potential in the guinea-pig ileum

1. Intracellular membrane potential recordings were made from circular smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig ileum in the presence of atropine (1 microM) and nifedipine (0.1 microM) at 30 degrees C. 2. Electrical field stimulation with one or four pulses produced a fast inhibitory junction potential (IJP) which lasted around 1 s. It was abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 microM), apamin (0.3 microM), and alpha, beta-methylene ATP tachyphylaxis. 3. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; 200 microM) had no effect on the resting membrane potential or the fast IJP. 4. Electrical field stimulation in the presence of apamin and substance P desensitization produced a slow IJP which was abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 microM). 5. L-NNA significantly reduced the amplitude of the slow IJP (P < 0.01). The antagonistic effect of L-NNA was reversed by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. 6. Injections of alpha, beta-methylene ATP, nitric oxide (NO), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) into the recording chamber caused tetrodotoxin-resistant hyperpolarizations of the smooth muscle membrane. Substance P desensitization did not modify the amplitudes of the hyperpolarizing response to ATP or NO, but increased the VIP hyperpolarization by 150% (P < 0.01). 7. L-NNA did not modify the amplitude of hyperpolarization due to ATP or NO; however, it antagonized VIP-induced hyperpolarization (P < 0.01). 8. These studies show that in the guinea-pig ileum circular muscle: (a) NO is not involved in the fast IJP which is mediated by ATP; (b) NO is involved in the slow IJP which is mediated by VIP and NO acting in series, and (c) the hyperpolarizing effects of VIP and the slow IJP are normally masked by overlapping depolarization due to concomitant release of substance P by the peptide VIP.

Ca2+ and Ca(2+)-activated Cl- currents in rabbit oesophageal smooth muscle

1. An inward current carried by Ca2+ was recorded from single smooth muscle cells of rabbit oesophageal muscularis mucosae using a whole-cell gigaseal technique with physiological (2 mM) external calcium concentration ([Ca2+]o) in the presence of intracellular Cs+ ([Cs+]i 130 mM). Only one type of Ca2+ current could be identified. The threshold for its activation was approximately -30 mV and maximum inward current (approximately 300 pA) was recorded at 0 mV. 2. This inward current was blocked by Co2+ (4 mM), Cd2+ (0.5 mM) and nifedipine (1 microM) and was enhanced by Bay K 8644 (5 microM). We therefore classify it as a L-type Ca2+ current and denote it ICa. 3. Steady-state inactivation data were well-fitted by a Boltzmann distribution, indicating that inactivation of the Ca2+ current is strongly modulated by membrane potential. However, the inactivation of ICa slowed significantly and became less complete when BaCl2 replaced CaCl2 in the Tyrode solution suggesting that the inactivation of ICa may also be dependent on [Ca2+]i. The steady-state activation and inactivation curves for ICa overlap between -40 and 0 mV indicating that there may be a Ca2+ window current in this range of potentials. 4. When EGTA was omitted from the pipette-filling solution, depolarizations positive to -10 mV resulted in a transient as opposed to a maintained inward Ca2+ current which was followed by a relatively large outward current. Under these conditions, slowly decaying inward tail currents were also recorded upon repolarization to the holding potential, -60 mV. However, when EGTA was omitted from the pipette, marked 'run-down' of the Ca2+ current occurred within 10 min after starting the whole-cell recording. 5. This run-down of ICa was reduced significantly when the nystatin perforated patch technique was used. Under these conditions stable ICa records could be obtained for over 1 h. Outward currents and slow decaying inward tail currents similar to those recorded with no EGTA in the pipette were also obtained consistently using the nystatin recording technique. 6. In nystatin perforated patch recordings, CoCl2 (2 mM) completely abolished the Ca2+ current, the outward currents and the slow inward tails. These findings suggest that the outward currents and slow inward tails are activated by a transmembrane influx of Ca2+. 7. Ion replacement and pharmacological tests provided evidence that both the outward currents and the slow inward tails are due to Ca(2+)-activated Cl- current (ICl(Ca)).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A wave of inhibition precedes primary peristaltic contractions in the human esophagus

Animal studies have shown that primary esophageal peristalsis is preceded by a wave of inhibition spreading rapidly down the esophagus and lasting longer in more distal segments. In humans, its presence in the esophageal body cannot be demonstrated manometrically because of the absence of tone. To study deglutitive inhibition in humans, an artificial high-pressure zone was created by inflating an intraesophageal balloon to a critical level. The pressure changes at the interface between the balloon and the esophageal wall at various levels along the esophagus were measured. In this artificial high-pressure zone, deglutition induced a relaxation beginning simultaneously at various levels of the esophagus but lasting progressively longer in progressively more distal segments. Latency from onset of deglutition to onset of relaxation at 13 cm and 8 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter and at the lower esophageal sphincter was 0.06 +/- 0.19 seconds, 0.10 +/- 0.31 seconds, and 0.89 +/- 0.53 seconds, respectively; latency to contraction was 4.45 +/- 0.54 seconds, 6.04 +/- 0.79 seconds, and 9.14 +/- 1.04 seconds, respectively. This is the first direct evidence that deglutition produces in the human esophagus a wave of inhibition that precedes the primary peristaltic contraction.

Role of nitric oxide in esophageal peristalsis in the opossum

To explore the involvement of NO in normal peristalsis, the effects of inhibitors of NO synthase, including N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on esophageal peristaltic contractions induced by diverse stimuli that may involve different neuronal circuits were studied. Studies were performed in opossums. Experimental conditions in vivo included primary peristalsis (P) induced by pharyngeal stroking, short-train (1 second) electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve which caused peristaltic (S) contractions, and long-train (10 second) electrical stimulation of the vagus nerves which caused contractions at the onset of (A contractions) and after (B contractions) the stimulation period. In vitro experiments were performed on strips of esophageal circular muscle using electrical field stimulation which caused contractions at the onset of (on contractions) and after (off contractions) the stimulation period. The administration of L-NAME significantly decreased the latency period and reduced the latency gradient for P contractions, thereby increasing the velocity of peristalsis. Concomitant administration of atropine prolonged the latency period but did not restore the latency gradient. L-NAME abolished B contractions in a dose-dependent fashion. In vitro, L-NAME caused dose-dependent inhibition of off contractions and augmentation of on contractions. These studies support the hypothesis that NO may be involved in (a) both the latency period and the latency gradient, as well as in the contraction amplitude of esophageal peristalsis; and (b) esophageal B and off contractions.

Both ATP and the peptide VIP are inhibitory neurotransmitters in guinea-pig ileum circular muscle

1. Intracellular membrane potential recordings were made from circular smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig ileum in the presence of atropine (1 microM) and nifedipine (0.1 microM) at 30 degrees C. 2. Perfusion with adenosine triphospate (ATP, 100 microM) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, 2 microM) resulted in membrane hyperpolarizations of 6.4 +/- 0.3 and 6.8 +/- 0.3 mV, respectively. Picospritzes of ATP (10 mM in pipette) and VIP (100 microM in pipette) resulted in membrane hyperpolarizations of 6.9 +/- 0.4 and 6.3 +/- 0.4 mV, respectively. 3. The ATP-induced hyperpolarizations were antagonized by alpha, beta-methylene ATP desensitization (100 microM for 30 min) and the ATP antagonist Reactive Blue 2 (200 microM), but were unaffected by the VIP antagonist VIP 10-28 (1 microM). 4. The VIP-induced hyperpolarizations were antagonized by VIP 10-28, but unaffected by alpha, beta-methylene ATP desensitization and Reactive Blue 2. 5. A single pulse of transmural nerve stimulation (2 ms, 15 mA) resulted in an inhibitory junction potential (IJP) that reached a maximal amplitude of 12.9 +/- 0.5 mV at 378 +/- 20 ms from the stimulus. This fast IJP was abolished by apamin (2 microM) or tetrodotoxin (1 microM), antagonized by alpha, beta-methylene ATP desensitization or Reactive Blue 2, but unaffected by VIP 10-28. 6. In the presence of apamin (1 microM), four pulses of transmural stimulation (2 ms, 20 Hz, 15 mA) resulted in an IJP that reached a maximal amplitude of 4.8 +/- 0.2 mV at 1.4 +/- 0.1 s from the stimulus. This slow IJP was antagonized by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) or VIP 10-28 (1 microM), augmented by Reactive Blue 2 (200 microM), and unaffected by alpha, beta-methylene ATP desensitization. 7. These findings provide evidence that both ATP and VIP are inhibitory neurotransmitters in the circular muscle layer of the ileum and that ATP may be the neurotransmitter responsible for the fast IJP and VIP the neurotransmitter responsible for the slow IJP.

The role of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in relaxation of the opossum lower oesophageal sphincter

1. The role of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) relaxation and oesophageal peristalsis was investigated. 2. Twenty four adult opossums were anaesthetized and the right vagus nerve was isolated in the neck and sectioned. Electrical stimulation, applied to the peripheral end of the nerve, resulted in a frequency-dependent relaxation of the LOS, and peristaltic and non-peristaltic contractions in the oesophageal body. 3. N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10(-8)-10(-5) mol kg-1), an inhibitor of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway, inhibited LOS relaxation in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect resting LOS pressure. At the highest dose of L-NNA no relaxation of the LOS was elicited in response to vagal stimulation. The effect of L-NNA, (10(-5) mol kg-1) was fully reversed by infusion of 10(-4) mol kg-1 L-arginine. Peristaltic velocity and amplitude of contractions in the oesophageal body were unaffected by L-NNA. 4. Infusion of sodium nitroprusside reduced LOS pressure to zero, and the drug was equally potent in control animals (-log ED50:8.1 +/- 0.2 mol kg-1) and in animals pretreated with L-NNA (-log ED50:8.2 +/- 0.3 mol kg-1). This suggests that the effect of L-NNA was not directly on guanylate cyclase. 5. A significant elevation of blood pressure was recorded after administration of L-NNA (10(-5) mol kg-1). 6. It is suggested that the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway plays an important functional role for relaxation of the LOS, but not for oesophageal peristalsis. Whether the active substance is nitric oxide or a related nitroso-compound remains to be settled.

The avian oesophageal motor function and its nervous control: some physiological, pharmacological and comparative aspects

1. This paper deals with the avian oesophageal motor function and it attempts to draw some comparative aspects between neural regulation of the avian and mammalian oesophagus. 2. Different from the mammalian oesophagus, the avian oesophagus, presents at rest electrical activity associated to spontaneous contractions. 3. Swallowing elicits peristaltic contraction, characterized by an inhibitory and an excitatory component. 4. Non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic neurons are responsible for the inhibitory component. 5. Contrarily to what observed in mammals, where the peripheral mechanism are important for the peristaltic sequence, the primary peristaltism of birds seems to be entirely mediated by extrinsic nervous system.

Cromakalim and K+ channels in canine trachealis

The effects of cromakalim and glibenclamide on membrane properties and responses to acetylcholine of canine trachea were studied in the double sucrose gap to evaluate the presence and function of ATP-sensitive K+ channels. Cromakalim produced a concentration-dependent hyperpolarization of muscle membrane potential which at maximum brought the membrane potential near the potassium equilibrium potential. Current clamping by hyperpolarizing current to this equilibrium potential abolished the hyperpolarization but not the membrane resistance decrease to cromakalim. Glibenclamide had no effect on resting membrane properties but reduced or abolished effects of cromakalim. Another K+ channel antagonist, tetraethylammonium at 20 mM, also reduced the effects of cromakalim, but 4-aminopyridine (5 mM), Ba2+ (1 mM), and apamin (10(-6) M) had no antagonistic effect. The EJP produced on stimulation of cholinergic nerves sometimes increased just after cromakalim-induced hyperpolarization, but within 5-10 min as membrane resistance dramatically fell it was reduced, as was the depolarization to infused acetylcholine. Initially the reduction in EJP amplitude could be partially overcome by applying hyperpolarizing currents or by applying a second field stimulation; later the EJP was reduced further and was unaffected by these procedures. Even when depolarization to acetylcholine was markedly reduced, the contraction was not. Glibenclamide had no effects alone but antagonized all the effects of cromakalim. These results suggest that ATP-sensitive cromakalim activated K+ channels are present in canine trachea but are usually closed during resting conditions under our experimental conditions. When they are opened by cromakalim, they hyperpolarize to near EK, markedly decrease membrane resistance and reduce the depolarization response to acetylcholine, probably by short circuiting the acetylcholine-induced current.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mechanical, electrical and cyclic nucleotide responses to peptide VIP and inhibitory nerve stimulation in rat stomach

1. Effects of apamin on electrical and mechanical activities and cyclic nucleotide accumulation in response to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and intramural nerve stimulation were investigated in isolated circular strips of the rat stomach in the presence of atropine and guanethidine. 2. Circular muscles generated rhythmic contractions and slow waves in the antrum but not in the fundus. Intramural nerve stimulation and VIP caused frequency- and dose-dependent relaxation of fundic strips and inhibition of spontaneous contractions of antral strips. Apamin partly reduced the responses to intramural nerve stimulation but not those to VIP. 3. In the antrum, apamin reduced inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) evoked at the nadir of slow waves but not at their zenith. In the fundus, apamin partly decreased the amplitude of IJPs. Repetitive nerve stimulation was associated with an apamin-sensitive hyperpolarization and apamin-resistant decrease in the slow wave amplitude in the antrum. 4. VIP caused a dose-dependent hyperpolarization of fundic circular muscle membrane. In the antrum, VIP inhibited spike potentials superimposed on slow waves and it decreased the slow wave amplitude in about half of the preparations. These electrical responses to VIP were resistant to apamin. 5. Intramural nerve stimulation evoked an apamin-resistant output of VIP from muscle strips, which no longer occurred after tetrodotoxin or removal of extracellular Ca2+. 6. Intramural nerve stimulation and VIP elicited apamin-resistant increases in cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP accumulations. The effects of VIP on cyclic AMP were greater than those on cyclic GMP. The effects of intramural nerve stimulation on cyclic GMP were faster in onset than those of cyclic AMP. 7. It is suggested that VIP is a neurotransmitter of the intramural inhibitory nerves concerned in the apamin-resistant relaxation of the rat stomach.

VIP: molecular biology and neurobiological function

In the mammalian brain, a major regulatory peptide is vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). This 28 amino acid peptide, originally isolated from the porcine duodenum, was later found in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in endocrine cells, where it exhibits neurotransmitter and hormonal roles. Increasing evidence points to VIP's importance as a mediator or a modulator of several basic functions. Thus, VIP is a major factor in brain activity, neuroendocrine functions, cardiac activity, respiration, digestion, and sexual potency. In view of this peptide's importance, the mechanisms controlling its production and the pathways regulating its functions have been reviewed. VIP is a member of a peptide family, including peptides such as glucagon, secretin, and growth hormone releasing hormone. These peptides may have evolved by exon duplication coupled with gene duplication. The human VIP gene contains seven exons, each encoding a distinct functional domain on the protein precursor or the mRNA. VIP gene transcripts are mainly found in neurons or neuron-related cells. VIP gene expression is regulated by neuronal and endocrine signals that contribute to its developmental control. VIP exerts its function via receptor-mediated systems, activating signal transduction pathways, including cAMP. It can act as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and a secretagog. As a growth and developmental regulator, VIP may have a crucial effect as a neuronal survival factor. We shall proceed from the gene to its multiple functions.

Electrical correlates of peristaltic and nonperistaltic contractions in the opossum smooth muscle esophagus

The electrical correlates of peristaltic and nonperistaltic esophageal contractions were characterized in anesthetized opossums using simultaneous suction electrode and intraluminal pressure recordings from sites 1 and 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. Transient midesophageal balloon distention produced peristaltic contractions with faster propagation velocity than swallow-induced peristalsis. This was associated with prompt circular smooth muscle hyperpolarization at both sites, then depolarization, spike burst, and esophageal contraction. At the 5-cm site hyperpolarization was followed by rapid depolarization, whereas at the 1-cm site there was a much slower rate of depolarization after the initial hyperpolarization. Thus the longer latency to contraction at the 1-cm site correlated with the timing of the depolarization phase and not with the duration of the initial hyperpolarization. With prolonged balloon distention the inflation-related membrane hyperpolarization was followed by either partial or complete repolarization during sustained distention. Upon balloon deflation there was rapid membrane depolarization and spike burst at both sites such that the resultant contractions were usually nonperistaltic. In some instances balloon distention evoked contractions of slow peristaltic velocity. These correlated with membrane potential oscillations at the 1-cm site, with threshold depolarization being reached at the second depolarization in the hyperpolarization-depolarization sequences that followed balloon deflation. A similar pattern was seen with swallow-induced peristalsis. These studies demonstrate that differences in timing of the depolarization that follows initial hyperpolarization, and not differences in the duration of the initial hyperpolarization, are important in the genesis of peristaltic esophageal contractions.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibition in lower oesophageal sphincter of opossum

1. Field stimulation or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) relaxed lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) from North American opossum. Pretreatment with carbachol in Cl-ion-containing or Cl-ion-free Krebs solution or with 10(-3) M 9-aminoacridine abolished or markedly reduced relaxation due to VIP applied exogenously but not that elicited by field stimulation of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerves. 2. Inhibitory junction potentials (7.5 +/- 1.2 mV, n = 5) could be recorded in LOS strips with the sucrose gap technique. They lacked significant after-depolarizations but were accompanied by decreased membrane resistance (61 +/- 6%, n = 3). In these strips, VIP (10(-6) M) produced small hyperpolarizations (2.1 +/- 1.1 mV, n = 5) sometimes followed by membrane potential oscillations but no change in conductance. 3. Removal of external chloride depolarized the membranes (7.6 +/- 1.7 mV) but did not prevent the hyperpolarization to VIP or the occurrence of inhibitory junction potentials. Restoration of external chloride repolarized the cells. It appears that an appreciable chloride conductance may be present in sphincter muscle cells and this may cause them to be more depolarized than non-sphincter muscle. 4. We conclude that it is very unlikely that VIP is the inhibitory NANC neurotransmitter since it does not mimic the inhibitory junction potential.

Studies of the inhibitory non-adrenergic neuromuscular transmission in the smooth muscle of the normal human intestine and from a case of Hirschsprung's disease

A modified sucrose-gap method was used to study both non-adrenergic inhibitory neuromuscular transmission and effects of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) on isolated smooth muscle preparations from the human intestine. It was found that non-adrenergic inhibition in the circular smooth muscle layer was of larger amplitude than in the longitudinal layer. Study of the ionic mechanisms underlying non-adrenergic inhibition indicated that an increase in K+ conductance was responsible for the generation of non-adrenergic inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs). The results suggest that the inhibitory actions of the endogenous neurotransmitter and exogenous ATP are due to increases in Ca2+-dependent K+ conductance. The K+-channel blockers tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine had no effect on IJPs or ATP, while apamin slightly decreased both the amplitude of the IJP and the hyperpolarization of the circular smooth muscle caused by ATP. These results are consistent with the purinergic hypothesis of non-adrenergic inhibition. In addition to inhibitory purinoceptors, the existence of excitatory purinoceptors was identified in the longitudinal muscle, activation of which probably caused an increase in Na+-conductance. The excitatory purinoceptor-mediated contraction in the longitudinal muscle from the constricted region of large intestine from patients with Hirschsprung's disease was greater than that found in control specimens. It is possible that excitatory purinoceptors play a role in the pathophysiology of Hirschsprung's disease.

Differences in the response of proximal and distal rabbit colonic muscle after electrical field stimulation

Electrical field stimulation (EFS) was performed on rabbit proximal and distal circular colonic smooth muscle to study the mechanisms of neural control of the colon. Electrical pulses were applied with parallel silver plate electrodes to muscle that had been stretched to Lo. The proximal muscle demonstrated an on-contraction during EFS. In distal muscle, EFS initiated an on-relaxation, followed by an on-contraction and an off-contraction. The time delay for the on-contraction of distal muscle was longer by 2.5 +/- 0.5 s than was the delay in proximal muscle (p less than 0.02). The amplitudes of the on- and off-contraction were dependent on the frequency of the EFS. The on- and off-responses were completely inhibited by 3 x 10(-6) M tetrodotoxin. Atropine inhibited the distal on-contraction at all EFS frequencies and the proximal on-response at EFS frequencies less than 16 Hz. Atropine had a partial inhibitory effect on the distal off-response (approximately 30%). Bombesin and substance P were released during prolonged EFS. Desensitization of the distal colonic muscle to bombesin did not affect the distal off-contraction. However, desensitization of the tissue to substance P and exposure to substance P antagonists inhibited the distal off-contraction. These studies suggest that (a) acetylcholine mediates the on-contraction of the distal circular colonic muscle, and a major part of the on-contraction for the proximal muscle, and (b) substance P is responsible for the off-contraction of the distal muscle.

Novel autonomic neurotransmitters and intestinal function

A wide variety of substances, including amines and peptides, have been detected within the complex neuronal pathways of the enteric nervous system using immunohistochemical techniques. In this article we have discussed some of the more recent data on the effects of these substances on intestinal activity. We have also commented on the many difficulties associated with ascribing neurotransmitter status to individual compounds. The technique of immunoblockade of neurogenic functional responses has been used in an attempt to identify some of the putative neurotransmitter substances. The search for selective antagonists continues.

Gastric motor responses elicited by vagal stimulation and purine compounds in the atropine-treated rabbit

1. The effects of vagal inhibitory stimulation and of purine compounds were studied in the rabbit stomach. 2. Gastric motility was assessed by the balloon method. Vagal nerves were electrically stimulated at the neck. Purine compounds were injected intra-arterially. 3. In the atropine-treated rabbit, vagal stimulation caused relaxant motor responses followed by a rebound contraction. 4. Among the purine compounds, only ADP and ATP caused relaxant motor responses similar to the effects of vagal inhibitory stimulation. However, the relaxation produced by ATP was more powerful than that due to ADP, especially at lower infusion rates. 5. Vagal inhibitory responses were recorded during and after infusion of ATP. When relaxation by ATP was fully developed, vagal inhibitory stimulation was ineffective. At the highest infusion rates of ATP, a depression of the vagal inhibitory motility was also observed after cessation of the infusion. 6. Relaxant responses to ATP and vagal inhibitory stimulation were not influenced by theophylline, scarcely affected by alpha,beta-methylene ATP, but were reduced or blocked by reactive blue 2. 7. The results are consistent with ATP being an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the stomach of the rabbit.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide activates Ca2(+)-dependent K+ channels through a cAMP pathway in mouse lacrimal cells

The action of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on Ca2(+)-dependent K+ currents, in dissociated mouse lacrimal cells, was investigated using patch clamp techniques. In whole cell recordings, VIP (10-100 pM) increased the magnitude of the Ca2(+)-dependent K+ current. In single channel recordings, VIP increased the fraction of time the large charybdotoxin-sensitive Ca2(+)-activated K+ channel spent in the open state. The activity of this channel was also increased by adding forskolin or 8-bromo cAMP to the bath. Additionally, application of either cAMP or catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase directly to the cytoplasmic surface of excised inside out patches reversibly lengthened the time Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels spent in the open state. These data suggest that VIP stimulates Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels by a cAMP-dependent pathway in mouse lacrimal acinar cells.

Ultrastructural localization of VIP-immunoreactivity in canine distal oesophagus

The localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactivity in canine distal oesophagus was studied using different fixation and embedding procedures and labelling with protein A-gold. The retention of immunoreactivity and the preservation of ultrastructure was best after fixation with a mixture of 0.1% glutaraldehyde and 4% paraformaldehyde, and embedding in 'LR White' resin using the 'cold-cured' method. VIP immunoreactivity was localized exclusively over large granular vesicles in the myenteric plexus and in nerves of the circular muscle. Most varicose profiles in circular muscle were labelled, but some large granular vesicles in the same profiles which contained labelled vesicles as well as some varicose profiles with large granular vesicles were unlabelled. From these data it was uncertain whether unlabelled large granular vesicles contained VIP or other neuropeptides. A striking finding was the dense and close innervation of the interstitial cells of Cajal with nerve containing VIP-labelled large granular vesicles. This finding is consistent with earlier suggestions that VIP-immunoreactive nerves may innervate these cells which are in gap junction contact with smooth muscle and that this arrangement may be involved in the transmission of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerve activity in distal oesophagus.

Apamin and nonadrenergic inhibition of guinea pig trachealis

Apamin has been shown to antagonize the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) inhibitory system in guinea pig taenia coli. We have examined the effects of apamin on the nonadrenergic noncholinergic inhibitory system and its putative transmitters in isolated guinea pig trachea. Electrical field stimulation (ES) of isolated trachea pretreated with atropine and propranolol evoked reproducible relaxations that were blocked by tetrodoxin, but were unaffected by apamin. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), adenosine (AD), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) produced concentration-dependent inhibition of histamine (H)-induced contractions of isolated trachea but the inhibitory actions of these agents were not significantly affected by apamin. In contrast, apamin virtually abolished ES-evoked relaxations in guinea pig isolated taenia caeci, and reduced the inhibition of H-induced contraction by ATP from 40% to 1%. We conclude that neither the NANC inhibitory system in the guinea pig trachea nor its putative mediators VIP, AD, and ATP are antagonized by apamin, in contrast to taenia caeci.