Cholinergic neuromuscular transmission in the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum

Cholinergic neuromuscular transmission mediated by interstitial cells of Cajal in the myenteric layer in mouse ileal longitudinal smooth muscles

To elucidate the roles played by the interstitial cells of Cajal in the myenteric layer (ICC-MY) in cholinergic neuromuscular transmission, we recorded mechanical and electrical activities in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) of the ileal longitudinal muscle strips from WBB6F1-W/W(V) (W/W(V)) mutant mice, that lacked ICC-MY and compared with those in WBB6F1-+/+ (+/+) control mice. In +/+ muscle strips, EFS induced phasic contractions, which were abolished or strongly attenuated by atropine or tetrodotoxin. In W/W(V) preparations, EFS induced similar phasic contractions, but the cholinergic component was smaller than that in +/+ strips. This was despite of the fact that the contractions because of exogenous applications of carbachol and high K(+) solution in W/W(V) strips were comparable to or rather greater than those in the +/+ preparations. EFS induced atropine-sensitive excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) in the +/+ longitudinal smooth muscle cells but not in W/W(V) cells. In the presence of eserine, EFS induced atropine-sensitive EJPs in W/W(V) cells. These results suggest that ICC-MY mediate the cholinergic neuromuscular transmission in mouse ileal longitudinal smooth muscles. In addition, the other pathway in which ICC-MY are not involved can operate concomitantly.

Evidence for M2 and M3 muscarinic receptor involvement in cholinergic excitatory junction potentials through synergistic activation of cation channels in the longitudinal muscle of mouse ileum

Cholinergic nerve-mediated excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) in the longitudinal muscle of mouse ileum were characterized by using M2 or M3 muscarinic receptor-knockout (KO) mice and 1-[β-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propoxy]-4-methoxyphenethyl]-1H-imidazole hydrochloride (SK&F 96365) and pertussis toxin (PTX). EJPs evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in wild-type preparations, initially determined to be cholinergic in origin using tetrodotoxin, atropine, and eserine, were profoundly depressed after SK&F 96365 treatment known to block muscarinic receptor-operated cation channels. A similar depression of the EJPs was also observed by PTX treatment, which is predicted to disrupt M2-mediated pathways linked to cation channel activation. In M2-KO mouse preparations, cholinergic EJPs were evoked by EFS with their relative amplitude of 20%-30% to the wild-type EJP and strongly inhibited by SK&F 96365. No cholinergic EJP was seen in M3-KO as well as M2/M3 double-KO preparations. The results suggest that the wild-type cholinergic EJP is not a simple mixture of M2 and M3 responses, but due to synergistic activation of cation channels by both M2 and M3 receptors in the murine ileal longitudinal muscle.

Loss of responsiveness of circular smooth muscle cells from the guinea pig ileum is associated with changes in gap junction coupling

Gap junction coupling and neuromuscular transmission to smooth muscle were studied in the first 4 h after preparations were set up in vitro. Intracellular recordings were made from smooth muscle cells of guinea pig ileum. Fast inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) were small (1.3 ± 1.0 mV) in the first 30 min but increased significantly over the first 120 min to 15.8 ± 0.9 mV (n = 12, P < 0.001). Comparable increases in slow IJPs and excitatory junction potentials were also observed. During the same period, resting membrane potential depolarized from -58.8 ± 1.4 to -47.2 ± 0.4 mV (n = 12, P < 0.001). Input resistance, estimated by intracellular current injection, decreased in parallel (P < 0.05), and dye coupling, measured by intracellular injection of carboxyfluorescein, increased (P < 0.001). Input resistance was higher and dye coupling was less in longitudinal than circular smooth muscle cells. Gap junction blockers [carbenoxolone (100 μM), 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (10 μM), and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (50 μM)] hyperpolarized coupled circular smooth muscle cells, reduced the amplitude of fast and slow IJPs and excitatory junction potentials, increased input resistance, and reduced dye coupling. Local application of ATP (10 mM) mimicked IJPs and showed comparable increases in amplitude over the first 120 min; carbenoxolone and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate significantly reduced ATP-evoked hyperpolarizations in coupled cells. In contrast, synaptic transmission between myenteric neurons was not suppressed during the first 30 min. Gap junction coupling between circular smooth muscle cells in isolated preparations was initially disrupted but recovered over the next 120 min to a steady level. This was associated with potent effects on neuromuscular transmission and responses to exogenous ATP.

Inhibitory neuromuscular transmission to ileal longitudinal muscle predominates in neonatal guinea pigs

BACKGROUND

Inhibitory neurotransmission to the longitudinal muscle is more prominent in the neonatal than in the adult guinea pig ileum.

METHODS

Inhibitory neuromuscular transmission was investigated using in vitro ileal longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus (LMMP) preparations made from neonatal (< or =48 h postnatal) and adult ( approximately 4 weeks postnatal) guinea pigs.

KEY RESULTS

Amperometric measurements of nicotine-induced nitric oxide (NO) release (measured as an oxidation current) from myenteric ganglia revealed larger currents in neonatal (379 +/- 24 pA) vs adult (119 +/- 39 pA, P < 0.05) tissues. Nicotine-induced oxidation currents were blocked by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, nitro-l-arginine (NLA, 100 micromol L(-1)). Nicotine-induced, NLA-sensitive oxidation currents could be detected in the tertiary plexus of neonatal but not adult tissues. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated stronger NOS immunoreactivity in neonatal compared with adult myenteric ganglia. Western blot studies revealed higher levels of NOS in neonatal compared with adult LMMP. Cell counts revealed that the total number of myenteric neurons in the small intestine was greater in adults than in neonatal guinea pigs, however, the ratio of NOS : Calbindin neurons was significantly higher in neonatal compared with adult tissues.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Nitric oxide signaling to the longitudinal muscle is stronger in neonatal compared with adult guinea pig ileum. Nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons are diluted postnatally by cholinergic and other, as yet unidentified neuronal subtypes.

Postnatal downregulation of inhibitory neuromuscular transmission to the longitudinal muscle of the guinea pig ileum

Neuromuscular transmission is crucial for normal gut motility but little is known about its postnatal maturation. This study investigated excitatory/inhibitory neuromuscular transmission in vitro using ileal nerve-muscle preparations made from neonatal (< or =48 h postnatal) and adult ( approximately 4 months postnatal) guinea pigs. In tissues from neonates and adults, nicotine (0.3-30 micromol L(-1)) contracted longitudinal muscle preparations in a tetrodotoxin (TTX) (0.3 micromol L(-1))-sensitive manner. The muscarinic receptor antagonist, scopolamine (1 micromol L(-1)), reduced substantially nicotine-induced contractions in neonatal tissues but not adult tissues. In the presence of N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine (NLA, 100 micromol L(-1)) to block nitric oxide (NO) mediated inhibitory neuromuscular transmission, scopolamine-resistant nicotine-induced contractions were revealed in neonatal tissues. NLA enhanced the nicotine-induced contractions in neonatal but not in adult tissues. Electrical field stimulation (20 V; 0.3 ms; 5-25 Hz, scopolamine 1 micromol L(-1) present) caused NLA and TTX-sensitive longitudinal muscle relaxations. Frequency-response curves in neonatal tissues were left-shifted compared with those obtained in adult tissues. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that NO synthase (NOS)-immunoreactivity (ir) was present in nerve fibres supplying the longitudinal muscle in neonatal and adult tissues. However, quantitative studies demonstrated that fluorescence intensity of NOS-ir nerve fibres was higher in neonatal than adult tissues. Nerve fibres containing substance P were abundant in longitudinal muscle in adult but not in neonatal tissues. Inhibitory neuromuscular transmission is relatively more effective in the neonatal guinea pig small intestine. Delayed maturation of excitatory motor pathways might contribute to paediatric motility disturbances.

An electrical analysis of slow wave propagation in the guinea-pig gastric antrum

This paper provides an electrical description of the propagation of slow waves and pacemaker potentials in the guinea-pig gastric antrum in anal and circumferential directions. As electrical conduction between laterally adjacent circular muscle bundles is regularly interrupted, anal conduction of pacemaker potentials was assumed to occur via an electrically interconnected chain of myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC(MY)). ICC(MY) were also connected resistively to serially connected compartments of longitudinal muscle. Circumferential conduction occurred in a circular smooth muscle bundle that was represented as a chain of electrically connected isopotential compartments: each compartment contained a proportion of intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC(IM)) that are responsible for the regenerative component of the slow wave. The circular muscle layer, which contains ICC(IM), and the ICC(MY) network incorporated a mechanism, modelled as a two-stage chemical reaction, which produces an intracellular messenger. The first stage of the reaction is proposed to be activated in a voltage-dependent manner as described by Hodgkin and Huxley; the messenger altered the mean rate of discharge of depolarizing unitary potentials as a function of the concentration of messenger according to a conventional dose-effect relationship. A separate membrane conductance, scaled by the product of an independent voltage-sensitive reaction, was included in the ICC(MY) compartments; this was used to describe the primary component of pacemaker potentials and simulated a delay before the activation of this membrane current. The model generates pacemaker potentials and slow waves with propagation velocities similar to those determined in the physiological experiments described in the accompanying paper.

Propagation of slow waves in the guinea-pig gastric antrum

Intracellular recordings were made from the circular layer of the intact muscular wall of the guinea-pig gastric antrum in preparations where much of the corpus remained attached. When two electrodes were positioned parallel to and near to the greater curvature, slow waves were first detected at the oral site and subsequently at the anal site: the oro-anal conduction velocity was found to be 2.5 mm s(-1). When one electrode was positioned near the greater curvature and the other at a circumferential location, slow waves were first detected near the greater curvature and subsequently at the circumferential site: the circumferential conduction velocity was 13.9 mm s(-1). When recordings were made from preparations in which the circular muscle layer had been removed, the oro-anal and the circumferential conduction velocities were both about 3.5 mm s(-1). When slow waves were recorded from preparations in which much of the myenteric network of antral interstitial cells (ICC(MY)) had been dissected away, slow waves were first detected near the region of intact ICC(MY) and subsequently at a circumferential location: the circumferential conduction velocity of slow waves in regions devoid of ICC(MY) was 14.7 mm s(-1). When the electrical properties of isolated single bundles of circular muscle were determined, their length constants were about 3 mm and their time constant about 230 ms, giving an asymptotic electrotonic propagation velocity of 25 mm s(-1). Oro-anal electrical coupling between adjacent bundles of circular muscle was found to vary widely: some bundles were well connected to neighbouring bundles whereas others were not. Together the observations suggest that the slow oro-anal progression of slow waves results from a slow conduction velocity of pacemaker potentials in the myenteric network of interstitial cells. The rapid circumferential conduction of slow waves results from the electrical properties of the circular muscle layer which allow intramuscular ICC (ICC(IM)) to support the radial spread of slow waves: regions of high resistance between bundles prevent the anally directed spread of slow waves within the circular layer.

An electrophysiological study of excitatory purinergic neuromuscular transmission in longitudinal smooth muscle of chicken anterior mesenteric artery

1. The object of the present study was to clarify the neurotransmitters controlling membrane responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) in the longitudinal smooth muscle cells of the chicken anterior mesenteric artery. 2. EFS (5 pulses at 20 Hz) evoked a depolarization of amplitude 19.7+/-2.1 mV, total duration 29.6+/-3.1 s and latency 413.0+/-67.8 ms. This depolarization was tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive and its amplitude was partially decreased by atropine (0.5 microM); however, its duration was shortened by further addition of prazosin (10 microM). 3. Atropine/prazosin-resistant component was blocked by the nonspecific purinergic antagonist, suramin, in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that this component is mediated by the neurotransmitter adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). 4. Neither desensitization nor blocking of P2X receptor with its putative receptor agonist alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-MeATP, 1 microM) and its antagonist pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic (PPADS, up to 50 microM), had significant effect on the purinergic depolarization. In contrast, either desensitization or blocking of P2Y receptor with its putative agonist 2-methylthioATP (2-MeSATP, 1 microM) and its antagonist Cibacron blue F3GA (CBF3GA, 10 microM) abolished the purinergic depolarization, indicating that this response is mediated through P2Y but not P2X receptor. 5. The purinergic depolarization was inhibited by pertussis toxin (PTX, 600 ng ml(-1)). Furthermore, it was significantly inhibited by a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, U-73122 (10 microM), indicating that the receptors involved in mediating the purinergic depolarization are linked to a PTX-sensitive G-protein, which is involved in a PLC-mediated signaling pathway. 6. Data of the present study suggest that the EFS-induced excitatory membrane response occurring in the longitudinal smooth muscle of the chicken anterior mesenteric artery is mainly purinergic in nature and is mediated via P2Y purinoceptors.

An electrical description of the generation of slow waves in the antrum of the guinea-pig

This paper provides an electrical description of the generation of slow waves in the guinea-pig gastric antrum. A short segment of a circular smooth muscle bundle with an attached network of myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC-MY) and longitudinal muscle sheet was modelled as three electrical compartments with resistive connexions between the ICC-MY compartment and each of the smooth muscle compartments. The circular smooth muscle layer contains a proportion of intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC-IM), responsible for the regenerative component of the slow wave. Hence the equivalent cell representing the circular muscle layer incorporated a mechanism, modelled as a two stage reaction, which produces an intracellular messenger. The first stage of the reaction is proposed to be activated in a voltage-dependent manner as described by Hodgkin and Huxley. A similar mechanism was incorporated into the equivalent cell describing the ICC-MY network. Spontaneous discrete transient depolarizations, termed unitary potentials, are detected in records taken from either bundles of circular smooth muscle containing ICC-IM or from ICC-MY. In the simulation the mean rate of discharge of unitary potentials was allowed to vary with the concentration of messenger according to a conventional dose-effect relationship. Such a mechanism, which describes regenerative potentials generated by the circular muscle layer, also simulated the plateau component of the pacemaker potential in the ICC-MY network. A voltage-sensitive membrane conductance was included in the ICC-MY compartment; this was used to describe the primary component of the pacemaker potential. The model generates a range of membrane potential changes with properties similar to those generated by the three cell types present in the intact tissue.

Role of interstitial cells of Cajal in the control of gastric motility

Most regions of the gastrointestinal tract generate spontaneous electrical and mechanical activity in the absence of stimulation. When electrical recordings are made from slow muscle cells lying in the gastrointestinal tract, a regular discharge of long lasting waves of depolarization, slow waves, is detected. It has recently become apparent that slow waves are generated by a specialized population of smooth muscle cells, known as interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). ICC can be subdivided into at least two separate groups. In most regions of the gastrointestinal tract, one group of ICC form a network that generates pacemaker potentials, so producing rhythmical membrane potential changes in the adjacent muscle layers. The second group of ICC are distributed amongst the smooth muscle cells and are tightly electrically coupled to them. In some regions of the gut, the second group of ICC augment the waves of pacemaker depolarization, so ensuring that voltage-dependent calcium channels in the smooth muscles are activated during each slow wave cycle. In addition, the second group of ICC are densely innervated by inhibitory and excitatory nerve terminals. Thus intrinsic nerve terminals, rather than communicating directly with smooth muscle cells, selectively innervate ICC and release transmitters directly onto them. The signals that are generated in the ICC, by the neurally released transmitters, then alter the activity of surrounding smooth muscle cells.

Electrical coupling between the myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal and adjacent muscle layers in the guinea-pig gastric antrum

Intracellular recordings were made from short segments of the muscular wall of the guinea-pig gastric antrum. Preparations were impaled using two independent microelectrodes, one positioned in the circular layer and the other either in the longitudinal layer, in the network of myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCMY) or in the circular layer. Cells in each layer displayed characteristic patterns of rhythmical activity, with the largest signals being generated by ICCMY. Current pulses injected into the circular muscle layer produced electrotonic potentials in each cell layer, indicating that the layers are electrically interconnected. The amplitudes of these electrotonic potentials were largest in the circular layer and smallest in the longitudinal layer. An analysis of electrical coupling between the three layers suggests that although the cells in each layer are well coupled to neighbouring cells, the coupling between either muscle layer and the network of ICCMY is relatively poor. The electrical connections between ICCMY and the circular layer did not rectify. In parallel immunohistochemical studies, the distribution of the connexins Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45 within the antral wall was determined. Only Cx43 was detected; it was widely distributed on ICCMY and throughout the circular smooth muscle layer, being concentrated around ICCIM, but was less abundant in the circular muscle layer immediately adjacent to ICCMY. Although the electrophysiological studies indicate that smooth muscle cells in the longitudinal muscle layer are electrically coupled to each other, none of the connexins examined were detected in this layer.

Receptor signaling mechanisms underlying muscarinic agonist-evoked contraction in guinea-pig ileal longitudinal smooth muscle

1 In guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscle, muscarinic partial agonists, 4-(N-[3-chlorophenyl]-carbomoyloxy)-2-butynyl-trimethylammonium (McN-A343) and pilocarpine, each produced parallel increases in tension and cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]c) with a higher EC(50) than that of the full agonist carbachol. The maximum response of [Ca(2+)]c or tension was not much different among the three agonists. The Ca(2+) channel blocker nicardipine markedly inhibited the effects of all three agonists 2 The contractile response to any agonist was antagonized in a competitive manner by M(2) receptor selective antagonists (N,N'-bis[6-[[(2-methoyphenyl)methyl]amino]hexyl]-1,8-octanediamine tetrahydrochloride and 11-[[2-[(diethlamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4] benzodiazepine-6-one), and the apparent order of M(2) antagonist sensitivity was McN-A343>pilocarpine>carbachol. M(3) receptor selective antagonists, 1,1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium iodide and darifenacin, both severely depressed the maximum response for McN-A343, while darifenacin had a similar action in the case of pilocarpine. Both M(3) antagonists behaved in a competitive manner in the case of the carbachol response. 3 McN-A343 failed to release Ca(2+) from the intracellular stores, and the Ca(2+)-releasing action of pilocarpine was very weak compared with that of carbachol. All three agonists were capable of increasing Ca(2+) sensitivity of the contractile proteins. 4 McN-A343 rarely produced membrane depolarization, but always accelerated electrical spike discharge. Pilocarpine effect was more often accompanied by membrane depolarization, as was usually seen using carbachol. 5 The results suggest that muscarinic agonist-evoked contractions result primarily from the integration of Ca(2+) entry associated with the increased spike discharge and myofilaments Ca(2+) sensitization, and that Ca(2+) store release may contribute to the contraction indirectly via potentiation of the electrical membrane responses. They may also support the idea that an interaction of M(2) and M(3) receptors plays a crucial role in mediating the contraction response.

Involvement of intramuscular interstitial cells in nitrergic inhibition in the mouse gastric antrum

Intracellular recordings were made from isolated bundles of the circular muscle layer of mouse gastric antrum and the responses evoked by stimulating intrinsic nerve fibres were examined. Transmural nerve stimulation evoked a fast inhibitory junction potential (fast-IJP) which was followed initially by a smaller amplitude long lasting inhibitory junction potential (slow-IJP) and a period of excitation. The excitatory component of the response was abolished by atropine, suggesting that it resulted from the release of acetylcholine and activation of muscarinic receptors. Fast-IJPs were selectively reduced in amplitude by apamin and slow-IJPs were abolished by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine. Slow-IJPs were associated with a drop in membrane noise, suggesting that inhibition resulted from a reduced discharge of unitary potentials by intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC(IM)). The chloride channel blocker, anthracene-9-carboxylic acid, reduced the discharge of membrane noise in a manner similar to that detected during the slow-IJP. When recordings were made from the antrum of W/W(V) mice, which lack ICC(IM), the cholinergic and nitrergic components were absent, with only fast-IJPs being detected. The observations suggest that neurally released nitric oxide selectively targets ICC(IM) causing a hyperpolarization by suppressing the discharge of unitary potentials.

Anisotropic propagation in the small intestine

Abstract Measuring propagation anisotropy may help in determining the tissue layers involved in the propagation of electrical impulses in the intestine. We used 240 extracellular electrograms recorded from the isolated feline duodenum. The conduction velocities of slow waves and of individual spikes were measured from their site of origin into all directions. Both slow waves and spikes propagate anisotropically in the small intestine but in different directions and to a different degree. Slow waves propagated anisotropically faster in the circumferential (1.7 +/- 0.8 cm s(-1)) than in the axial direction (1.3 +/- 0.5 cm s(-1); P < 0.001). Spikes, on the other hand, propagated faster in the longitudinal direction (7.8 +/- 4.5 cm s(-1)) than in the circumferential direction (3.3 +/- 4.3 cm s(-1); P < 0.001). Furthermore, the average conduction velocity of spikes (6.3 +/- 4.5 cm s(-1)) was significantly higher than that of slow waves (1.5 +/- 1.1 cm s(-1); P < 0.001). The anisotropic propagation of spikes supports the argument that these propagate in the longitudinal muscle layer. The anisotropic propagation of slow waves may be the result of the interaction between the myenteric layer of interstitial cells of Cajal and their electrotonic connection to both the longitudinal and the circular muscle layer.

Pacemaker shift in the gastric antrum of guinea-pigs produced by excitatory vagal stimulation involves intramuscular interstitial cells

Intracellular recordings were made from isolated bundles of the circular muscle layer of guinea-pig gastric antrum and the responses produced by stimulating intrinsic nerve fibres were examined. After abolishing the effects of stimulating inhibitory nerve terminals with apamin and L-nitroarginine (NOLA), transmural nerve stimulation often evoked a small amplitude excitatory junction potential (EJP) and invariably evoked a regenerative potential. Neurally evoked regenerative potentials had similar properties to those evoked in the same bundle by direct stimulation. EJPs and neurally evoked regenerative potentials were abolished by hyoscine suggesting that both resulted from the release of acetylcholine and activation of muscarinic receptors. Neurally evoked regenerative potentials, but not EJPs, were abolished by membrane hyperpolarization, caffeine and chloride channel blockers. In the intact antrum, excitatory vagal nerve stimulation increased the frequency of slow waves. Simultaneous intracellular recordings of pacemaker potentials from myenteric interstitial cells (ICC(MY)) and slow waves showed that the onset of each pacemaker potential normally preceded the onset of each slow wave but vagal stimulation caused the onset of each slow wave to precede each pacemaker potential. Together the observations suggest that during vagal stimulation there is a change in the origin of pacemaker activity with slow waves being initiated by intramuscular interstitial cells (ICC(IM)) rather than by ICC(MY).

Regenerative component of slow waves in the guinea-pig gastric antrum involves a delayed increase in [Ca(2+)](i) and Cl(-) channels

Regenerative potentials were initiated by depolarizing short segments of single bundles of circular muscle isolated from the gastric antrum of guinea-pigs. When changes in [Ca(2+)](i) and membrane potential were recorded simultaneously, regenerative potentials were found to be associated with an increase in [Ca(2+)](i), with the increase starting after a minimum latency of about 1 s. Although the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was reduced by nifedipine, the amplitudes of the regenerative responses were little changed. Regenerative responses and associated changes in [Ca(2+)](i) were abolished by loading the preparations with the Ca(2+) chelator MAPTA-AM. Regenerative potentials were abolished by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2APB), an inhibitor of IP(3) induced Ca(2+) release, by N-ethylamaleimide (NEM), an alkylating agent which blocks activation of G-proteins and were reduced in amplitude by two agents which block chloride (Cl(-))-selective channels in many tissues. The observations suggest that membrane depolarization triggers IP(3) formation. This causes Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores which activates Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels.

Origin and propagation of spontaneous excitation in smooth muscle of the guinea-pig urinary bladder

The origin and propagation of waves of spontaneous excitation in bundles of smooth muscle of the guinea-pig bladder were examined using intracellular recording techniques and visualization of the changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Bladder smooth muscle cells exhibited spontaneous transient increases in [Ca2+]i which originated along a boundary of each smooth muscle bundle and then spread to the other boundary with a conduction velocity of 2.0 1r1r>mm1> s-1. Spontaneous increases in [Ca2+]i were always preceded by action potentials. Nifedipine (10 microM) abolished increases in both [Ca2+]i and action potentials. Caffeine (10 1s1sFmM1F), ryanodine (50 microM) and cyclopiazonic acid (10 microM reduced the amplitude of the associated increases in [Ca2+]i without preventing the generation of action potentials. Spontaneous action potentials had conduction velocities of 40 1t1t>mm 1> s-1 in the axial direction and 1.3 1u1u>mm 1> s-1 in the transverse direction. The electrical length constants of the bundles of muscle were 425 microM in the axial direction and 12.5 microM in the transverse direction. Neurobiotin, injected into an impaled smooth muscle cell, spread more readily to neighbouring cells located in the axial direction than those located in the transverse direction. The spread of neurobiotin was inhibited by 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (18beta-GA, 40 microM), a gap junction blocker. Immunohistochemistry for Connexin 43 showed abundant punctate staining on the smooth muscle cell membranes. These results suggested that spontaneous action potentials and associated calcium waves occur almost simultaneously along the boundary of bladder smooth muscle bundles and then propagate to the other boundary probably through gap junctions.

Role of Ca2+ mobilization in muscarinic receptor-mediated membrane depolarization in guinea pig ileal smooth muscle cells

In single smooth muscle cells dispersed from guinea pig ileum, the muscarinic agonist carbachol (CCh) at 2 microM produced an oscillatory or sustained type of depolarization and at 100 microM, the latter type depolarization. Depletion of internal Ca2+ stores blocked the oscillatory response, but not the sustained responses to 2 microM and 100 microM CCh, although their decay after reaching the peak became faster. Blocking voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) blocked both types of response to 2 microM CCh, but only slowed the initial rising phase of 100 microM CCh responses. Combination of Ca2+ store depletion and VDCC blockade abolished the responses to 2 microM CCh again and decreased those to 100 microM CCh in peak amplitude and persistency. Combination of Ca2+ store depletion with removal of extracellular Ca2+ markedly reduced or abolished the 100 microM CCh responses. The results suggest that muscarinic depolarization of the ileal cells requires Ca2+ mobilization for its generation and persistence; at weak muscarinic stimulation, both Ca2+ entry via VDCCs and Ca2+ release from internal stores may contribute to the Ca2+ mobilization; and under strong muscarinic stimulation, Ca2+ entry pathways resistant to VDCC blockers may also contribute to it.

The spatial behaviour of spike patches in the feline gastroduodenal junction in vitro

In the isolated feline gastroduodenal region, the spatial propagation of slow waves and of individual spikes was reconstructed. Recordings were performed simultaneously from 240 extracellular electrodes positioned on the serosal surface across the junction. Results from nine experiments (22 slow waves) showed that the slow wave never propagated across the gastroduodenal region and that this block was due to the presence of a zone of quiescence caudal to the pylorus. In contrast, spikes (n=155) were able to propagate into the quiescent zone, either from the antrum (15.4%) or from the duodenum (34.0%) and occasionally, were able to propagate from one organ to the other (10.9%). However, in all cases, spike conduction was self-limited and activated a local area termed a 'patch'. The length of the patches located in the gastroduodenal region was significantly longer than in the rest of the duodenum (20.2 mm +/- 9. 7 vs. 9.5 mm +/- 3.2; P < 0.001) indicating a possible enhancement of spike propagation in this region. In conclusion, in spite of the total conduction block for slow waves, individual spikes are able to propagate across the gastroduodenal region, albeit in self-limited areas or 'patches'. These spike patches could form the building blocks for gastroduodenal coordination.

New aromatic iminoimidazolidine derivatives as alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists: a novel synthetic approach and pharmacological activity

The design, synthesis and alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonism of a series of bis-imidazoline (1a, 2a, 3a and 4a) and bis-guanidine (1b, 2b, 3b and 4b) diphenyl derivatives are reported. All of these compounds fulfill the conditions of the most recent pharmacophore proposed for alpha1-adrenoceptors and found in the literature. Besides, a novel synthetic approach to the preparation of 2-(arylimino)imidazolidine derivatives is described. All the tested compounds, except the bis-guanidinium derivative 3b, inhibit the contractile responses induced by noradrenaline in aortic rings of rat and rabbit in a dose-dependent manner. Our results indicate that, even though some discrepancies are observed in terms of the alpha1 subtype targeted by this new family of compounds, they show an interesting profile as antagonists of alpha1-adrenoceptors and a new prototype, compound 1a, has been found deserving further development.

Propagation and neural regulation of calcium waves in longitudinal and circular muscle layers of guinea pig small intestine

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The relative movements of longitudinal muscle (LM) and circular muscle (CM) and the role that nerves play in coordinating their activities has been a subject of controversy. We used fluorescent video imaging techniques to study the origin and propagation of excitability simultaneously in LM and CM of the small intestine.

METHODS

Opened segments of guinea pig ileum were loaded with the Ca(2+) indicator fluo-3. Mucosal reflexes were elicited by lightly depressing the mucosa with a sponge.

RESULTS

Spontaneous Ca(2+) waves occurred frequently in LM (1.2 s(-1)) and less frequently in CM (3.2 min(-1)). They originated from discrete pacing sites and propagated at rates 8-9 times faster parallel (LM, 87 mm/s; CM, 77 mm/s) compared with transverse to the long axis of muscle fibers. The presence of Ca(2+) waves in one muscle layer did not affect the origin, rate of conduction, or range of propagation in the other layer. The extent of propagation was limited by collisions with neighboring waves or recently excited regions. Simultaneous excitation of both muscle layers could be elicited by mucosal stimulation of either ascending or descending reflex pathways. Neural excitation resulted in an increase in the frequency of Ca(2+) waves and induction of new pacing sites without eliciting direct coupling between layers.

CONCLUSIONS

Localized, spontaneous Ca(2+) waves occur independently in both muscle layers, promoting mixing (pendular or segmental) movements, whereas activation of neural reflexes stimulates Ca(2+) waves synchronously in both layers, resulting in strong peristaltic or propulsive movements.

Neuroeffector transmission to different layers of smooth muscle in the rat penile bulb

1. Using intracellular recording techniques, two distinct layers of smooth muscle were identified in the rat penile bulb. The inner muscle layer (parenchyma) exhibited spontaneous action potentials, while the outer sheet (sac) was electrically quiescent. 2. In the parenchyma, transmural stimulation initiated non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) which were abolished by Nomeganitro-L-arginine (LNA) or 1H-[1,2, 4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ). The amplitude of IJPs was reduced by ouabain, dinitrophenol or decreasing the extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]o) but not by several K+ channel blockers. 3. The parenchyma also received an excitatory innervation mediated by alpha-adrenoceptors which caused a contraction that was not associated with a membrane potential change. 4. In the sac, transmural stimulation initiated two component excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) mediated by alpha-adrenoceptors and associated action potentials. The initial component was more dramatically suppressed than the secondary component by caffeine, ryanodine or cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). Lowering of the extracellular chloride concentration ([Cl-]o) selectively inhibited the rapid component of EJPs, while niflumic acid was less potent. 5. These results suggest that IJPs in the parenchyma result from the release of NO which stimulates sodium pump activity following the activation of guanylate cyclase. In the sac, the activation of alpha-adrenoceptors initiates EJPs by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular stores which activates Ca2+-activated channels.

Propagation of individual spikes as "patches" of activation in isolated feline duodenum

Asynchrony of spikes has made it difficult to study the spatial and temporal behavior of spikes in the gastrointestinal system. By simultaneously recording from a large number of closely spaced electrodes, we investigated the propagation of individual spikes. Recordings were performed from the serosal surface of the isolated feline duodenum at 240 sites simultaneously. Analysis of the tracings made it possible to reconstruct the propagation of individual spikes. Spikes propagate in the longitudinal and circumferential directions in self-limiting areas or "patches." Conduction within patches may occur in the orad or aborad direction irrespective of the direction of the slow wave. Most of the patches are smaller (<40 mm(2)), although inhomogeneous activation by the preceding slow wave may increase their size. Stimulation by ACh, TTX, or tetraethylammonium does not affect the average patch size but does increase significantly their number and distribution in the duodenum [from 26% (control) to 56%, 61%, and 72%, respectively]. In conclusion, individual spikes activate limited areas or patches in the small intestine, and pharmacological stimulation increases the number and distribution of these patches. In the small intestine, this pattern of activation would induce localized contractions. Contraction could be modulated by the size, number, and distribution of spike patches.

Electrical behavior of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle

Intracellular recordings were taken from the smooth muscle of the guinea pig trachea, and the effects of intrinsic nerve stimulation were examined. Approximately 50% of the cells had stable resting membrane potentials of -50 +/- 1 mV. The remaining cells displayed spontaneous oscillations in membrane potential, which were abolished either by blocking voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels with nifedipine or by depleting intracellular Ca(2+) stores with ryanodine. In quiescent cells, stimulation with a single impulse evoked an excitatory junction potential (EJP). In 30% of these cells, trains of stimuli evoked an EJP that was followed by oscillations in membrane potential. Transmural nerve stimulation caused an increase in the frequency of spontaneous oscillations. All responses were abolished by the muscarinic-receptor antagonist hyoscine (1 microM). In quiescent cells, nifedipine (1 microM) reduced EJPs by 30%, whereas ryanodine (10 microM) reduced EJPs by 93%. These results suggest that both the release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores and the influx of Ca(2+) through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels are important determinants of spontaneous and nerve-evoked electrical activity of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle.

Mechanisms through which PDGF alters intracellular calcium levels in U-1242 MG human glioma cells

PDGF-BB induces a rapid, sustained increase in intracellular calcium levels in U-1242 MG cells. We used several calcium channel blockers to identify the types of channels involved. L channel blockers (verapamil, nimodipine, nicardipine, nitrendipine and taicatoxin) had no effect on PDGF-BB induced alterations in intracellular calcium. Blockers of P, Q and N channels (omega-agatoxin-IVA, omega-conotoxin MVIIC and omega-conotoxin GVIA) also had no effect. This indicates that these channels play an insignificant role in supplying the Ca2+ necessary for PDGF stimulated events in U-1242 MG cells. However, a T channel blocker (NDGA) and the non-specific (NS) calcium channel blockers (FFA and SK&F 9365) abolished PDGF-induced increases in intracellular calcium. This indicates that PDGF causes calcium influx through both non-specific cationic channels and T channels. To study the participation of intracellular calcium stores in this process, we used thapsigargin, caffeine and ryanodine, all of which cause depletion of intracellular calcium stores. The PDGF effect was abolished using both thapsigargin and caffeine but not ryanodine. Collectively, these data indicate that in these human glioma cells PDGF-BB induces release of intracellular calcium from caffeine- and thapsigargin-sensitive calcium stores which in turn lead to further calcium influx through both NS and T channels.

Regenerative potentials evoked in circular smooth muscle of the antral region of guinea-pig stomach

1. Slow waves recorded from the circular smooth muscle layer of guinea-pig antrum consisted of two components, an initial component and a secondary regenerative component. Whereas both components persisted in the presence of nifedipine, the secondary component was abolished by a low concentration of caffeine. 2. Short segments of single bundles of circular muscle were isolated and impaled with two microelectrodes. Depolarizing currents initiated regenerative responses which resembled those initiated during normal slow waves. These responses had partial refractory periods of 20-30 s and were initiated about 1 s after the onset of membrane depolarization. 3. The regenerative responses persisted in the presence of either nifedipine or cobalt ions but were abolished by caffeine, BAPTA or cyclopiazonic acid. 4. The observations suggest that depolarizing membrane potential changes trigger the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and this causes a depolarization by activating sets of unidentified ion channels in the membranes of smooth muscle cells of the circular layer of guinea-pig antrum.

Induction and organization of Ca2+ waves by enteric neural reflexes

The motility of the gastrointestinal tract consists of local, non-propulsive mixing (pendular or segmental) and propulsive (peristaltic) movements. It is generally considered that mixing movements are produced by intrinsic pacemakers which generate rhythmic contractions, and peristalsis by intrinsic excitatory and inhibitory neural reflex pathways, but the relationship between mixing and peristalsis is poorly understood. Peristalsis is compromised in mice lacking interstitial cells of Cajal, suggesting that these pacemaker cells may also be involved in neural reflexes. Here we show that mixing movements within longitudinal muscle result from spontaneously generated waves of elevated internal calcium concentration which originate from discrete locations (pacing sites), spread with anisotropic conduction velocities in al directions, and terminate by colliding with each other or with adjacent neurally suppressed regions. Excitatory neural reflexes control the spread of excitability by inducing new pacing sites and enhancing the overall frequency of pacing, whereas inhibitory reflexes suppress the ability of calcium waves to propagate. We provide evidence that the enteric nervous system organizes mixing movements to generate peristalsis, linking the neural regulation of pacemakers to both types of gut motility.

Sympathetic neuroeffector transmission in the rat anococcygeus muscle

1. When intracellular recordings were made from preparations of rat anococcygeus muscle, transmural nerve stimulation evoked noradrenergic excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) made up of two distinct components. Both components were abolished by either guanethidine or alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists, indicating that they resulted from the release of transmitter from sympathetic nerves and the subsequent activation of alpha-adrenoceptors. 2. The first component was associated with a transient increase in the intracellular concentration of calcium ions ([Ca2+]i) and a contraction. Although the second component was often associated with a long lasting increase in [Ca2+]i it was not associated with a contraction unless the second component initiated an action potential. 3. The increase in [Ca2+]i associated with the first component resulted from Ca2+ release from an intracellular store and from entry of Ca2+ through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. The increase in [Ca2+]i associated with the second component resulted only from the entry of Ca2+ through L-type Ca2+ channels (CaL channels). The depolarization associated with the initial increase in [Ca2+]i was abolished by reducing the external concentration of chloride ions ([Cl-]o), suggesting that it involved the activation of a Cl- conductance. 4. When the relationships between changes in [Ca2+]i, membrane depolarization and contraction produced by an increasing number of sympathetic nerve stimuli were determined in control, and caffeine- and nifedipine-containing solutions, it was found that an increase in [Ca2+]i recorded in nifedipine produced a larger contraction and larger membrane depolarization than did a similar increase in [Ca2+]i recorded in either control or caffeine-containing solutions. These observations indicate that Ca2+ released from stores more readily triggers contraction and membrane depolarization than does Ca2+ entry via CaL channels.

Second-, minute- and hour-metronomes of intestinal pacemakers

1. Movements of the gastrointestinal tract are required for the digestion of food and the expulsion of waste products. 2. The present paper will discuss the nature of electrical rhythms underlying some intestinal motility patterns. 3. The rhythms are generated by pacemakers with cycle rates appropriate to controlling individual contractions, motor patternings or switching between different motor programmes. 4. Electrical rhythms are discussed with periods of the order of seconds, minutes and hours. 5. Particular discussion is centred on rhythms recorded from the small and large intestine of the mouse.

Effects of epinastine hydrochloride on cholinergic neuro-effector transmission in canine tracheal smooth muscle

We determined the effects of epinastine hydrochloride, an anti-asthmatic drug, on cholinergic neuro-effector transmission in canine trachea. Isometric tension of tracheal strips was measured in the presence of indomethacin and propranolol. Epinastine (10(-6) M) significantly suppressed the contraction evoked by electrical field stimulation, but had no effect on the acetylcholine-evoked contraction. An L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, nicardipine, did not suppress the electrical field stimulation-induced smooth muscle contraction and did not alter the inhibitory effect of epinastine. An N-type Ca2+ channel blocker, omega-conotoxin, suppressed the electrical field stimulation-induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner, and in a subthreshold/intermediate concentration abolished the inhibitory effect of epinastine. These findings indicate that epinastine exerts prejunctional inhibitory effects on airway smooth muscle of dogs, presumably by inhibiting acetylcholine release from vagal nerve terminals, and suggest that this effect is mediated by N-type Ca2+ channels.

Neuronal pathways and transmission to the lower esophageal sphincter of the guinea Pig

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) normally controls the opening and closing of the gastroesophageal junction to resist gastric reflux but allow swallowing. Neuronal pathways controlling the guinea pig LES were investigated anatomically and physiologically in isolated preparations.

METHODS

Intracellular recording from the LES with focal electrical stimulation and retrograde and anterograde neuronal tracing were used.

RESULTS

Electrical stimulation on the LES evoked inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs), which were reduced by 60% by 100 micromol/L N-nitro-L-arginine and subsequently blocked by 0.5 micromol/L apamin, unmasking excitatory junction potentials, which were abolished by 1 micromol/L hyoscine. Esophageal or vagal stimulation evoked IJPs, which were blocked by 100 micromol/L hexamethonium. Focal stimulation of the upper stomach evoked IJPs at 5-8 of 20 stimulation sites, which were abolished by cutting between the stimulation site and sphincter. Application of 1,1'-didodecyl-3,3,3', 3'-tetramethyl indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) to the gastric sling muscle anterogradely labeled many motor axons in the sling muscle but few in the LES, confirming that the two muscles are separately innervated. DiI on the esophagus labeled nerve fibers, but not cell bodies, in the upper stomach.

CONCLUSIONS

The inhibitory motor neurons of the LES receive inputs from the vagus nerve, esophagus, and upper stomach.

Stereoselectivity of butylidenephthalide on voltage-dependent calcium channels in guinea-pig isolated ileum

Two geometric isomers, the Z- and the E- forms, can be separated from synthetic mixtures of butylidenephthalide (Bdph). Z-Bdph (50-100 microM) non-competitively inhibited Ca(2+)-induced contractions in depolarized (K+, 60 mM) guinea-pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle, with a pD2' value of 3.88 +/- 0.20 (n = 5). However, E-Bdph (20-100 microM) competitively inhibited these contractions with a pA2 value of 4.56 +/- 0.18 (n = 5) which was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than the pD2' value of Z-Bdph. In contrast, the two isomers had no stereoselective inhibitory action on Ca2+ influx through pre- or post-junctional membranes of cholinergic nerve endings from which the transmitter acetylcholine is released or on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Therefore, the trans-Z and cis-E forms of Bdph might have geometric stereoselectivity for voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDC) in guinea-pig longitudinal smooth muscle. Both isomers might inhibit more selectively the contractile twitch responses evoked by electrical stimulation than by cumulative acetylcholine- or carbachol-induced transient contractions in guinea-pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle.

The possible role of ATP and PACAP as mediators of apaminsensitive NANC inhibitory junction potentials in circular muscle of guinea-pig colon

1. In the presence of atropine (1 microM), guanethidine (3 microM), indomethacin (3 microM), nifedipine (1 microM), L-nitroarginine (L-NOARG, 100 microM), and the selective tachykinin NK1 and NK2 receptor antagonists, SR 140,333 and GR 94,800, respectively (0.1 microM each), a single pulse of electrical field stimulation (EFS) produced a monophasic non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory junction potential (i.j.p., about 10 mV in amplitude) in the circular muscle of guinea-pig proximal colon, recorded by the modified single sucrose gap technique. 2. The P2 purinoceptor agonist, alpha, beta methylene ATP (alpha, beta mATP, 100 microM) and the pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide (PACAP, 1 microM) both produced hyperpolarization (11 +/- 0.8 mV, n = 14 and 10.2 +/- 0.8 mV, n = 19, respectively) and relaxation (1.1 +/- 0.2 mV, n = 14 and 1.5 +/- 0.2 mN, n = 19, respectively) of the circular muscle. 3. Apamin (0.1 microM) nearly abolished (about 90% inhibition) the NANC i.j.p. and the alpha, beta mATP-induced hyperpolarization, markedly reduced the alpha, beta mATP-induced relaxation (73% inhibition) and the PACAP-induced hyperpolarization (65% inhibition), while the PACAP-induced relaxation was unaffected. 4. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10 mM) increased the EFS-evoked i.j.p. and revealed an excitatory junction potential (e.j.p.). In the presence of TEA, alpha, beta mATP induced a biphasic response: transient depolarization and contraction followed by hyperpolarization and relaxation. The hyperpolarization to PACAP was reduced by TEA (45% inhibition) but the relaxation was unaffected. 5. The combined application of apamin (0.1 microM) and TEA (10 mM) abolished the i.j.p. and single pulse EFS evoked a pure e.j.p. with latency three times longer than that of the i.j.p. In the majority of strips tested, alpha, beta mATP and PACAP elicited a biphasic response : depolarization and small contraction followed by hyperpolarization and relaxation. 6. The P2 purinoceptor antagonist, pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS) inhibited the NANC i.j.p. in concentration-dependent manner and inhibited the alpha, beta mATP-induced hyperpolarization and relaxation, without affecting the hyperpolarization and relaxation induced by PACAP. On the other hand, the P2 purinoceptor antagonist, suramin (100 microM) inhibited to a similar extent (60-80%) the NANC i.j.p. and the hyperpolarization and relaxation induced by alpha, beta mATP or PACAP. 7. PPADS and suramin reduced the NANC e.j.p. evoked by a single pulse EFS in the presence of apamin and TEA (100 microM of PPADS and 300 microM of suramin inhibited the e.j.p. by about 40%). 8. We conclude that ATP, but not PACAP, mediates the apamin-sensitive NANC i.j.p. in the circular muscle of the guinea-pig colon. After blockade of the NANC i.j.p., ATP may act as an excitatory transmitter by activating excitatory P2 purinoceptors. The subtypes of P2 purinoceptor involved in the inhibitory and excitatory responses remain to be established. The data suggest that excitatory P2 purinoceptors may be located extrajunctionally.

Properties of the inhibitory junction potential in smooth muscle of the guinea-pig gastric fundus

1. In circular smooth muscle of the guinea-pig gastric fundus, transmural nerve stimulation evoked a cholinergic excitatory junction potential (e.j.p.), and blockade of the e.j.p. by atropine revealed a non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory junction potential (i.j.p.). 2. The amplitude of the e.j.p. was increased by apamin, suramin or NGnitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG), with no significant change in the membrane potential. 3. The i.j.p. consisted of two components (fast and slow); apamin inhibited the former, nitroarginine inhibited the latter, and suramin inhibited both components. 4. Apamin inhibited the hyperpolarization produced by adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) but not by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Suramin inhibited the hyperpolarization produced by VIP but not by ATP. The sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hyperpolarization was not blocked by apamin or suramin. L-NOARG or tetrodotoxin did not inhibit the hyperpolarization produced by ATP, VIP or SNP. 5. The data did not support the hypothesis that ATP, VIP or nitric oxide (NO) is the main transmitter responsible for generation of the NANC i.j.p. in the fundus. 6. Actions of L-NOARG suggest that endogenous NO may be involved in junctional transmission, mainly as an inhibitory modulator of cholinergic transmission.

Neuromuscular junctions made by nerve fibres supplying the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum

This study reports on the ultrastructure of the projections to the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum from nerves of the tertiary plexus. Reconstructions of serial electron micrographs through axons in bundles of the tertiary plexus showed that the majority of vesicle containing profiles which became exposed through a gap in the Schwann cell formed specialized neuromuscular junctions. At these junctions, the exposed profile and the muscle cell were separated by less than 100 nm and the intervening cleft was filled with a single layer of basal lamina. Small synaptic vesicles were aggregated towards the area of close contact. In this tissue two different types of neuromuscular junction were found. Two-thirds of junctions were similar to those found in other tissues. They had many small vesicles aggregated towards the area of junctional contact: some 20% of these junctions had pre-junctional membrane specializations. The remaining junctions were smaller than those usually found in autonomic end organs. These junctions covered a small area of membrane and contained only a few small synaptic vesicles; pre-junctional membrane specializations were not found on these junctions. Results of physiological experiments have shown that neurally released transmitters activate a different subset of receptors to externally applied transmitters. The morphological data presented here suggest that specialized neuromuscular junctions exist where these receptors may be localised.

Tetrodotoxin-sensitive action potentials in smooth muscle of mouse vas deferens

Action potentials were recorded during impalements of some but not all smooth muscle cells of mouse vas deferens in response to both nerve stimulation and intracellular current injection. They were resistant to blockade by nifedipine (0.1-1.0 microM) but were blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 0.2-1.0 microM) when this was added in the presence of nifedipine. It is suggested that voltage-dependent sodium (Na+) channels are present in mouse vas deferens that function to amplify calcium (Ca2+) influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.

Neuronally released and applied acetylcholine on the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum

Brief transmural stimuli, which selectively excited cholinergic fibres, initiated contractions and excitatory junction potentials in preparations of longitudinal muscle isolated from the guinea-pig ileum: these responses were associated with an increase in the internal concentration of calcium ions. When muscle voltage-dependent calcium channels were blocked using the organic calcium antagonist nifedipine, brief stimuli continued to initiate contractions, evoke excitatory junction potentials and cause an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration. Ionophoretically applied acetylcholine caused depolarizations which resembled the excitatory junction potentials evoked by cholinergic nerve stimulation. Both responses had slow time courses and were abolished by muscarinic receptor antagonists. However, the depolarizations produced by ionophoretically applied acetylcholine, unlike those produced by nerve stimulation, were frequently interrupted by transient hyperpolarizations. The transient hyperpolarizations were abolished by barium ions or charybdotoxin. High concentrations of the calcium antagonists nicardipine, verapamil or diltiazem had a tendency to preferentially abolish the excitatory junction potential. When the effects of the cholinesterase inhibitor, eserine, on excitatory junction potentials were examined, it became apparent that when the destruction of acetylcholine was prevented it initiated an additional conductance change to that initiated by acetylcholine in untreated tissues. The results are discussed in relation to the idea that neuronally released acetylcholine and applied acetylcholine might activate different subsets of muscarinic receptors on longitudinal ileal smooth muscle.

Histochemical, pharmacological, biochemical and chromatographic evidence that pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide is involved in inhibitory neurotransmission in the taenia of the guinea-pig caecum

The possibility that pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter has been investigated in the taenia of the guinea-pig caecum. The action of PACAP on muscle contractility and its ability to alter levels of adenosine-3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine-3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) were investigated. PACAP-1-27 was an effective agonist, giving relaxations comparable in magnitude to isoproterenol; its EC50 was 3.4 x 10(-7) M. PACAP (10(-6) M) caused an almost two-fold increase in cyclic AMP levels; but the level of cyclic GMP was not affected. The relaxation caused by PACAP was slow in onset, with a latency of 5.8 +/- 0.8 s and reached a maximum at 9.1 +/- 1.1 s after onset. The relaxation was significantly reduced by apamin (10(-6) M) and suramin (10(-4) M) but was not reduced by tetrodotoxin (10(-7) M). Relaxation of the taenia coli caused by electrical stimulation of the inhibitory nerves was greatly reduced by apamin but only slightly reduced by suramin. PACAP-like immunoreactivity (-IR) was localised immunohistochemically in varicose nerve fibres within the taenia coli and in the underlying myenteric plexus and circular muscle. Approx. 50% of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-IR nerve fibres in the taenia also had immunoreactivity for PACAP; conversely, almost all PACAP-IR fibres were immunoreactive for VIP. PACAP-IR and substance P (SP)-IR were generally in separate fibres; only about 5% of SP-IR fibres were PACAP-IR. Radioimmunoassay revealed tissue concentrations of PACAP-1-27 and PACAP-1-38 of 1.0 +/- 0.1 and 2.1 +/- 0.3 (SEM) pmol/g wet weight of tissue, respectively. Material with PACAP-1-27 immunoreactivity co-eluted with authentic PACAP-1-27 on gel filtration chromatography, and PACAP-1-38 immunoreactivity also co-eluted with the authentic peptide. This study provides structural, chemical and pharmacological evidence that PACAP could be involved in inhibitory neurotransmission to the taenia coli of the guinea-pig caecum.

Simultaneous intracellular recordings from enteric neurons reveal that myenteric AH neurons transmit via slow excitatory postsynaptic potentials

Simultaneous intracellular electrical recordings were made from pairs of neurons separated circumferentially by 100-200 microns of the myenteric plexus of the guinea-pig ileum in vitro. The recording electrodes were filled with the dye neurobiotin which was injected into impaled nerve cells, and later revealed histochemically. Intracellular current pulses were used to evoke action potentials via the recording electrode in one type of myenteric neuron, in most cases an AH neuron, while a second electrode was used to record from a simultaneously impaled S neuron or AH neuron. AH neurons are thought to be primary sensory neurons, whereas S neurons are interneurons and motor neurons. Ninety pairs of neurons were adequately tested for interaction. From these, 17 S neurons and three AH neurons that responded to AH neuron stimulation were detected. In each case, the response was a slow depolarization that was seen only in response to a train of stimuli at 10 Hz. The slow depolarizations were enhanced by passing depolarizing current and diminished by hyperpolarization. Responses were also diminished by lowering external Ca.2+ and elevating Mg2+. In all cases in which intracellular recording indicated communication between neurons, morphological evidence of connection was seen. In no case was there communication without connection, but in four instances, morphological connections appeared to exist, although no physiological evidence of communication was obtained.