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Schonkeren SL, Thijssen MS, Idris M, Wouters K, de Vaan J, Teubner A, Gijbels MJ, Boesmans W, Melotte V. Differences in enteric neuronal density in the NSE-Noggin mouse model across institutes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3686. [PMID: 38355947 PMCID: PMC10866904 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54337-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a large and complex part of the peripheral nervous system, and it is vital for gut homeostasis. To study the ENS, different hyper- and hypo-innervated model systems have been developed. The NSE-Noggin mouse model was described as one of the few models with a higher enteric neuronal density in the colon. However, in our hands NSE-Noggin mice did not present with a hyperganglionic phenotype. NSE-Noggin mice were phenotyped based on fur appearance, genotyped and DNA sequenced to demonstrate transgene and intact NSE-Noggin-IRES-EGFP construct presence, and RNA expression of Noggin was shown to be upregulated. Positive EGFP staining in the plexus of NSE-Noggin mice also confirmed Noggin protein expression. Myenteric plexus preparations of the colon were examined to quantify both the overall density of enteric neurons and the proportions of enteric neurons expressing specific subtype markers. The total number of enteric neurons in the colonic myenteric plexus of transgenic mice did not differ significantly from wild types, nor did the proportion of calbindin, calretinin, or serotonin immunoreactive myenteric neurons. Possible reasons as to why the hyperinnervated phenotype could not be observed in contrast with original studies using this mouse model are discussed, including study design, influence of microbiota, and other environmental variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone L Schonkeren
- Department of Pathology, GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Meike S Thijssen
- Department of Pathology, GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Musa Idris
- Department of Pathology, GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kim Wouters
- Department of Pathology, GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Joëlle de Vaan
- Department of Pathology, GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Teubner
- Central Animal Facility, Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marion J Gijbels
- Department of Pathology, GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences: Atherosclerosis & Ischemic Syndrome, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity: Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Werend Boesmans
- Department of Pathology, GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Veerle Melotte
- Department of Pathology, GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Gomez-Frittelli J, Hamnett R, Kaltschmidt JA. Comparison of wholemount dissection methods for neuronal subtype marker expression in the mouse myenteric plexus. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2024; 36:e14693. [PMID: 37882149 PMCID: PMC10842488 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurately reporting the identity and representation of enteric nervous system (ENS) neuronal subtypes along the length of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is critical to advancing our understanding of ENS control of GI function. Reports of varying proportions of subtype marker expression have employed different dissection techniques to achieve wholemount muscularis preparations of myenteric plexus. In this study, we asked whether differences in GI dissection methods could introduce variability into the quantification of marker expression. METHODS We compared three commonly used methods of ENS wholemount dissection: two flat-sheet preparations that differed in the order of microdissection and fixation and a third rod-mounted peeling technique. We also tested a reversed orientation variation of flat-sheet peeling, two step-by-step variations of the rod peeling technique, and whole-gut fixation as a tube. We assessed marker expression using immunohistochemistry, genetic reporter lines, confocal microscopy, and automated image analysis. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We found no significant differences between the two flat-sheet preparation methods in the expression of calretinin or neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) as a proportion of total neurons in ileum myenteric plexus. However, the rod-mounted peeling method resulted in decreased proportion of neurons labeled for both calretinin and nNOS. This method also resulted in decreased transgenic reporter fluorescent protein (tdTomato) for substance P in distal colon and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in both ileum and distal colon. These results suggest that labeling among some markers, both native protein and transgenic fluorescent reporters, is decreased by the rod-mounted mechanical method of peeling. The step-by-step variations of this method point to mechanical manipulation of the tissue as the likely cause of decreased labeling. Our study thereby demonstrates a critical variability in wholemount muscularis dissection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Gomez-Frittelli
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305 USA
| | - Ryan Hamnett
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305 USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Julia A. Kaltschmidt
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305 USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
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Barth BB, Redington ER, Gautam N, Pelot NA, Grill WM. Calcium image analysis in the moving gut. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2023; 35:e14678. [PMID: 37736662 PMCID: PMC10999186 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neural control of gastrointestinal muscle relies on circuit activity whose underlying motifs remain limited by small-sample calcium imaging recordings confounded by motion artifact, paralytics, and muscle dissections. We present a sequence of resources to register images from moving preparations and identify out-of-focus events in widefield fluorescent microscopy. METHODS Our algorithm uses piecewise rigid registration with pathfinding to correct movements associated with smooth muscle contractions. We developed methods to identify loss-of-focus events and to simulate calcium activity to evaluate registration. KEY RESULTS By combining our methods with principal component analysis, we found populations of neurons exhibit distinct activity patterns in response to distinct stimuli consistent with hypothesized roles. The image analysis pipeline makes deeper insights possible by capturing concurrently calcium dynamics from more neurons in larger fields of view. We provide access to the source code for our algorithms and make experimental and technical recommendations to increase data quality in calcium imaging experiments. CONCLUSIONS These methods make feasible large population, robust calcium imaging recordings and permit more sophisticated network analyses and insights into neural activity patterns in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley B. Barth
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
| | - Emily R. Redington
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
- Current employment Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Contributions to this article were made as an employee of Duke University and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc
| | - Nitisha Gautam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
| | - Nicole A. Pelot
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
| | - Warren M. Grill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
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Leven P, Schneider R, Schneider L, Mallesh S, Vanden Berghe P, Sasse P, Kalff JC, Wehner S. β-adrenergic signaling triggers enteric glial reactivity and acute enteric gliosis during surgery. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:255. [PMID: 37941007 PMCID: PMC10631040 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02937-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enteric glia contribute to the pathophysiology of various intestinal immune-driven diseases, such as postoperative ileus (POI), a motility disorder and common complication after abdominal surgery. Enteric gliosis of the intestinal muscularis externa (ME) has been identified as part of POI development. However, the glia-restricted responses and activation mechanisms are poorly understood. The sympathetic nervous system becomes rapidly activated by abdominal surgery. It modulates intestinal immunity, innervates all intestinal layers, and directly interfaces with enteric glia. We hypothesized that sympathetic innervation controls enteric glia reactivity in response to surgical trauma. METHODS Sox10iCreERT2/Rpl22HA/+ mice were subjected to a mouse model of laparotomy or intestinal manipulation to induce POI. Histological, protein, and transcriptomic analyses were performed to analyze glia-specific responses. Interactions between the sympathetic nervous system and enteric glia were studied in mice chemically depleted of TH+ sympathetic neurons and glial-restricted Sox10iCreERT2/JellyOPfl/+/Rpl22HA/+ mice, allowing optogenetic stimulation of β-adrenergic downstream signaling and glial-specific transcriptome analyses. A laparotomy model was used to study the effect of sympathetic signaling on enteric glia in the absence of intestinal manipulation. Mechanistic studies included adrenergic receptor expression profiling in vivo and in vitro and adrenergic agonism treatments of primary enteric glial cell cultures to elucidate the role of sympathetic signaling in acute enteric gliosis and POI. RESULTS With ~ 4000 differentially expressed genes, the most substantial enteric glia response occurs early after intestinal manipulation. During POI, enteric glia switch into a reactive state and continuously shape their microenvironment by releasing inflammatory and migratory factors. Sympathetic denervation reduced the inflammatory response of enteric glia in the early postoperative phase. Optogenetic and pharmacological stimulation of β-adrenergic downstream signaling triggered enteric glial reactivity. Finally, distinct adrenergic agonists revealed β-1/2 adrenoceptors as the molecular targets of sympathetic-driven enteric glial reactivity. CONCLUSIONS Enteric glia act as early responders during post-traumatic intestinal injury and inflammation. Intact sympathetic innervation and active β-adrenergic receptor signaling in enteric glia is a trigger of the immediate glial postoperative inflammatory response. With immune-activating cues originating from the sympathetic nervous system as early as the initial surgical incision, adrenergic signaling in enteric glia presents a promising target for preventing POI development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Leven
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Reiner Schneider
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Linda Schneider
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Shilpashree Mallesh
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Pieter Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Philipp Sasse
- Institute of Physiology I, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jörg C Kalff
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sven Wehner
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
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Abo-Shaban T, Lee CYQ, Hosie S, Balasuriya GK, Mohsenipour M, Johnston LA, Hill-Yardin EL. GutMap: A New Interface for Analysing Regional Motility Patterns in ex vivo Mouse Gastrointestinal Preparations. Bio Protoc 2023; 13:e4831. [PMID: 37817909 PMCID: PMC10560633 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Different regions of the gastrointestinal tract have specific functions and thus distinct motility patterns. Motility is primarily regulated by the enteric nervous system (ENS), an intrinsic network of neurons located within the gut wall. Under physiological conditions, the ENS is influenced by the central nervous system (CNS). However, by using ex vivo organ bath experiments, ENS regulation of gut motility can also be studied in the absence of CNS influences. The current technique enables the characterisation of small intestinal, caecal, and colonic motility patterns using an ex vivo organ bath and video imaging protocol. This approach is combined with the novel edge detection script GutMap, available in MATLAB, that functions across Windows and Mac platforms. Dissected intestinal segments are cannulated in an organ bath containing physiological saline with a camera mounted overhead. Video recordings of gut contractions are then converted to spatiotemporal heatmaps and analysed using the GutMap software interface. Using data analysed from the heatmaps, parameters of contractile patterns (including contraction propagation frequency and velocity as well as gut diameter) at baseline and in the presence of drugs/treatments/genetic mutations can be compared. Here, we studied motility patterns of female mice at baseline and in the presence of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (Nω-Nitro-L-arginine; NOLA) (nitric oxide being the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of gut motility) to showcase the application of GutMap. This technique is suitable for application to a broad range of animal models of clinical disorders to understand underlying biological pathways contributing to gastrointestinal dysfunction. Key features • Enhanced video imaging analysis of gut contractility in rodents using a novel software interface. • New edge detection algorithm to accurately contour curvatures of the gastrointestinal tract. • Allows for output of high-resolution spatiotemporal heatmaps across Windows and Mac platforms. • Edge detection and analysis method makes motility measurements accessible in different gut regions including the caecum and stomach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Abo-Shaban
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Chalystha Y. Q. Lee
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Suzanne Hosie
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Gayathri K. Balasuriya
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Mitra Mohsenipour
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Leigh A. Johnston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Elisa L. Hill-Yardin
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
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SHODA A, MURATA M, KIMURA M, HARA Y, YONOICHI S, ISHIDA Y, MANTANI Y, YOKOYAMA T, HIRANO T, IKENAKA Y, HOSHI N. Transgenerational effects of developmental neurotoxicity induced by exposure to a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of neonicotinoid pesticide clothianidin. J Vet Med Sci 2023; 85:1023-1029. [PMID: 37544714 PMCID: PMC10539822 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.23-0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonicotinoid pesticides (NNs) transfer rapidly from mother to offspring, which exhibit neurobehavioral effects. However, no studies have investigated NNs' transgenerational effects. We exposed F0 generation mice (mothers) to a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of clothianidin (CLO) during gestation and lactation, and examined the adult neurobehavioral effects of three generations of offspring (F1, F2, F3). F1 had lower birth weight, decreased locomotor activity, and increased anxiety-like behavior. In F2, body weight was affected, and there was a decreasing trend in locomotor activity and an increasing trend in anxiety-like behavior. In F3, locomotor activity tended to increase. Thus, even when only the mothers were exposed, the effects of CLOs were still observed in F1, F2, and F3 but the effects became smaller.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuka SHODA
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Morphology, Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Midori MURATA
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Morphology, Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Mako KIMURA
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Morphology, Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yukako HARA
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Morphology, Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Sakura YONOICHI
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Morphology, Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yuya ISHIDA
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Morphology, Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Youhei MANTANI
- Laboratory of Histophysiology, Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Toshifumi YOKOYAMA
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Morphology, Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Tetsushi HIRANO
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yoshinori IKENAKA
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
- Translational Research Unit, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Nobuhiko HOSHI
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Morphology, Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
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Budnik AF, Masliukov PM. Postnatal development of the enteric neurons expressing neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023; 306:2276-2291. [PMID: 35500072 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Neurons, expressing neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the enteric ganglia are inhibitory motor neurons or interneurons. The aim of the study was to identify the percentage, cross-sectional area of nNOS-immunoreactive (IR) neurons and their colocalization with choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and neuropeptide Y in the intramural ganglia of the myenteric (MP) and submucous plexus (SP) of the small intestine (SI) and large intestine (LI) of rats of different age groups using immunohistochemical methods. In the intramural ganglia of the MP, the largest percentage of nNOS-IR neurons was detected in newborn rats in the LI (81 ± 0.9%) and SI (48 ± 4.1%). Subsequently, it decreased in ontogenesis up to 60 days of life (26 ± 0.9% LI, 29 ± 3.2% SI), and did not change until senescence. In the SP, abundant nNOS-IR neurons were also detected in newborns (82 ± 7.0% SI, 85 ± 3.2% LI), while their percentage decreased significantly in the next 20 days. Furthermore, a very small number of nNOS-IR neurons was detected in 30-day- and 2-month-old animals, but they again appeared in large numbers in aged rats. In the MP, the highest percentage of nNOS+/ChAT+ neurons was in 1-day-old, 10-day-old, and 2-year-old rats. In the SP, the largest number of nNOS-IR neurons colocalized ChAT regardless of age. In the MP of all rats, many nNOS-IR neurons colocalized VIP, and the maximal percentage of nNOS+/VIP+ neurons was found in 2-year-old rats, minimal-in newborns. In conclusion, nNOS expression in neurons of the gut is decreased in early postnatal ontogenesis and subsequently increased in aged rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonina F Budnik
- Department of Normal and Pathological Anatomy, Kabardino-Balkarian State University, Nalchik, Russia
| | - Petr M Masliukov
- Department of Normal Physiology, Yaroslavl State Medical University, Yaroslavl, Russia
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Wang X, Tang R, Wei Z, Zhan Y, Lu J, Li Z. The enteric nervous system deficits in autism spectrum disorder. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1101071. [PMID: 37694110 PMCID: PMC10484716 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1101071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are common comorbidities in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and abnormalities in these issues have been found to be closely related to the severity of core behavioral deficits in autism. The enteric nervous system (ENS) plays a crucial role in regulating various aspects of gut functions, including gastrointestinal motility. Dysfunctional wiring in the ENS not only results in various gastrointestinal issues, but also correlates with an increasing number of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as ASD. However, it remains unclear whether the gastrointestinal dysfunctions are a consequence of ASD or if they directly contribute to its pathogenesis. This review focuses on the deficits in the ENS associated with ASD, and highlights several high-risk genes for ASD, which are expressed widely in the gut and implicated in gastrointestinal dysfunction among both animal models and human patients with ASD. Furthermore, we provide a brief overview of environmental factors associated with gastrointestinal tract in individuals with autism. This could offer fresh perspectives on our understanding of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinnian Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- School of Life Science, USTC Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Ruijin Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhen Wei
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yang Zhan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianping Lu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhiling Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
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Yuan PQ, Li T, Million M, Larauche M, Atmani K, Bellier JP, Taché Y. New insight on the enteric cholinergic innervation of the pig colon by central and peripheral nervous systems: reduction by repeated loperamide administration. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1204233. [PMID: 37650102 PMCID: PMC10463754 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1204233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The central and peripheral nervous systems provide cholinergic innervation in the colon. The ability to assess their neuroanatomical distinctions is still a challenge. The pig is regarded as a relevant translational model due to the close similarity of its enteric nervous system (ENS) with that of human. Opioid-induced constipation is one of the most common side effects of opioid therapy. Methods We developed an approach to differentiate the central and peripheral cholinergic innervation of the pig colon using double immunolabeling with a novel mouse anti-human peripheral type of choline acetyltransferase (hpChAT) antibody combined with a rabbit anti-common type of ChAT (cChAT) antibody, a reliable marker of cholinergic neurons in the central nervous system. We examined their spatial configurations in 3D images of the ENS generated from CLARITY-cleared colonic segments. The density was quantitated computationally using Imaris 9.7. We assessed changes in the distal colon induced by daily oral treatment for 4 weeks with the μ opioid receptor agonist, loperamide (0.4 or 3 mg/kg). Results The double labeling showed strong cChAT immunoreactive (ir) fibers in the cervical vagus nerve and neuronal somata and fibers in the ventral horn of the sacral (S2) cord while hpChAT immunoreactivity was visualized only in the ENS but not in the vagus or sacral neural structures indicating the selectivity of these two antibodies. In the colonic myenteric plexus, dense hpChAT-ir neurons and fibers and varicose cChAT-ir fibers surrounding hpChAT-ir neurons were simultaneously visualized in 3D. The density of cChAT-ir varicose fibers in the outer submucosal plexus of both males and females were higher in the transverse and distal colon than in the proximal colon and in the myenteric plexus compared to the outer submucosal plexus and there was no cChAT innervation in the inner submucosal plexus. The density of hpChAT in the ENS showed no segmental or plexus differences in both sexes. Loperamide at the highest dose significantly decreased the density hpChAT-ir fibers + somata in the myenteric plexus of the distal colon. Discussion These data showed the distinct density of central cholinergic innervation between myenteric and submucosal plexuses among colonic segments and the localization of cChAT-ir fibers around peripheral hpChAT neurons in 3D. The reduction of cholinergic myenteric innervation by chronic opiate treatment points to target altered prokinetic cholinergic pathway to counteract opiate constipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu-Qing Yuan
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- VA GLAHS, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Tao Li
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mulugeta Million
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Muriel Larauche
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Karim Atmani
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jean-Pierre Bellier
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Yvette Taché
- CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- VA GLAHS, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Servin-Vences MR, Lam RM, Koolen A, Wang Y, Saade DN, Loud M, Kacmaz H, Frausto S, Zhang Y, Beyder A, Marshall KL, Bönnemann CG, Chesler AT, Patapoutian A. PIEZO2 in somatosensory neurons controls gastrointestinal transit. Cell 2023; 186:3386-3399.e15. [PMID: 37541196 PMCID: PMC10501318 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract is in a state of constant motion. These movements are tightly regulated by the presence of food and help digestion by mechanically breaking down and propelling gut content. Mechanical sensing in the gut is thought to be essential for regulating motility; however, the identity of the neuronal populations, the molecules involved, and the functional consequences of this sensation are unknown. Here, we show that humans lacking PIEZO2 exhibit impaired bowel sensation and motility. Piezo2 in mouse dorsal root, but not nodose ganglia is required to sense gut content, and this activity slows down food transit rates in the stomach, small intestine, and colon. Indeed, Piezo2 is directly required to detect colon distension in vivo. Our study unveils the mechanosensory mechanisms that regulate the transit of luminal contents throughout the gut, which is a critical process to ensure proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rocio Servin-Vences
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, Scripps Research, San Diego, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Ruby M Lam
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; NIH-Brown University Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Providence, RI, USA; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alize Koolen
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, Scripps Research, San Diego, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, Scripps Research, San Diego, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Dimah N Saade
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Meaghan Loud
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, Scripps Research, San Diego, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Halil Kacmaz
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Enteric Neuroscience Program (ENSP), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Suzanne Frausto
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, Scripps Research, San Diego, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Yunxiao Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, Scripps Research, San Diego, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Arthur Beyder
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Enteric Neuroscience Program (ENSP), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Kara L Marshall
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carsten G Bönnemann
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexander T Chesler
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Ardem Patapoutian
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, Scripps Research, San Diego, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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11
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Plum T, Binzberger R, Thiele R, Shang F, Postrach D, Fung C, Fortea M, Stakenborg N, Wang Z, Tappe-Theodor A, Poth T, MacLaren DAA, Boeckxstaens G, Kuner R, Pitzer C, Monyer H, Xin C, Bonventre JV, Tanaka S, Voehringer D, Vanden Berghe P, Strid J, Feyerabend TB, Rodewald HR. Mast cells link immune sensing to antigen-avoidance behaviour. Nature 2023; 620:634-642. [PMID: 37438525 PMCID: PMC10432277 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06188-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The physiological functions of mast cells remain largely an enigma. In the context of barrier damage, mast cells are integrated in type 2 immunity and, together with immunoglobulin E (IgE), promote allergic diseases. Allergic symptoms may, however, facilitate expulsion of allergens, toxins and parasites and trigger future antigen avoidance1-3. Here, we show that antigen-specific avoidance behaviour in inbred mice4,5 is critically dependent on mast cells; hence, we identify the immunological sensor cell linking antigen recognition to avoidance behaviour. Avoidance prevented antigen-driven adaptive, innate and mucosal immune activation and inflammation in the stomach and small intestine. Avoidance was IgE dependent, promoted by Th2 cytokines in the immunization phase and by IgE in the execution phase. Mucosal mast cells lining the stomach and small intestine rapidly sensed antigen ingestion. We interrogated potential signalling routes between mast cells and the brain using mutant mice, pharmacological inhibition, neural activity recordings and vagotomy. Inhibition of leukotriene synthesis impaired avoidance, but overall no single pathway interruption completely abrogated avoidance, indicating complex regulation. Collectively, the stage for antigen avoidance is set when adaptive immunity equips mast cells with IgE as a telltale of past immune responses. On subsequent antigen ingestion, mast cells signal termination of antigen intake. Prevention of immunopathology-causing, continuous and futile responses against per se innocuous antigens or of repeated ingestion of toxins through mast-cell-mediated antigen-avoidance behaviour may be an important arm of immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Plum
- Division for Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Rebecca Binzberger
- Division for Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robin Thiele
- Division for Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fuwei Shang
- Division for Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Postrach
- Division for Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Candice Fung
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marina Fortea
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Stakenborg
- Laboratory for Intestinal Neuroimmune Interactions, Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Zheng Wang
- Laboratory for Intestinal Neuroimmune Interactions, Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Tanja Poth
- Center for Model System and Comparative Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Duncan A A MacLaren
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology of the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Guy Boeckxstaens
- Laboratory for Intestinal Neuroimmune Interactions, Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Pharmacology Institute, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Claudia Pitzer
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hannah Monyer
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology of the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cuiyan Xin
- Division of Renal Medicine and Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph V Bonventre
- Division of Renal Medicine and Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Satoshi Tanaka
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Division of Pathological Sciences, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - David Voehringer
- Department of Infection Biology, University Hospital Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pieter Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jessica Strid
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Thorsten B Feyerabend
- Division for Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Reimer Rodewald
- Division for Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
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12
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Dharshika C, Gonzales J, Chow A, Morales-Soto W, Gulbransen BD. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) expression in the enteric nervous system and contributions of glial STING in disease. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2023; 35:e14553. [PMID: 37309618 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appropriate host-microbe interactions are essential for enteric glial development and subsequent gastrointestinal function, but the potential mechanisms of microbe-glial communication are unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that enteric glia express the pattern recognition receptor stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and communicate with the microbiome through this pathway to modulate gastrointestinal inflammation. METHODS In situ transcriptional labeling and immunohistochemistry were used to examine STING and IFNβ expression in enteric neurons and glia. Glial-STING KO mice (Sox10CreERT2+/- ;STINGfl/fl ) and IFNβ ELISA were used to characterize the role of enteric glia in canonical STING activation. The role of glial STING in gastrointestinal inflammation was assessed in the 3% DSS colitis model. RESULTS Enteric glia and neurons express STING, but only enteric neurons express IFNβ. While both the myenteric and submucosal plexuses produce IFNβ with STING activation, enteric glial STING plays a minor role in its production and seems more involved in autophagy processes. Furthermore, deleting enteric glial STING does not affect weight loss, colitis severity, or neuronal cell proportions in the DSS colitis model. CONCLUSION Taken together, our data support canonical roles for STING and IFNβ signaling in the enteric nervous system through enteric neurons but that enteric glia do not use these same mechanisms. We propose that enteric glial STING may utilize alternative signaling mechanisms and/or is only active in particular disease conditions. Regardless, this study provides the first glimpse of STING signaling in the enteric nervous system and highlights a potential avenue of neuroglial-microbial communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Dharshika
- Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Jacques Gonzales
- Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Aaron Chow
- Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Wilmarie Morales-Soto
- Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Brian D Gulbransen
- Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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13
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Osorio N, Martineau M, Fortea M, Rouget C, Penalba V, Lee CJ, Boesmans W, Rolli-Derkinderen M, Patel AV, Mondielli G, Conrod S, Labat-Gest V, Papin A, Sasabe J, Sweedler JV, Vanden Berghe P, Delmas P, Mothet JP. d-Serine agonism of GluN1-GluN3 NMDA receptors regulates the activity of enteric neurons and coordinates gut motility. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.19.537136. [PMID: 37131687 PMCID: PMC10153202 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.19.537136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a complex network of diverse molecularly defined classes of neurons embedded in the gastrointestinal wall and responsible for controlling the major functions of the gut. As in the central nervous system, the vast array of ENS neurons is interconnected by chemical synapses. Despite several studies reporting the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptors in the ENS, their roles in the gut remain elusive. Here, by using an array of immunohistochemistry, molecular profiling and functional assays, we uncover a new role for d-serine (d-Ser) and non-conventional GluN1-GluN3 N-methyl d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in regulating ENS functions. We demonstrate that d-Ser is produced by serine racemase (SR) expressed in enteric neurons. By using both in situ patch clamp recording and calcium imaging, we show that d-Ser alone acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the ENS independently of the conventional GluN1-GluN2 NMDARs. Instead, d-Ser directly gates the non-conventional GluN1-GluN3 NMDARs in enteric neurons from both mouse and guinea-pig. Pharmacological inhibition or potentiation of GluN1-GluN3 NMDARs had opposite effects on mouse colonic motor activities, while genetically driven loss of SR impairs gut transit and fluid content of pellet output. Our results demonstrate the existence of native GluN1-GluN3 NMDARs in enteric neurons and open new perspectives on the exploration of excitatory d-Ser receptors in gut function and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Osorio
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives (LNC), Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
- Centre de Recherche en Neurophysiologie et Neuroscience de Marseille, UMR 7286, CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | | | - Marina Fortea
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Virginie Penalba
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives (LNC), Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
- Centre de Recherche en Neurophysiologie et Neuroscience de Marseille, UMR 7286, CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Cindy J. Lee
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Werend Boesmans
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Amit V. Patel
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Grégoire Mondielli
- Centre de Recherche en Neurophysiologie et Neuroscience de Marseille, UMR 7286, CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Sandrine Conrod
- Centre de Recherche en Neurophysiologie et Neuroscience de Marseille, UMR 7286, CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | | | - Amandine Papin
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives (LNC), Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
| | - Jumpei Sasabe
- Department of Pharmacology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jonathan V. Sweedler
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Pieter Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Delmas
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives (LNC), Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
- Centre de Recherche en Neurophysiologie et Neuroscience de Marseille, UMR 7286, CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Mothet
- Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM UMR U862, Bordeaux, France
- Centre de Recherche en Neurophysiologie et Neuroscience de Marseille, UMR 7286, CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CentraleSupélec, LuMIn UMR9024, Gif-sur-Yvette 91190, France
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14
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Sharkey KA, Mawe GM. The enteric nervous system. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1487-1564. [PMID: 36521049 PMCID: PMC9970663 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00018.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Of all the organ systems in the body, the gastrointestinal tract is the most complicated in terms of the numbers of structures involved, each with different functions, and the numbers and types of signaling molecules utilized. The digestion of food and absorption of nutrients, electrolytes, and water occurs in a hostile luminal environment that contains a large and diverse microbiota. At the core of regulatory control of the digestive and defensive functions of the gastrointestinal tract is the enteric nervous system (ENS), a complex system of neurons and glia in the gut wall. In this review, we discuss 1) the intrinsic neural control of gut functions involved in digestion and 2) how the ENS interacts with the immune system, gut microbiota, and epithelium to maintain mucosal defense and barrier function. We highlight developments that have revolutionized our understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of enteric neural control. These include a new understanding of the molecular architecture of the ENS, the organization and function of enteric motor circuits, and the roles of enteric glia. We explore the transduction of luminal stimuli by enteroendocrine cells, the regulation of intestinal barrier function by enteric neurons and glia, local immune control by the ENS, and the role of the gut microbiota in regulating the structure and function of the ENS. Multifunctional enteric neurons work together with enteric glial cells, macrophages, interstitial cells, and enteroendocrine cells integrating an array of signals to initiate outputs that are precisely regulated in space and time to control digestion and intestinal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith A Sharkey
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gary M Mawe
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
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15
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Li T, Morselli M, Su T, Million M, Larauche M, Pellegrini M, Taché Y, Yuan PQ. Comparative transcriptomics reveals highly conserved regional programs between porcine and human colonic enteric nervous system. Commun Biol 2023; 6:98. [PMID: 36693960 PMCID: PMC9872754 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04478-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The porcine gut is increasingly regarded as a useful translational model. The enteric nervous system in the colon coordinates diverse functions. However, knowledge of the molecular profiling of porcine enteric nerve system and its similarity to that of human is still lacking. We identified the distinct transcriptional programs associated with functional characteristics between inner submucosal and myenteric ganglia in porcine proximal and distal colon using bulk RNA and single-cell RNA sequencing. Comparative transcriptomics of myenteric ganglia in corresponding colonic regions of pig and human revealed highly conserved programs in porcine proximal and distal colon, which explained >96% of their transcriptomic responses to vagal nerve stimulation, suggesting that porcine proximal and distal colon could serve as predictors in translational studies. The conserved programs specific for inflammatory modulation were displayed in pigs with vagal nerve stimulation. This study provides a valuable transcriptomic resource for understanding of human colonic functions and neuromodulation using porcine model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
| | - Marco Morselli
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Trent Su
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Mulugeta Million
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
| | - Muriel Larauche
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Yvette Taché
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA ,grid.417119.b0000 0001 0384 5381VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Pu-Qing Yuan
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA ,grid.417119.b0000 0001 0384 5381VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, USA
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16
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Gomez-Frittelli J, Hamnett R, Kaltschmidt JA. Comparison of wholemount dissection methods for neuronal subtype marker expression in the mouse myenteric plexus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.17.524014. [PMID: 36711933 PMCID: PMC9882214 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.17.524014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Background Accurately reporting the identity and representation of enteric nervous system (ENS) neuronal subtypes along the length of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is critical to advancing our understanding of ENS control of GI tract function. Reports of varying proportions of subtype marker expression have employed different dissection techniques to achieve wholemount muscularis preparations of myenteric plexus. In this study we asked whether differences in GI dissection methods could introduce variability into the quantification of marker expression. Methods We compared three commonly used methods of ENS wholemount dissection: two flat-sheet preparations that differed in the order of microdissection and fixation as well as a rod-mounted peeling technique. We assessed marker expression using immunohistochemistry, genetic reporter lines, confocal microscopy, and automated image analysis. Key Results and Conclusions We found no significant differences between the two flat-sheet preparation methods in the expression of calretinin, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), or somatostatin (SST) in ileum myenteric plexus. However, the rod-mounted peeling method resulted in decreased marker labeling for both calretinin and nNOS. This method also resulted in decreased transgenic reporter fluorescent protein (tdTomato) for substance P in ileum and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in both ileum and distal colon. These results suggest that labeling among some markers, both native protein and transgenic fluorescent reporters, is decreased by the rod-mounted mechanical method of peeling, demonstrating a critical variability in wholemount muscularis dissection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Gomez-Frittelli
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Ryan Hamnett
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Julia A. Kaltschmidt
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
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17
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Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Modulate Motility and Enteric Neural Activity in the Mouse Colon. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13010139. [PMID: 36671524 PMCID: PMC9856182 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and there is evidence that Group-I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu1 and mGlu5) have established roles in excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. While glutamate is abundantly present in the gut, it plays a smaller role in neurotransmission in the enteric nervous system. In this study, we examined the roles of Group-I mGlu receptors in gastrointestinal function. We investigated the expression of Grm1 (mGlu1) and Grm5 (mGlu5) in the mouse myenteric plexus using RNAscope in situ hybridization. Live calcium imaging and motility analysis were performed on ex vivo preparations of the mouse colon. mGlu5 was found to play a role in excitatory enteric neurotransmission, as electrically-evoked calcium transients were sensitive to the mGlu5 antagonist MPEP. However, inhibition of mGlu5 activity did not affect colonic motor complexes (CMCs). Instead, inhibition of mGlu1 using BAY 36-7620 reduced CMC frequency but did not affect enteric neurotransmission. These data highlight complex roles for Group-I mGlu receptors in myenteric neuron activity and colonic function.
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18
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Caillaud M, Le Dréan ME, De-Guilhem-de-Lataillade A, Le Berre-Scoul C, Montnach J, Nedellec S, Loussouarn G, Paillé V, Neunlist M, Boudin H. A functional network of highly pure enteric neurons in a dish. Front Neurosci 2023; 16:1062253. [PMID: 36685225 PMCID: PMC9853279 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1062253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the intrinsic nervous system that innervates the entire digestive tract and regulates major digestive functions. Recent evidence has shown that functions of the ENS critically rely on enteric neuronal connectivity; however, experimental models to decipher the underlying mechanisms are limited. Compared to the central nervous system, for which pure neuronal cultures have been developed for decades and are recognized as a reference in the field of neuroscience, an equivalent model for enteric neurons is lacking. In this study, we developed a novel model of highly pure rat embryonic enteric neurons with dense and functional synaptic networks. The methodology is simple and relatively fast. We characterized enteric neurons using immunohistochemical, morphological, and electrophysiological approaches. In particular, we demonstrated the applicability of this culture model to multi-electrode array technology as a new approach for monitoring enteric neuronal network activity. This in vitro model of highly pure enteric neurons represents a valuable new tool for better understanding the mechanisms involved in the establishment and maintenance of enteric neuron synaptic connectivity and functional networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martial Caillaud
- Nantes Université, INSERM, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, Nantes, France,*Correspondence: Martial Caillaud,
| | - Morgane E. Le Dréan
- Nantes Université, INSERM, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, Nantes, France
| | | | - Catherine Le Berre-Scoul
- Nantes Université, INSERM, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, Nantes, France
| | - Jérôme Montnach
- Nantes Université, CNRS, INSERM, L’institut du Thorax, Nantes, France
| | - Steven Nedellec
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, BioCore, US16, SFR Bonamy, Nantes, France
| | - Gildas Loussouarn
- Nantes Université, CNRS, INSERM, L’institut du Thorax, Nantes, France
| | - Vincent Paillé
- Nantes Université, INRAE, IMAD, CRNH-O, UMR 1280, PhAN, Nantes, France
| | - Michel Neunlist
- Nantes Université, INSERM, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, Nantes, France
| | - Hélène Boudin
- Nantes Université, INSERM, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, Nantes, France
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19
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Schneider S, Hashmi SK, Thrasher AJ, Kothakapa DR, Wright CM, Heuckeroth RO. Single Nucleus Sequencing of Human Colon Myenteric Plexus-Associated Visceral Smooth Muscle Cells, Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor Alpha Cells, and Interstitial Cells of Cajal. GASTRO HEP ADVANCES 2023; 2:380-394. [PMID: 37206377 PMCID: PMC10194832 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastha.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Smooth muscle cells (SMCs), interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα+) cells (PαCs) form a functional syncytium in the bowel known as the "SIP syncytium." The SIP syncytium works in concert with the enteric nervous system (ENS) to coordinate bowel motility. However, our understanding of individual cell types that form this syncytium and how they interact with each other remains limited, with no prior single-cell RNAseq analyses focused on human SIP syncytium cells. METHODS We analyzed single-nucleus RNA sequencing data from 10,749 human colon SIP syncytium cells (5572 SMC, 372 ICC, and 4805 PαC nuclei) derived from 15 individuals. RESULTS Consistent with critical contractile and pacemaker functions and with known enteric nervous system interactions, SIP syncytium cell types express many ion channels, including mechanosensitive channels in ICCs and PαCs. PαCs also prominently express extracellular matrix-associated genes and the inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIPR2), a novel finding. We identified 2 PαC clusters that differ in the expression of many ion channels and transcriptional regulators. Interestingly, SIP syncytium cells co-express 6 transcription factors (FOS, MEIS1, MEIS2, PBX1, SCMH1, and ZBTB16) that may be part of a combinatorial signature that specifies these cells. Bowel region-specific differences in SIP syncytium gene expression may correlate with regional differences in function, with right (ascending) colon SMCs and PαCs expressing more transcriptional regulators and ion channels than SMCs and PαCs in left (sigmoid) colon. CONCLUSION These studies provide new insights into SIP syncytium biology that may be valuable for understanding bowel motility disorders and lead to future investigation of highlighted genes and pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Schneider
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sohaib K. Hashmi
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - A. Josephine Thrasher
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Deepika R. Kothakapa
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
- Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
| | - Christina M. Wright
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert O. Heuckeroth
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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20
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Functional Intraregional and Interregional Heterogeneity between Myenteric Glial Cells of the Colon and Duodenum in Mice. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8694-8708. [PMID: 36319118 PMCID: PMC9671584 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2379-20.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteric glia are a unique population of peripheral neuroglia that regulate homeostasis in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and intestinal functions. Despite existing in functionally diverse regions of the gastrointestinal tract, enteric glia have been approached scientifically as a homogeneous group of cells. This assumption is at odds with the functional specializations of gastrointestinal organs and recent data suggesting glial heterogeneity in the brain and ENS. Here, we used calcium imaging in transgenic mice of both sexes expressing genetically encoded calcium sensors in enteric glia and conducted contractility studies to investigate functional diversity among myenteric glia in two functionally distinct intestinal organs: the duodenum and the colon. Our data show that myenteric glia exhibit regionally distinct responses to neuromodulators that require intercellular communication with neurons to differing extents in the duodenum and colon. Glia regulate intestinal contractility in a region-specific and pathway-specific manner, which suggests regionally diverse engagement of enteric glia in local motor patterns through discrete signaling pathways. Further, functional response profiles delineate four unique subpopulations among myenteric glia that are differentially distributed between the colon and duodenum. Our findings support the conclusion that myenteric glia exhibit both intraregional and interregional heterogeneity that contributes to region-specific mechanisms that regulate digestive functions. Glial heterogeneity adds an unexpected layer of complexity in peripheral neurocircuits, and understanding the specific functions of specialized glial subtypes will provide new insight into ENS physiology and pathophysiology.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Enteric glia modulate gastrointestinal functions through intercellular communication with enteric neurons. Whether heterogeneity exists among neuron-glia interactions in the digestive tract is not understood. Here, we show that myenteric glia display regional heterogeneity in their responses to neuromodulators in the duodenum and the colon, which are functionally distinct organs. Glial-mediated control of intestinal motility is region and pathway specific. Four myenteric glial subtypes are present within a given gut region that are differently distributed between gut regions. These data provide functional and regional insights into enteric circuit specificity in the adult enteric nervous system.
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21
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Chen W, Liao L, Huang Z, Lu Y, Lin Y, Pei Y, Yi S, Huang C, Cao H, Tan B. Patchouli alcohol improved diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome by regulating excitatory neurotransmission in the myenteric plexus of rats. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:943119. [PMID: 36452228 PMCID: PMC9703083 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.943119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is usually associated with chronic gastrointestinal disorders. Its most common subtype is accompanied with diarrhea (IBS-D). The enteric nervous system (ENS) modulates major gastrointestinal motility and functions whose aberration may induce IBS-D. The enteric neurons are susceptible to long-term neurotransmitter level alterations. The patchouli alcohol (PA), extracted from Pogostemonis Herba, has been reported to regulate neurotransmitter release in the ENS, while its effectiveness against IBS-D and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. Experimental Approach: In this study, we established an IBS-D model in rats through chronic restraint stress. We administered the rats with 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg of PA for intestinal and visceral examinations. The longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus (LMMP) neurons were further immunohistochemically stained for quantitative, morphological, and neurotransmitters analyses. Key Results: We found that PA decreased visceral sensitivity, diarrhea symptoms and intestinal transit in the IBS-D rats. Meanwhile, 10 and 20 mg/kg of PA significantly reduced the proportion of excitatory LMMP neurons in the distal colon, decreased the number of acetylcholine (Ach)- and substance P (SP)-positive neurons in the distal colon and restored the levels of Ach and SP in the IBS-D rats. Conclusion and Implications: These findings indicated that PA modulated LMMP excitatory neuron activities, improved intestinal motility and alleviated IBS-induced diarrheal symptoms, suggesting the potential therapeutic efficacy of PA against IBS-D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyu Chen
- Research Centre of Basic Intergrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Liao
- Shenzhen Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zitong Huang
- Research Centre of Basic Intergrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yulin Lu
- Research Centre of Basic Intergrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yukang Lin
- College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicines, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ying Pei
- Research Centre of Basic Intergrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shulin Yi
- Research Centre of Basic Intergrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Huang
- Research Centre of Basic Intergrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongying Cao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo Tan
- Research Centre of Basic Intergrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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22
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Hamnett R, Dershowitz LB, Sampathkumar V, Wang Z, Gomez-Frittelli J, De Andrade V, Kasthuri N, Druckmann S, Kaltschmidt JA. Regional cytoarchitecture of the adult and developing mouse enteric nervous system. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4483-4492.e5. [PMID: 36070775 PMCID: PMC9613618 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The organization and cellular composition of tissues are key determinants of their biological function. In the mammalian gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the enteric nervous system (ENS) intercalates between muscular and epithelial layers of the gut wall and can control GI function independent of central nervous system (CNS) input.1 As in the CNS, distinct regions of the GI tract are highly specialized and support diverse functions, yet the regional and spatial organization of the ENS remains poorly characterized.2 Cellular arrangements,3,4 circuit connectivity patterns,5,6 and diverse cell types7-9 are known to underpin ENS functional complexity and GI function, but enteric neurons are most typically described only as a uniform meshwork of interconnected ganglia. Here, we present a bird's eye view of the mouse ENS, describing its previously underappreciated cytoarchitecture and regional variation. We visually and computationally demonstrate that enteric neurons are organized in circumferential neuronal stripes. This organization emerges gradually during the perinatal period, with neuronal stripe formation in the small intestine (SI) preceding that in the colon. The width of neuronal stripes varies throughout the length of the GI tract, and distinct neuronal subtypes differentially populate specific regions of the GI tract, with stark contrasts between SI and colon as well as within subregions of each. This characterization provides a blueprint for future understanding of region-specific GI function and identifying ENS structural correlates of diverse GI disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Hamnett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lori B Dershowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Vandana Sampathkumar
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Ziyue Wang
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Julieta Gomez-Frittelli
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Vincent De Andrade
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Narayanan Kasthuri
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Shaul Druckmann
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Julia A Kaltschmidt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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23
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Poon SSB, Hung LY, Wu Q, Parathan P, Yalcinkaya N, Haag A, Luna RA, Bornstein JC, Savidge TC, Foong JPP. Neonatal antibiotics have long term sex-dependent effects on the enteric nervous system. J Physiol 2022; 600:4303-4323. [PMID: 36082768 PMCID: PMC9826436 DOI: 10.1113/jp282939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Infants and young children receive the highest exposures to antibiotics globally. Although there is building evidence that early life exposure to antibiotics increases susceptibility to various diseases including gut disorders later in life, the lasting impact of early life antibiotics on the physiology of the gut and its enteric nervous system (ENS) remains unclear. We treated neonatal mice with the antibiotic vancomycin during their first 10 postnatal days, then examined potential lasting effects of the antibiotic treatment on their colons during young adulthood (6 weeks old). We found that neonatal vancomycin treatment disrupted the gut functions of young adult female and male mice differently. Antibiotic-exposed females had significantly longer whole gut transit while antibiotic-treated males had significantly lower faecal weights compared to controls. Both male and female antibiotic-treated mice had greater percentages of faecal water content. Neonatal vancomycin treatment also had sexually dimorphic impacts on the neurochemistry and Ca2+ activity of young adult myenteric and submucosal neurons. Myenteric neurons of male mice were more disrupted than those of females, while opposing changes in submucosal neurons were seen in each sex. Neonatal vancomycin also induced sustained changes in colonic microbiota and lasting depletion of mucosal serotonin (5-HT) levels. Antibiotic impacts on microbiota and mucosal 5-HT were not sex-dependent, but we propose that the responses of the host to these changes are sex-specific. This first demonstration of long-term impacts of neonatal antibiotics on the ENS, gut microbiota and mucosal 5-HT has important implications for gut function and other physiological systems of the host. KEY POINTS: Early life exposure to antibiotics can increase susceptibility to diseases including functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders later in life. Yet, the lasting impact of this common therapy on the gut and its enteric nervous system (ENS) remains unclear. We investigated the long-term impact of neonatal antibiotic treatment by treating mice with the antibiotic vancomycin during their neonatal period, then examining their colons during young adulthood. Adolescent female mice given neonatal vancomycin treatment had significantly longer whole gut transit times, while adolescent male and female mice treated with neonatal antibiotics had significantly wetter stools. Effects of neonatal vancomycin treatment on the neurochemistry and Ca2+ activity of myenteric and submucosal neurons were sexually dimorphic. Neonatal vancomycin also had lasting effects on the colonic microbiome and mucosal serotonin biosynthesis that were not sex-dependent. Different male and female responses to antibiotic-induced disruptions of the ENS, microbiota and mucosal serotonin biosynthesis can lead to sex-specific impacts on gut function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina S. B. Poon
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Lin Y. Hung
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Qinglong Wu
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Pavitha Parathan
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Nazli Yalcinkaya
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Anthony Haag
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Ruth Ann Luna
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Joel C. Bornstein
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Tor C. Savidge
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
- Texas Children's Microbiome CenterTexas Children's HospitalHoustonTXUSA
| | - Jaime P. P. Foong
- Department of Anatomy and PhysiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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Hibberd TJ, Yew WP, Dodds KN, Xie Z, Travis L, Brookes SJ, Costa M, Hu H, Spencer NJ. Quantification of CGRP-immunoreactive myenteric neurons in mouse colon. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:3209-3225. [PMID: 36043843 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative data of biological systems provide valuable baseline information for understanding pathology, experimental perturbations, and computational modeling. In mouse colon, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is expressed by myenteric neurons with multiaxonal (Dogiel type II) morphology, characteristic of intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs). Analogous neurons in other species and gut regions represent 5-35% of myenteric neurons. We aimed to quantify proportions of CGRP-immunopositive (CGRP+) myenteric neurons. Colchicine-treated wholemount preparations of proximal, mid, and distal colon were labeled for HuC/D, CGRP, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and peripherin (Per). The pan-neuronal markers (Hu+/Per+) co-labeled 94% of neurons. Hu+/Per- neurons comprised ∼6%, but Hu-/Per+ cells were rare. Thus, quantification was based on Hu+ myenteric neurons (8576 total; 1225 ± 239 per animal, n = 7). CGRP+ cell bodies were significantly larger than the average of all Hu+ neurons (329 ± 13 vs. 261 ± 12 μm2 , p < .0001). CGRP+ neurons comprised 19% ± 3% of myenteric neurons without significant regional variation. NOS+ neurons comprised 42% ± 2% of myenteric neurons overall, representing a lower proportion in proximal colon, compared to mid and distal colon (38% ± 2%, 44% ± 2%, and 44% ± 3%, respectively). Peripherin immunolabeling revealed cell body and axonal morphology in some myenteric neurons. Whether all CGRP+ neurons were multiaxonal could not be addressed using peripherin immunolabeling. However, of 118 putatively multiaxonal neurons first identified based on peripherin immunoreactivity, all were CGRP+ (n = 4). In conclusion, CGRP+ myenteric neurons in mouse colon were comprehensively quantified, occurring within a range expected of a putative IPAN marker. All Per+ multiaxonal neurons, characteristic of Dogiel type II/IPAN morphology, were CGRP+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Hibberd
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Wai Ping Yew
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kelsi N Dodds
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Zili Xie
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Center for the Study of Itch & Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Lee Travis
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Simon J Brookes
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Marcello Costa
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Hongzhen Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Center for the Study of Itch & Sensory Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Nick J Spencer
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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25
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Wang L, Yuan PQ, Challis C, Ravindra Kumar S, Taché Y. Transduction of Systemically Administered Adeno-Associated Virus in the Colonic Enteric Nervous System and c-Kit Cells of Adult Mice. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:884280. [PMID: 35734536 PMCID: PMC9207206 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.884280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic delivery of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors transduces the enteric nervous system. However, less is known on the mapping and morphological and neurochemical characterization in the adult mouse colon. We used AAV9-CAG-GFP (AAV9) and AAV-PHP.S-hSyn1-tdTomato farnesylated (PHP.S-tdTf) to investigate the segmental distribution, morphologies and neurochemical coding of the transduction. The vectors were retro-orbitally injected in male and female adult mice, and 3 weeks later, the colon was prepared for microcopy with or without immunohistochemistry for neuronal and non-neuronal markers. In contrast to the distributions in neonatal and juvenile rodents, the AAV transduction in neurons and/or nerve fibers was the highest in the proximal colon, decreased gradually in the transverse, and was sparse in the distal colon without difference between sexes. In the proximal colon, the AAV9-transduced myenteric neurons were unevenly distributed. The majority of enteric neurons did not have AAV9 expression in their processes, except those with big soma with or without variously shaped dendrites, and a long axon. Immunolabeling demonstrated that about 31% neurons were transduced by AAV9, and the transduction was in 50, 28, and 31% of cholinergic, nitrergic, and calbindin-positive myenteric neurons, respectively. The nerve fiber markers, calcitonin gene-related peptide alpha, tyrosine hydroxylase or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide co-localized with AAV9 or PHP.S-tdTf in the mucosa, and rarely in the myenteric plexus. Unexpectedly, AAV9 expression appeared also in a few c-Kit immunoreactive cells among the heavily populated interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). In the distal colon, the AAV transduction appeared in a few nerve fibers mostly the interganglionic strands. Other types of AAV9 and AAV-PHP vectors induced a similar colonic segmental difference which is not colon specific since neurons were transduced in the small intestine and gastric antrum, while little in the gastric corpus and none in the lower esophagus. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that in adult mice colon that there is a rostro-caudal decrease in the transduction of systemic delivery of AAV9 and its variants independent of sex. The characterization of AAV transduction in the proximal colon in cholinergic and nitrergic myenteric neurons along with a few ICC suggests implications in circuitries regulating motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Wang
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Pu-Qing Yuan
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Collin Challis
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Sripriya Ravindra Kumar
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Yvette Taché
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, CURE/Digestive Diseases Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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26
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Promotion of the inflammatory response in mid colon of complement component 3 knockout mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1700. [PMID: 35105928 PMCID: PMC8807838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine whether complement component 3 (C3) deficiency affects its receptor downstream-mediated inflammatory response, the current study was undertaken to measure alterations in the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)‑mediated cyclooxygenase‑2 (COX‑2) induction pathway, inflammasome pathway, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, and inflammatory cytokine expressions in the mid colon of C3 knockout (KO) mice. Significant enhancement was observed in expressions of key components of the iNOS‑mediated COX‑2 induction pathway, and in the phosphorylation of mitogen‑activated protein (MAP) kinase members. A similar pattern of increase was also observed in the expression levels of inflammasome proteins in C3 KO mice. Moreover, compared to WT mice, C3 KO mice showed remarkably enhanced phosphorylation of NF-κB and Inhibitor of κB-α (IκB-α), which was reflected in entirety as increased expressions of Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL-6 and IL-1α. However, the levels of E-cadherin, tight junction channels and ion channels expressions were lower in the C3 KO mice, although myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity for neutrophils was slightly increased. Taken together, results of the current study indicate that C3 deficiency promotes inflammatory responses in the mid colon of C3 KO mice through activation of the iNOS‑mediated COX‑2 induction pathway, Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC)-inflammasome pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway, and the enhancement of inflammatory cytokine expressions.
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27
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Spencer NJ, Costa M. Rhythmicity in the Enteric Nervous System of Mice. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1383:295-306. [PMID: 36587167 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-05843-1_27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is required for many cyclical patterns of motor activity along different regions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. What has remained mysterious is precisely how many thousands of neurons within the ENS are temporally activated to generate cyclical neurogenic contractions of GI-smooth muscle layers. This has been an especially puzzling conundrum, since the ENS consists of an extensive network of small ganglia, with each ganglion consisting of a heterogeneous population of neurons, with diverse cell soma morphologies, neurochemical and biophysical characteristics, and neural connectivity. Neuronal imaging studies of the mouse large intestine have provided major new insights into how the different classes of myenteric neurons are activated during cyclical neurogenic motor patterns, such as the colonic motor complex (CMC). It has been revealed that during CMCs (in the isolated mouse whole colon), large populations of myenteric neurons, across large spatial fields, coordinate their firing, via bursts of fast synaptic inputs at ~2 Hz. This coordinated firing of many thousands of myenteric neurons synchronously over many rows of interconnected ganglia occurs irrespective of the functional class of neuron. Aborally directed propulsion of content along the mouse colon is due, in large part, to polarity of the enteric circuits including the projections of the intrinsic excitatory and inhibitory motor neurons but still involves the fundamental ~2 Hz rhythmic activity of specific classes of enteric neurons. What remains to be determined are the mechanisms that initiate and terminate the patterned firing of large ensembles of enteric neurons during cyclic activity. This remains an exciting challenge for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick J Spencer
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Public Health & Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
| | - Marcello Costa
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
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28
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Vanden Berghe P, Fung C. Optical Approaches to Understanding Enteric Circuits Along the Radial Axis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1383:71-79. [PMID: 36587147 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-05843-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract operates in a highly dynamic environment. The gut is typically exposed to continually changing and highly convoluted luminal compositions comprising not only ingested content but also a multitude of resident microbes and microbial factors. It is therefore critical that the gut is capable of distinguishing between nutritious components from noxious substances. This is facilitated by specialized cellular sensory machinery that are in place in the intestinal epithelium and the ENS. However, the specific chemosensory processes and enteric neuronal pathways that enable the gut to discern and respond appropriately to different chemicals remain unclear. A major hurdle in studying the neural processing of luminal information has been the complex spatial organization of the mucosal structures and their innervation along the radial axis. Much of our current knowledge of enteric neuronal responses to luminal stimuli stems from studies that used semi-dissected guinea pig small intestine preparations with the mucosa and submucosa removed in one-half in order to record electrical activity from exposed myenteric neurons or in the circular muscle. Building on this, we ultimately strive to work towards integrated systems with all the gut layers intact. With advanced microscopy techniques including multiphoton intravital imaging, together with transgenic technologies utilizing cell-type specific activity-dependent reporters, we stand in good stead for studying the ENS in more intact preparations and even in live animals. In this chapter, we highlight recent contributions to the knowledge of sensory gut innervation by the developing and mature ENS. We also revisit established work examining the functional connectivity between the myenteric and submucosal plexus, and discuss the methodologies that can help advance our understanding of the enteric circuitry and signaling along the mucosa-serosa axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Candice Fung
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Howard MJ. Refining Enteric Neural Circuitry by Quantitative Morphology and Function in Mice. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1383:213-219. [PMID: 36587160 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-05843-1_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
RNA-Seq, electrophysiology and optogenetics in mouse models are used to assess function, identify disease related genes and model enteric neural circuits. Lacking a comprehensive quantitative description of the murine colonic enteric nervous system (ENS) makes it difficult to most effectively use mouse data to better understand ENS function or for development of therapeutic approaches for human motility disorders. Our goal was to provide a quantitative description of mouse colon to establish the extent to which mouse colon architecture, connectivity and function is a useful surrogate for human and other mammalian ENS. Using GCaMP imaging coupled with pharmacology and quantitative confocal and 3D image reconstruction, we present quantitative and functional data demonstrating that regional structural changes and variable distribution of neurons define neural circuit dynamics and functional connectivity responsible for colonic motor patterns and regional functional differences. Our results advance utility of multispecies and gut region-specific data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marthe J Howard
- University of Toledo, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA.
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Barth BB, Spencer NJ, Grill WM. Activation of ENS Circuits in Mouse Colon: Coordination in the Mouse Colonic Motor Complex as a Robust, Distributed Control System. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1383:113-123. [PMID: 36587151 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-05843-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The characteristic motor patterns of the colon are coordinated by the enteric nervous system (ENS) and involve enterochromaffin (EC) cells, enteric glia, smooth muscle fibers, and interstitial cells. While the fundamental control mechanisms of colonic motor patterns are understood, greater complexity in the circuitry underlying motor patterns has been revealed by recent advances in the field. We review these recent advances and new findings from our laboratories that provide insights into how the ENS coordinates motor patterns in the isolated mouse colon. We contextualize these observations by describing the neuromuscular system underling the colonic motor complex (CMC) as a robust, distributed control system. Framing the colonic motor complex as a control system reveals a new perspective on the coordinated motor patterns in the colon. We test the control system by applying electrical stimulation in the isolated mouse colon to disrupt the coordination and propagation of the colonic motor complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley B Barth
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nick J Spencer
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Warren M Grill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Enteric neuroimmune interactions coordinate intestinal responses in health and disease. Mucosal Immunol 2022; 15:27-39. [PMID: 34471248 PMCID: PMC8732275 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-021-00443-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract interacts with the local immune system bidirectionally. Recent publications have demonstrated that such interactions can maintain normal GI functions during homeostasis and contribute to pathological symptoms during infection and inflammation. Infection can also induce long-term changes of the ENS resulting in the development of post-infectious GI disturbances. In this review, we discuss how the ENS can regulate and be regulated by immune responses and how such interactions control whole tissue physiology. We also address the requirements for the proper regeneration of the ENS and restoration of GI function following the resolution of infection.
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Fung C, Cools B, Malagola S, Martens T, Tack J, Kazwiny Y, Vanden Berghe P. Luminal short-chain fatty acids and 5-HT acutely activate myenteric neurons in the mouse proximal colon. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2021; 33:e14186. [PMID: 34121274 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal (GI) function is critically dependent on the control of the enteric nervous system (ENS), which is situated within the gut wall and organized into two ganglionated nerve plexuses: the submucosal and myenteric plexus. The ENS is optimally positioned and together with the intestinal epithelium, is well-equipped to monitor the luminal contents such as microbial metabolites and to coordinate appropriate responses accordingly. Despite the heightened interest in the gut microbiota and its influence on intestinal physiology and pathophysiology, how they interact with the host ENS remains unclear. METHODS Using full-thickness proximal colon preparations from transgenic Villin-CreERT2;R26R-GCaMP3 and Wnt1-Cre;R26R-GCaMP3 mice, which express a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator in their intestinal epithelium or in their ENS, respectively, we examined the effects of key luminal microbial metabolites (SCFAs and 5-HT) on the mucosa and underlying enteric neurons. KEY RESULTS We show that the SCFAs acetate, propionate, and butyrate, as well as 5-HT can, to varying extents, acutely elicit epithelial and neuronal Ca2+ responses. Furthermore, SCFAs exert differential effects on submucosal and myenteric neurons. Additionally, we found that submucosal ganglia are predominantly aligned along the striations of the transverse mucosal folds in the proximal colon. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES Taken together, our study demonstrates that different microbial metabolites, including SCFAs and 5-HT, can acutely stimulate Ca2+ signaling in the mucosal epithelium and in enteric neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Fung
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS) Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bert Cools
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS) Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sergio Malagola
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS) Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tobias Martens
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS) Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tack
- Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Youcef Kazwiny
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS) Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS) Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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In the Enteric Nervous System, It's All About Connections. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 13:346-347. [PMID: 34666010 PMCID: PMC8703119 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
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Najjar SA, Edwards BS, Albers KM, Davis BM, Smith-Edwards KM. Optogenetic activation of the distal colon epithelium engages enteric nervous system circuits to initiate motility patterns. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2021; 321:G426-G435. [PMID: 34468219 PMCID: PMC8560371 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00026.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Digestive functions of the colon depend on sensory-motor reflexes in the enteric nervous system (ENS), initiated by intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs). IPAN terminals project to the mucosal layer of the colon, allowing communication with epithelial cells comprising the colon lining. The chemical nature and functional significance of this epithelial-neural communication in regard to secretion and colon motility are of high interest. Colon epithelial cells can produce and release neuroactive substances such as ATP and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), which can activate receptors on adjacent nerve fibers, including IPAN subtypes. In this study, we examined if stimulation of epithelial cells alone is sufficient to activate neural circuits that control colon motility. Optogenetics and calcium imaging were used in ex vivo preparations of the mouse colon to selectively stimulate the colon epithelium, measure changes in motility, and record activity of neurons within the myenteric plexus. Light-mediated activation of epithelial cells lining the distal, but not proximal, colon caused local contractions and increased the rate of colonic migrating motor complexes. Epithelial-evoked local contractions in the distal colon were reduced by both ATP and 5-HT receptor antagonists. Our findings indicate that colon epithelial cells likely use purinergic and serotonergic signaling to initiate activity in myenteric neurons, produce local contractions, and facilitate large-scale coordination of ENS activity responsible for whole colon motility patterns.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using an all-optical approach to measure real-time cell-to-cell communication responsible for colon functions, we show that selective optogenetic stimulation of distal colon epithelium produced activity in myenteric neurons, as measured with red genetically encoded calcium indicators. The epithelial-induced neural response led to local contractions, mediated by both purinergic and serotonergic signaling, and facilitated colonic motor complexes that propagate from proximal to distal colon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Najjar
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Brian S Edwards
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kathryn M Albers
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Brian M Davis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kristen M Smith-Edwards
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Nestor-Kalinoski A, Smith-Edwards KM, Meerschaert K, Margiotta JF, Rajwa B, Davis BM, Howard MJ. Unique Neural Circuit Connectivity of Mouse Proximal, Middle, and Distal Colon Defines Regional Colonic Motor Patterns. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 13:309-337.e3. [PMID: 34509687 PMCID: PMC8703201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Colonic motor patterns have been described by a number of different groups, but the neural connectivity and ganglion architecture supporting patterned motor activity have not been elucidated. Our goals were to describe quantitatively, by region, the structural architecture of the mouse enteric nervous system and use functional calcium imaging, pharmacology, and electrical stimulation to show regional underpinnings of different motor patterns. METHODS Excised colon segments from mice expressing the calcium indicator GCaMP6f or GCaMP6s were used to examine spontaneous and evoked (pharmacologic or electrical) changes in GCaMP-mediated fluorescence and coupled with assessment of colonic motor activity, immunohistochemistry, and confocal imaging. Three-dimensional image reconstruction and statistical methods were used to describe quantitatively mouse colon myenteric ganglion structure, neural and vascular network patterning, and neural connectivity. RESULTS In intact colon, regionally specific myenteric ganglion size, architecture, and neural circuit connectivity patterns along with neurotransmitter-receptor expression underlie colonic motor patterns that define functional differences along the colon. Region-specific effects on spontaneous, evoked, and chemically induced neural activity contribute to regional motor patterns, as does intraganglionic functional connectivity. We provide direct evidence of neural circuit structural and functional regional differences that have only been inferred in previous investigations. We include regional comparisons between quantitative measures in mouse and human colon that represent an important advance in showing the usefulness and relevance of the mouse system for translation to the human colon. CONCLUSIONS There are several neural mechanisms dependent on myenteric ganglion architecture and functional connectivity that underlie neurogenic control of patterned motor function in the mouse colon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Nestor-Kalinoski
- Department of Surgery, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio
| | - Kristen M Smith-Edwards
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kimberly Meerschaert
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph F Margiotta
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio
| | - Bartek Rajwa
- Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Brian M Davis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Marthe J Howard
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio.
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Cairns BR, Jevans B, Chanpong A, Moulding D, McCann CJ. Automated computational analysis reveals structural changes in the enteric nervous system of nNOS deficient mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17189. [PMID: 34433854 PMCID: PMC8387485 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96677-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) neurons play a fundamental role in inhibitory neurotransmission, within the enteric nervous system (ENS), and in the establishment of gut motility patterns. Clinically, loss or disruption of nNOS neurons has been shown in a range of enteric neuropathies. However, the effects of nNOS loss on the composition and structure of the ENS remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the structural and transcriptional consequences of loss of nNOS neurons within the murine ENS. Expression analysis demonstrated compensatory transcriptional upregulation of pan neuronal and inhibitory neuronal subtype targets within the Nos1-/- colon, compared to control C57BL/6J mice. Conventional confocal imaging; combined with novel machine learning approaches, and automated computational analysis, revealed increased interconnectivity within the Nos1-/- ENS, compared to age-matched control mice, with increases in network density, neural projections and neuronal branching. These findings provide the first direct evidence of structural and molecular remodelling of the ENS, upon loss of nNOS signalling. Further, we demonstrate the utility of machine learning approaches, and automated computational image analysis, in revealing previously undetected; yet potentially clinically relevant, changes in ENS structure which could provide improved understanding of pathological mechanisms across a host of enteric neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben R Cairns
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - Benjamin Jevans
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - Atchariya Chanpong
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - Dale Moulding
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - Conor J McCann
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N, UK.
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Margiotta JF, Smith-Edwards KM, Nestor-Kalinoski A, Davis BM, Albers KM, Howard MJ. Synaptic Components, Function and Modulation Characterized by GCaMP6f Ca 2+ Imaging in Mouse Cholinergic Myenteric Ganglion Neurons. Front Physiol 2021; 12:652714. [PMID: 34408655 PMCID: PMC8365335 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.652714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The peristaltic contraction and relaxation of intestinal circular and longitudinal smooth muscles is controlled by synaptic circuit elements that impinge upon phenotypically diverse neurons in the myenteric plexus. While electrophysiological studies provide useful information concerning the properties of such synaptic circuits, they typically involve tissue disruption and do not correlate circuit activity with biochemically defined neuronal phenotypes. To overcome these limitations, mice were engineered to express the sensitive, fast Ca2+ indicator GCaMP6f selectively in neurons that express the acetylcholine (ACh) biosynthetic enzyme choline acetyltransfarse (ChAT) thereby allowing rapid activity-driven changes in Ca2+ fluorescence to be observed without disrupting intrinsic connections, solely in cholinergic myenteric ganglion (MG) neurons. Experiments with selective receptor agonists and antagonists reveal that most mouse colonic cholinergic (i.e., GCaMP6f+/ChAT+) MG neurons express nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs), particularly the ganglionic subtype containing α3 and β4 subunits, and most express ionotropic serotonin receptors (5-HT3Rs). Cholinergic MG neurons also display small, spontaneous Ca2+ transients occurring at ≈ 0.2 Hz. Experiments with inhibitors of Na+ channel dependent impulses, presynaptic Ca2+ channels and postsynaptic receptor function reveal that the Ca2+ transients arise from impulse-driven presynaptic activity and subsequent activation of postsynaptic nAChRs or 5-HT3Rs. Electrical stimulation of axonal connectives to MG evoked Ca2+ responses in the neurons that similarly depended on nAChRs or/and 5-HT3Rs. Responses to single connective shocks had peak amplitudes and rise and decay times that were indistinguishable from the spontaneous Ca2+ transients and the largest fraction had brief synaptic delays consistent with activation by monosynaptic inputs. These results indicate that the spontaneous Ca2+ transients and stimulus evoked Ca2+ responses in MG neurons originate in circuits involving fast chemical synaptic transmission mediated by nAChRs or/and 5-HT3Rs. Experiments with an α7-nAChR agonist and antagonist, and with pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) reveal that the same synaptic circuits display extensive capacity for presynaptic modulation. Our use of non-invasive GCaMP6f/ChAT Ca2+ imaging in colon segments with intrinsic connections preserved, reveals an abundance of direct and modulatory synaptic influences on cholinergic MG neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph F Margiotta
- Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Kristen M Smith-Edwards
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Andrea Nestor-Kalinoski
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Brian M Davis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Kathryn M Albers
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Marthe J Howard
- Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
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Fecal Supernatant from Adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder Alters Digestive Functions, Intestinal Epithelial Barrier, and Enteric Nervous System. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081723. [PMID: 34442802 PMCID: PMC8399841 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders defined by impaired social interactions and communication with repetitive behaviors, activities, or interests. Gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances and gut microbiota dysbiosis are frequently associated with ASD in childhood. However, it is not known whether microbiota dysbiosis in ASD patients also occurs in adulthood. Further, the consequences of altered gut microbiota on digestive functions and the enteric nervous system (ENS) remain unexplored. Therefore, we studied, in mice, the ability offecal supernatant (FS) from adult ASD patients to induce GI dysfunctions and ENS remodeling. First, the analyses of the fecal microbiota composition in adult ASD patients indicated a reduced α-diversity and increased abundance of three bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence variants compared to healthy controls (HC). The transfer of FS from ASD patients (FS-ASD) to mice decreased colonic barrier permeability by 29% and 58% compared to FS-HC for paracellular and transcellular permeability, respectively. These effects are associated with the reduced expression of the tight junction proteins JAM-A, ZO-2, cingulin, and proinflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL1β. In addition, the expression of glial and neuronal molecules was reduced by FS-ASD as compared to FS-HC in particular for those involved in neuronal connectivity (βIII-tubulin and synapsin decreased by 31% and 67%, respectively). Our data suggest that changes in microbiota composition in ASD may contribute to GI alterations, and in part, via ENS remodeling.
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Spencer NJ, Travis L, Wiklendt L, Costa M, Hibberd TJ, Brookes SJ, Dinning P, Hu H, Wattchow DA, Sorensen J. Long range synchronization within the enteric nervous system underlies propulsion along the large intestine in mice. Commun Biol 2021; 4:955. [PMID: 34376798 PMCID: PMC8355373 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02485-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
How the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) coordinates propulsion of content along the gastrointestinal (GI)-tract has been a major unresolved issue. We reveal a mechanism that explains how ENS activity underlies propulsion of content along the colon. We used a recently developed high-resolution video imaging approach with concurrent electrophysiological recordings from smooth muscle, during fluid propulsion. Recordings showed pulsatile firing of excitatory and inhibitory neuromuscular inputs not only in proximal colon, but also distal colon, long before the propagating contraction invades the distal region. During propulsion, wavelet analysis revealed increased coherence at ~2 Hz over large distances between the proximal and distal regions. Therefore, during propulsion, synchronous firing of descending inhibitory nerve pathways over long ranges aborally acts to suppress smooth muscle from contracting, counteracting the excitatory nerve pathways over this same region of colon. This delays muscle contraction downstream, ahead of the advancing contraction. The mechanism identified is more complex than expected and vastly different from fluid propulsion along other hollow smooth muscle organs; like lymphatic vessels, portal vein, or ureters, that evolved without intrinsic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick J Spencer
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
| | - Lee Travis
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Lukasz Wiklendt
- Discipline of Gastroenterology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Marcello Costa
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Timothy J Hibberd
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Simon J Brookes
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Phil Dinning
- Discipline of Gastroenterology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Hongzhen Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Center for the Study of Itch, Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - David A Wattchow
- Discipline of Surgery, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Julian Sorensen
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
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Seguella L, Gulbransen BD. Enteric glial biology, intercellular signalling and roles in gastrointestinal disease. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 18:571-587. [PMID: 33731961 PMCID: PMC8324524 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-021-00423-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
One of the most transformative developments in neurogastroenterology is the realization that many functions normally attributed to enteric neurons involve interactions with enteric glial cells: a large population of peripheral neuroglia associated with enteric neurons throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The notion that glial cells function solely as passive support cells has been refuted by compelling evidence that demonstrates that enteric glia are important homeostatic cells of the intestine. Active signalling mechanisms between enteric glia and neurons modulate gastrointestinal reflexes and, in certain circumstances, function to drive neuroinflammatory processes that lead to long-term dysfunction. Bidirectional communication between enteric glia and immune cells contributes to gastrointestinal immune homeostasis, and crosstalk between enteric glia and cancer stem cells regulates tumorigenesis. These neuromodulatory and immunomodulatory roles place enteric glia in a unique position to regulate diverse gastrointestinal disease processes. In this Review, we discuss current concepts regarding enteric glial development, heterogeneity and functional roles in gastrointestinal pathophysiology and pathophysiology, with a focus on interactions with neurons and immune cells. We also present a working model to differentiate glial states based on normal function and disease-induced dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Seguella
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Brian D Gulbransen
- Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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Wang L, Challis C, Li S, Fowlkes CC, Kumar SR, Yuan PQ, Taché YF. Multicolor sparse viral labeling and 3D digital tracing of enteric plexus in mouse proximal colon using a novel adeno-associated virus capsid. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2021; 33:e14014. [PMID: 33094876 PMCID: PMC8568587 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intravenous administration of adeno-associated virus (AAV) can be used as a noninvasive approach to trace neuronal morphology and links. AAV-PHP.S is a variant of AAV9 that effectively transduces the peripheral nervous system. The objective was to label randomly and sparsely enteric plexus in the mouse colon using AAV-PHP.S with a tunable two-component multicolor vector system and digitally trace individual neurons and nerve fibers within microcircuits in three dimensions (3D). METHODS A vector system including a tetracycline inducer with a tet-responsive element driving three separate fluorophores was packaged in the AAV-PHP.S capsid. The vectors were injected retro-orbitally in mice, and the colon was harvested 3 weeks after. Confocal microscopic images of enteric plexus were digitally segmented and traced in 3D using Neurolucida 360, neuTube, or Imaris software. KEY RESULTS The transduction of multicolor AAV vectors induced random sparse spectral labeling of soma and neurites primarily in the myenteric plexus of the proximal colon, while neurons in the submucosal plexus were occasionally transduced. Digital tracing in 3D showed various types of wiring, including multiple conjunctions of one neuron with other neurons, neurites en route, and endings; clusters of neurons in close apposition between each other; axon-axon parallel conjunctions; and intraganglionic nerve endings consisting of multiple nerve endings and passing fibers. Most of digitally traced neuronal somas were of small or medium in size. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES The multicolor AAV-PHP.S-packaged vectors enabled random sparse spectral labeling and revealed complexities of enteric microcircuit in the mouse proximal colon. The techniques can facilitate digital modeling of enteric micro-circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Wang
- Department of Medicine, Taman Manoukisan Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Collin Challis
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Songlin Li
- Department of Medicine, Taman Manoukisan Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Sripriya Ravindra Kumar
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Pu-Qing Yuan
- Department of Medicine, Taman Manoukisan Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yvette F. Taché
- Department of Medicine, Taman Manoukisan Digestive Diseases Division, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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42
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Hirakawa M, Yokoyama T, Yamamoto Y, Saino T. Morphology of P2X3-immunoreactive basket-like afferent nerve endings surrounding serosal ganglia and close relationship with vesicular nucleotide transporter-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the rat gastric antrum. J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:3866-3881. [PMID: 34297862 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported P2X3 purinoceptor (P2X3)-expressing vagal afferent nerve endings with large web-like structures in the subserosal tissue of the antral lesser curvature, suggesting that these nerve endings were one of the vagal mechanoreceptors. The present study investigated the morphological relationship between P2X3-immunoreactive nerve endings and serosal ganglia in the rat gastric antrum by immunohistochemistry of whole-mount preparations using confocal scanning laser microscopy. P2X3-immunoreactive basket-like subserosal nerve endings with new morphology were distributed laterally to the gastric sling muscles in the distal antrum of the lesser curvature. Parent axons ramified into numerous nerve fibers with pleomorphic flattened structures to form basket-like nerve endings, and the parent axons were originated from large net-like structures of vagal afferent nerve endings. Basket-like nerve endings wrapped around the whole serosal ganglia, which were characterized by neurofilament 200 kDa-immunoreactive neurons with or without neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity and S100B-immunoreactive glial cells. Furthermore, basket-like nerve endings were localized in close apposition to dopamine beta-hydroxylase-immunoreactive sympathetic nerve fibers immunoreactive for vesicular nucleotide transporter. These results suggest that P2X3-immunoreactive basket-like nerve endings associated with serosal ganglia are the specialized ending structures of vagal subserosal mechanoreceptors in order to increase the sensitivity during antral peristalsis, and are activated by ATP from sympathetic nerve fibers and/or serosal ganglia for the regulation of mechanoreceptor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Hirakawa
- Department of Anatomy (Cell Biology), Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Japan
| | - Takuya Yokoyama
- Department of Anatomy (Cell Biology), Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Japan
| | - Yoshio Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Saino
- Department of Anatomy (Cell Biology), Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Japan
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43
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Kazwiny Y, Pedrosa J, Zhang Z, Boesmans W, D'hooge J, Vanden Berghe P. Extracting neuronal activity signals from microscopy recordings of contractile tissue using B-spline Explicit Active Surfaces (BEAS) cell tracking. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10937. [PMID: 34035411 PMCID: PMC8149687 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90448-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ imaging is a widely used microscopy technique to simultaneously study cellular activity in multiple cells. The desired information consists of cell-specific time series of pixel intensity values, in which the fluorescence intensity represents cellular activity. For static scenes, cellular signal extraction is straightforward, however multiple analysis challenges are present in recordings of contractile tissues, like those of the enteric nervous system (ENS). This layer of critical neurons, embedded within the muscle layers of the gut wall, shows optical overlap between neighboring neurons, intensity changes due to cell activity, and constant movement. These challenges reduce the applicability of classical segmentation techniques and traditional stack alignment and regions-of-interest (ROIs) selection workflows. Therefore, a signal extraction method capable of dealing with moving cells and is insensitive to large intensity changes in consecutive frames is needed. Here we propose a b-spline active contour method to delineate and track neuronal cell bodies based on local and global energy terms. We develop both a single as well as a double-contour approach. The latter takes advantage of the appearance of GCaMP expressing cells, and tracks the nucleus' boundaries together with the cytoplasmic contour, providing a stable delineation of neighboring, overlapping cells despite movement and intensity changes. The tracked contours can also serve as landmarks to relocate additional and manually-selected ROIs. This improves the total yield of efficacious cell tracking and allows signal extraction from other cell compartments like neuronal processes. Compared to manual delineation and other segmentation methods, the proposed method can track cells during large tissue deformations and high-intensity changes such as during neuronal firing events, while preserving the shape of the extracted Ca2+ signal. The analysis package represents a significant improvement to available Ca2+ imaging analysis workflows for ENS recordings and other systems where movement challenges traditional Ca2+ signal extraction workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youcef Kazwiny
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - João Pedrosa
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
- Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, INESC TEC, Porto, Portugal
| | - Zhiqing Zhang
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Werend Boesmans
- Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Jan D'hooge
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric NeuroScience (LENS), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
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Wang D, Zhang H, Vu T, Zhan Y, Malhotra A, Wang P, Chitgupi U, Rai A, Zhang S, Wang L, Huizinga JD, Lovell JF, Xia J. Trans-illumination intestine projection imaging of intestinal motility in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1682. [PMID: 33727562 PMCID: PMC7966380 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21930-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional intestinal imaging holds importance for the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Currently, preclinical imaging of intestinal motility in animal models is performed either invasively with excised intestines or noninvasively under anesthesia, and cannot reveal intestinal dynamics in the awake condition. Capitalizing on near-infrared optics and a high-absorbing contrast agent, we report the Trans-illumination Intestine Projection (TIP) imaging system for free-moving mice. After a complete system evaluation, we performed in vivo studies, and obtained peristalsis and segmentation motor patterns of free-moving mice. We show the in vivo typical segmentation motor pattern, that was previously shown in ex vivo studies to be controlled by intestinal pacemaker cells. We also show the effects of anesthesia on motor patterns, highlighting the possibility to study the role of the extrinsic nervous system in controlling motor patterns, which requires unanesthetized live animals. Combining with light-field technologies, we further demonstrated 3D imaging of intestine in vivo (3D-TIP). Importantly, the added depth information allows us to extract intestines located away from the abdominal wall, and to quantify intestinal motor patterns along different directions. The TIP system should open up avenues for functional imaging of the GI tract in conscious animals in natural physiological states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Depeng Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Tri Vu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Ye Zhan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Akash Malhotra
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pei Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Upendra Chitgupi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Aliza Rai
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sizhe Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Lidai Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jan D Huizinga
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan F Lovell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jun Xia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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Smith-Edwards KM, Edwards BS, Wright CM, Schneider S, Meerschaert KA, Ejoh LL, Najjar SA, Howard MJ, Albers KM, Heuckeroth RO, Davis BM. Sympathetic Input to Multiple Cell Types in Mouse and Human Colon Produces Region-Specific Responses. Gastroenterology 2021; 160:1208-1223.e4. [PMID: 32980343 PMCID: PMC7956113 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The colon is innervated by intrinsic and extrinsic neurons that coordinate functions necessary for digestive health. Sympathetic input suppresses colon motility by acting on intrinsic myenteric neurons, but the extent of sympathetic-induced changes on large-scale network activity in myenteric circuits has not been determined. Compounding the complexity of sympathetic function, there is evidence that sympathetic transmitters can regulate activity in non-neuronal cells (such as enteric glia and innate immune cells). METHODS We performed anatomical tracing, immunohistochemistry, optogenetic (GCaMP calcium imaging, channelrhodopsin), and colon motility studies in mice and single-cell RNA sequencing in human colon to investigate how sympathetic postganglionic neurons modulate colon function. RESULTS Individual neurons in each sympathetic prevertebral ganglion innervated the proximal or distal colon, with processes closely opposed to multiple cell types. Calcium imaging in semi-intact mouse colon preparations revealed changes in spontaneous and evoked neural activity, as well as activation of non-neuronal cells, induced by sympathetic nerve stimulation. The overall pattern of response to sympathetic stimulation was unique to the proximal or distal colon. Region-specific changes in cellular activity correlated with motility patterns produced by electrical and optogenetic stimulation of sympathetic pathways. Pharmacology experiments (mouse) and RNA sequencing (human) indicated that appropriate receptors were expressed on different cell types to account for the responses to sympathetic stimulation. Regional differences in expression of α-1 adrenoceptors in human colon emphasize the translational relevance of our mouse findings. CONCLUSIONS Sympathetic neurons differentially regulate activity of neurons and non-neuronal cells in proximal and distal colon to promote distinct changes in motility patterns, likely reflecting the distinct roles played by these 2 regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Smith-Edwards
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,For correspondence: Kristen M. Smith-Edwards, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurobiology, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15216, , Ph: 412-648-9745
| | - Brian S. Edwards
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Christina M. Wright
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sabine Schneider
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kimberly A. Meerschaert
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lindsay L. Ejoh
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sarah A. Najjar
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Kathryn M. Albers
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert O. Heuckeroth
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Brian M. Davis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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46
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Spencer NJ, Costa M, Hibberd TJ, Wood JD. Advances in colonic motor complexes in mice. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2021; 320:G12-G29. [PMID: 33085903 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00317.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The primary functions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are to absorb nutrients, water, and electrolytes that are essential for life. This is accompanied by the capability of the GI tract to mix ingested content to maximize absorption and effectively excrete waste material. There have been major advances in understanding intrinsic neural mechanisms involved in GI motility. This review highlights major advances over the past few decades in our understanding of colonic motor complexes (CMCs), the major intrinsic neural patterns that control GI motility. CMCs are generated by rhythmic coordinated firing of large populations of myenteric neurons. Initially, it was thought that serotonin release from the mucosa was required for CMC generation. However, careful experiments have now shown that neither the mucosa nor endogenous serotonin are required, although, evidence suggests enteroendocrine (EC) cells modulate CMCs. The frequency and extent of propagation of CMCs are highly dependent on mechanical stimuli (circumferential stretch). In summary, the isolated mouse colon emerges as a good model to investigate intrinsic mechanisms underlying colonic motility and provides an excellent preparation to explore potential therapeutic agents on colonic motility, in a highly controlled in vitro environment. In addition, during CMCs, the mouse colon facilitates investigations into the emergence of dynamic assemblies of extensive neural networks, applicable to the nervous system of different organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- N J Spencer
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - M Costa
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - T J Hibberd
- Visceral Neurophysiology Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - J D Wood
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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47
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Meerschaert KA, Adelman PC, Friedman RL, Albers KM, Koerber HR, Davis BM. Unique Molecular Characteristics of Visceral Afferents Arising from Different Levels of the Neuraxis: Location of Afferent Somata Predicts Function and Stimulus Detection Modalities. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7216-7228. [PMID: 32817244 PMCID: PMC7534907 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1426-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Viscera receive innervation from sensory ganglia located adjacent to multiple levels of the brainstem and spinal cord. Here we examined whether molecular profiling could be used to identify functional clusters of colon afferents from thoracolumbar (TL), lumbosacral (LS), and nodose ganglia (NG) in male and female mice. Profiling of TL and LS bladder afferents was also performed. Visceral afferents were back-labeled using retrograde tracers injected into proximal and distal regions of colon or bladder, followed by single-cell qRT-PCR and analysis via an automated hierarchical clustering method. Genes were chosen for assay (32 for bladder; 48 for colon) based on their established role in stimulus detection, regulation of sensitivity/function, or neuroimmune interaction. A total of 132 colon afferents (from NG, TL, and LS ganglia) and 128 bladder afferents (from TL and LS ganglia) were analyzed. Retrograde labeling from the colon showed that NG and TL afferents innervate proximal and distal regions of the colon, whereas 98% of LS afferents only project to distal regions. There were clusters of colon and bladder afferents, defined by mRNA profiling, that localized to either TL or LS ganglia. Mixed TL/LS clustering also was found. In addition, transcriptionally, NG colon afferents were almost completely segregated from colon TL and LS neurons. Furthermore, colon and bladder afferents expressed genes at similar levels, although different gene combinations defined the clusters. These results indicate that genes implicated in both homeostatic regulation and conscious sensations are found at all anatomic levels, suggesting that afferents from different portions of the neuraxis have overlapping functions.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Visceral organs are innervated by sensory neurons whose cell bodies are located in multiple ganglia associated with the brainstem and spinal cord. For the colon, this overlapping innervation is proposed to facilitate visceral sensation and homeostasis, where sensation and pain are mediated by spinal afferents and fear and anxiety (the affective aspects of visceral pain) are the domain of nodose afferents. The transcriptomic analysis performed here reveals that genes implicated in both homeostatic regulation and pain are found in afferents across all ganglia types, suggesting that conscious sensation and homeostatic regulation are the result of convergence, and not segregation, of sensory input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Meerschaert
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | | | - Robert L Friedman
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | - Kathryn M Albers
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | - H Richard Koerber
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | - Brian M Davis
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
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48
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Gonzales J, Le Berre-Scoul C, Dariel A, Bréhéret P, Neunlist M, Boudin H. Semaphorin 3A controls enteric neuron connectivity and is inversely associated with synapsin 1 expression in Hirschsprung disease. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15119. [PMID: 32934297 PMCID: PMC7492427 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71865-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the gut functions are controlled by the enteric nervous system (ENS), a complex network of enteric neurons located throughout the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. The formation of ENS connectivity during the perinatal period critically underlies the establishment of gastrointestinal motility, but the factors involved in this maturation process remain poorly characterized. Here, we examined the role of Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) on ENS maturation and its potential implication in Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), a developmental disorder of the ENS with impaired colonic motility. We found that Sema3A and its receptor Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) are expressed in the rat gut during the early postnatal period. At the cellular level, NRP1 is expressed by enteric neurons, where it is particularly enriched at growth areas of developing axons. Treatment of primary ENS cultures and gut explants with Sema3A restricts axon elongation and synapse formation. Comparison of the ganglionic colon of HSCR patients to the colon of patients with anorectal malformation shows reduced expression of the synaptic molecule synapsin 1 in HSCR, which is inversely correlated with Sema3A expression. Our study identifies Sema3A as a critical regulator of ENS connectivity and provides a link between altered ENS connectivity and HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Gonzales
- Inserm UMR1235-TENS, University of Nantes, Inserm, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France
| | - Catherine Le Berre-Scoul
- Inserm UMR1235-TENS, University of Nantes, Inserm, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France
| | - Anne Dariel
- Inserm UMR1235-TENS, University of Nantes, Inserm, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France.,Pediatric Surgery Department, Hôpital Timone-Enfants, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Paul Bréhéret
- Inserm UMR1235-TENS, University of Nantes, Inserm, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France
| | - Michel Neunlist
- Inserm UMR1235-TENS, University of Nantes, Inserm, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France
| | - Hélène Boudin
- Inserm UMR1235-TENS, University of Nantes, Inserm, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035, Nantes, France.
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Johnson AC, Louwies T, Ligon CO, Greenwood-Van Meerveld B. Enlightening the frontiers of neurogastroenterology through optogenetics. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2020; 319:G391-G399. [PMID: 32755304 PMCID: PMC7717115 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00384.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Neurogastroenterology refers to the study of the extrinsic and intrinsic nervous system circuits controlling the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Over the past 5-10 yr there has been an explosion in novel methodologies, technologies and approaches that offer great promise to advance our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying GI function in health and disease. This review focuses on the use of optogenetics combined with electrophysiology in the field of neurogastroenterology. We discuss how these technologies and tools are currently being used to explore the brain-gut axis and debate the future research potential and limitations of these techniques. Taken together, we consider that the use of these technologies will enable researchers to answer important questions in neurogastroenterology through fundamental research. The answers to those questions will shorten the path from basic discovery to new treatments for patient populations with disorders of the brain-gut axis affecting the GI tract such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, achalasia, and delayed gastric emptying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C. Johnson
- 1Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,2Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,3Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Tijs Louwies
- 1Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Casey O. Ligon
- 1Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld
- 1Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,2Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,4Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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50
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Yu Z. Neuromechanism of acupuncture regulating gastrointestinal motility. World J Gastroenterol 2020; 26:3182-3200. [PMID: 32684734 PMCID: PMC7336328 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i23.3182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acupuncture has been used in China for thousands of years and has become more widely accepted by doctors and patients around the world. A large number of clinical studies and animal experiments have confirmed that acupuncture has a benign adjustment effect on gastrointestinal (GI) movement; however, the mechanism of this effect is unclear, especially in terms of neural mechanisms, and there are still many areas that require further exploration. This article reviews the recent data on the neural mechanism of acupuncture on GI movements. We summarize the neural mechanism of acupuncture on GI movement from four aspects: acupuncture signal transmission, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, the enteric nervous system, and the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
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