The enteric nervous system modulates mammalian duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion

Abstract

Background: Interaction of the enteric nerves in regulating mammalian duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion is not well understood. The purpose of the present experiments was to evaluate the role of the enteric nervous system on bicarbonate secretion from rabbit duodenal mucosa in vitro. Methods: Proximal duodenum from male New Zealand White rabbits was stripped of seromuscular layers, mounted in Ussing chambers, and studied under short-circuited conditions. Effects of electrical field stimulation, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), carbachol, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (db-cAMP), and the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) and muscarinic blockade by atropine were studied. Results: Electrical field stimulation significantly (P < 0.01) stimulated bicarbonate secretion, short-circuit current (Isc), and electrical potential difference (PD) that was sensitive to both TTX and atropine. VIP-stimulated bicarbonate secretion was significantly inhibited by TTX (−73%), yet Isc and PD remained unchanged. Atropine decreased VIP-induced bicarbonate secretion (−69%) and Isc (−43%). Carbachol-stimulated bicarbonate secretion, Isc, and PD were abolished by atropine, whereas TTX was without affect. Neither TTX nor atropine had a significant effect on PGE2 or db-cAMP-stimulated bicarbonate secretion. Conclusions: These results suggest that (1) enteric nerve stimulation activates an acetylcholine receptor that in turn stimulates duodenal epithelial bicarbonate secretion; (2) VIP stimulates bicarbonate secretion, in large part, via the enteric nervous system; and (3) PGE2 and cAMP stimulate bicarbonate secretion independent of the enteric nervous system.