Intrinsic Primary Afferent Neurons Research Articles

A8 LUMINAL SHORT CHAIN FATTY ACIDS INCREASE ACTIVITY IN COLONIC MYENTERIC PLEXUS NEURONS IN MICE

Abstract Background The enteric nervous system (ENS) plays a critical role in the control of gastrointestinal functions. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the products of non-digestible dietary fiber fermentation by gut microbial metabolism and are a primary energy source for enterocytes. However, the impact of SCFAs on the ENS is not well understood. Aims We aimed to test whether SCFAs affect enteric neuronal function using a novel intact preparation of the colon. Methods Intact segments of the colon from mice expressing a genetically encoded fluorescent calcium (Ca2+) reporter specifically in all enteric neurons (Wnt-1-GCaMP6 mice) or in intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs, Calb1-GCaMP6 mice) were bathed and luminally perfused with Krebs solution. Contractility was inhibited by nicardipine (3 µM) and scopolamine (1 µM). The duration and intensity of neuronal intracellular Ca2+ fluorescence responses to SCFA were visualized by live-cell confocal microscopy and were analyzed using Imaris™ software. The SCFAs were luminally perfused at a constant rate of 10 mL/h for 3 min. NaCl was modified in Krebs solution to correct for the osmolarity of SCFAs. Results In the myenteric plexus of Wnt-1-GCaMP6 mice, SCFAs (acetate, 60 mM; propionate, 20 mM or butyrate, 20 mM) caused a rapid and sustained increase in Ca2+ fluorescence (26.8±5.9, 25.8±1.7, and 27.4±5.9 min, respectively). The peak Ca2+ responses were 92.5%± 28.3%, 122.6%±21.5% and 111.7%± 23.0%, respectively. The combination of these three SCFAs increased Ca2+ fluorescence for 20.5±6.3 min and potentiated levels of Ca2+ fluorescence to 125.1%±21.6% above baseline. The percentages of neurons responding to SCFAs were 85.7%, 94.4%, 97.7% and 93.3 % for acetate, propionate, butyrate and a combination of SCFAs, respectively. In Calb1-GCaMP6 mice, IPANs showed a similar pattern of Ca2+ responses and a proportion of neurons that responded to the SCFAs. Following acetate, propionate, butyrate and combination of SCFAs administration, fluorescence was increased for 13.5±1.2, 20.6±2.7, 24.9±2.2 and 46.1±4.6 min, by a magnitude of 404.3%±153.7%, 129.0%±0.4%, 73.9%±18.8% and 717%±267.0% above baseline and the percentages of neuronal response were 100.0%, 100.0%, 100.0% and 87.5 %, respectively. Conclusions We show that SCFAs activate neurons of the myenteric plexus including IPANs. These studies suggest that some of the actions of SCFAs are mediated by the ENS, but further studies are needed to identify the underlying mechanisms of action of SCFAs in the myenteric plexus. Funding Agencies CAG, CIHRTRIANGLE Canada

Squalamine reverses age-associated changes of firing patterns of myenteric sensory neurons and vagal fibres

Vagus nerve signaling is a key component of the gut-brain axis and regulates diverse physiological processes that decline with age. Gut to brain vagus firing patterns are regulated by myenteric intrinsic primary afferent neuron (IPAN) to vagus neurotransmission. It remains unclear how IPANs or the afferent vagus age functionally. Here we identified a distinct ageing code in gut to brain neurotransmission defined by consistent differences in firing rates, burst durations, interburst and intraburst firing intervals of IPANs and the vagus, when comparing young and aged neurons. The aminosterol squalamine changed aged neurons firing patterns to a young phenotype. In contrast to young neurons, sertraline failed to increase firing rates in the aged vagus whereas squalamine was effective. These results may have implications for improved treatments involving pharmacological and electrical stimulation of the vagus for age-related mood and other disorders. For example, oral squalamine might be substituted for or added to sertraline for the aged.

Morphological, molecular, and functional characterization of mouse glutamatergic myenteric neurons.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) functions largely independently of the central nervous system (CNS). Glutamate, the dominant neurotransmitter in the CNS and sensory afferents, is not a primary neurotransmitter in the ENS. Only a fraction (∼2%) of myenteric neurons in the mouse distal colon and rectum (colorectum) are positive for vesicular glutamate transporter type 2 (VGLUT2), the structure and function of which remain undetermined. Here, we systematically characterized VGLUT2-positive enteric neurons (VGLUT2-ENs) through sparse labeling with adeno-associated virus, single-cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and GCaMP6f calcium imaging. Our results reveal that the majority of VGLUT2-ENs (29 of 31, 93.5%) exhibited Dogiel type I morphology with a single aborally projecting axon; most axons (26 of 29, 89.7%) are between 4 and 10 mm long, each traversing 19 to 34 myenteric ganglia. These anatomical features exclude the VGLUT2-ENs from being intrinsic primary afferent or motor neurons. The scRNA-seq conducted on 52 VGLUT2-ENs suggests different expression profiles from conventional descending interneurons. Ex vivo GCaMP6f recordings from flattened colorectum indicate that almost all VGLUT2-EN (181 of 215, 84.2%) are indirectly activated by colorectal stretch via nicotinic cholinergic neural transmission. In conclusion, VGLUT2-ENs are a functionally unique group of enteric neurons with single aborally projecting long axons that traverse multiple myenteric ganglia and are activated indirectly by colorectal mechanical stretch. This knowledge will provide a solid foundation for subsequent studies on the potential interactions of VGLUT2-EN with extrinsic colorectal afferents via glutamatergic neurotransmission.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We reveal that VGLUT2-positive enteric neurons (EN), although constituting a small fraction of total EN, are homogeneously expressed in the myenteric ganglia, with a slight concentration at the intermediate region between the colon and rectum. Through anatomic, molecular, and functional analyses, we demonstrated that VGLUT2-ENs are activated indirectly by noxious circumferential colorectal stretch via nicotinic cholinergic transmission, suggesting their participation in mechanical visceral nociception.

Modeling gut neuro-epithelial connections in a novel microfluidic device

The intestinal lumen is filled with diverse chemical and physical stimuli. Intestinal epithelial cells sense these stimuli and signal to enteric neurons which coordinate a range of physiologic processes required for normal digestive tract function. Yet, the neuro-epithelial connections remain poorly resolved, in part because the tools for orchestrating interactions between these cellular compartments are lacking. We describe the development of a two-compartment microfluidic device for co-culturing enteric neurons with intestinal epithelial cells. The device contains epithelial and neuronal compartments connected by microgrooves. The epithelial compartment was designed for cell seeding via injection and confinement of intestinal epithelial cells derived from human intestinal organoids. We demonstrated that organoids planarized effectively and retained epithelial phenotype for over a week. In the second chamber we dissociated and cultured intestinal myenteric neurons including intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) from transgenic mice that expressed the fluorescent protein tdTomato. IPANs extended projections into microgrooves, surrounded and frequently made contacts with epithelial cells. The density and directionality of neuronal projections were enhanced by the presence of epithelial cells in the adjacent compartment. Our microfluidic device represents a platform that may, in the future, be used to dissect structure and function of neuro-epithelial connections in the gut and other organs (skin, lung, bladder, and others) in health and disease.

Quantification of CGRP-immunoreactive myenteric neurons in mouse colon.

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±12μm2 , 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+.

Mechanisms underlying initiation of propulsion in guinea pig distal colon.

Colonic motor complexes (CMCs) are a major neurogenic activity in guineapig distal colon. The identity of the enteric neurons that initiate this activity is not established. Specialized intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) are a major candidate. We aimed to test this hypothesis. To do this, segments of guineapig distal colon were suspended vertically in heated organ baths and propulsive forces acting on a pellet inside the lumen were recorded by isometric force transducer while pharmacological agents were applied to affect IPAN function. In the absence of drugs, CMCs acted periodically on the pellet, generating peak propulsive forces of 12.7 ± 5 g at 0.56 ± 0.22 cpm, lasting 49 ± 17 s (215 preparations; n = 60). Most but not all CMCs were abolished by nicotinic receptor blockade to inhibit fast excitatory synaptic transmission (50/62 preparations; n = 25). Remarkably, CMCs inhibited by hexamethonium were restored by a pharmacological strategy that aimed to enhance IPAN excitability. Thus, CMCs were restored by increased smooth muscle tension (using BAY K8644, bethanechol or carbachol) and by IPAN excitation using phorbol dibutyrate; NK3 receptor agonist, senktide; and partially by αCGRP. The IPAN inhibitor, 5,6-dichloro-1-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-one (DCEBIO), decreased CMC frequency. CGRP, but not NK3-receptor antagonists, decreased CMC frequency in naive preparations. Finally, CMCs were blocked by tetrodotoxin, and this was not reversed by any drugs listed above. These results support a major role for IPANs that does not require fast synaptic transmission, in the periodic initiation of neurogenic propulsive contractions. Endogenous CGRP plays a role in determining CMC frequency, whereas further unidentified signaling pathways may determine their amplitude and duration.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The colonic motor complex (CMC) initiates propulsion in guinea pig colon. Here, CMCs evoked by an intraluminal pellet were restored during nicotinic receptor blockade by pharmacological agents that directly or indirectly enhance intrinsic primary afferent neuron (IPAN) excitability. IPANs are the only enteric neuron in colon that contain CGRP. Blocking CGRP receptors decreased CMC frequency, implicating their role in CMC initiation. The results support a role for IPANs in the initiation of CMCs.

Propulsive colonic contractions are mediated by inhibition-driven poststimulus responses that originate in interstitial cells of Cajal

The peristaltic reflex is a fundamental behavior of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in which mucosal stimulation activates propulsive contractions. The reflex occurs by stimulation of intrinsic primary afferent neurons with cell bodies in the myenteric plexus and projections to the lamina propria, distribution of information by interneurons, and activation of muscle motor neurons. The current concept is that excitatory cholinergic motor neurons are activated proximal to and inhibitory neurons are activated distal to the stimulus site. We found that atropine reduced, but did not block, colonic migrating motor complexes (CMMCs) in mouse, monkey, and human colons, suggesting a mechanism other than one activated by cholinergic neurons is involved in the generation/propagation of CMMCs. CMMCs were activated after a period of nerve stimulation in colons of each species, suggesting that the propulsive contractions of CMMCs may be due to the poststimulus excitation that follows inhibitory neural responses. Blocking nitrergic neurotransmission inhibited poststimulus excitation in muscle strips and blocked CMMCs in intact colons. Our data demonstrate that poststimulus excitation is due to increased Ca2+ transients in colonic interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) following cessation of nitrergic, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent inhibitory responses. The increase in Ca2+ transients after nitrergic responses activates a Ca2+-activated Cl− conductance, encoded by Ano1, in ICC. Antagonists of ANO1 channels inhibit poststimulus depolarizations in colonic muscles and CMMCs in intact colons. The poststimulus excitatory responses in ICC are linked to cGMP-inhibited cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase 3a and cAMP-dependent effects. These data suggest alternative mechanisms for generation and propagation of CMMCs in the colon.

2021 Workshop: Neurodegenerative Diseases in the Gut-Brain Axis—Parkinson's Disease

2021 Workshop: Neurodegenerative Diseases in the Gut-Brain Axis—Parkinson's Disease

The gut, its microbiome, and the brain: connections and communications.

Modern research on gastrointestinal behavior has revealed it to be a highly complex bidirectional process in which the gut sends signals to the brain, via spinal and vagal visceral afferent pathways, and receives sympathetic and parasympathetic inputs. Concomitantly, the enteric nervous system within the bowel, which contains intrinsic primary afferent neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons, also senses the enteric environment and controls the detailed patterns of intestinal motility and secretion. The vast microbiome that is resident within the enteric lumen is yet another contributor, not only to gut behavior, but to the bidirectional signaling process, so that the existence of a microbiota-gut-brain "connectome" has become apparent. The interaction between the microbiota, the bowel, and the brain now appears to be neither a top-down nor a bottom-up process. Instead, it is an ongoing, tripartite conversation, the outline of which is beginning to emerge and is the subject of this Review. We emphasize aspects of the exponentially increasing knowledge of the microbiota-gut-brain "connectome" and focus attention on the roles that serotonin, Toll-like receptors, and macrophages play in signaling as exemplars of potentially generalizable mechanisms.

Neuronal regulation of the gut immune system and neuromodulation for treating inflammatory bowel disease.

The gut immune system in the healthy intestine is anti‐inflammatory, but can move to a pro‐inflammatory state when the gut is challenged by pathogens or in disease. The nervous system influences the level of inflammation through enteric neurons and extrinsic neural connections, particularly vagal and sympathetic innervation of the gastrointestinal tract, each of which exerts anti‐inflammatory effects. Within the enteric nervous system (ENS), three neuron types that influence gut immune cells have been identified, intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons that project to the mucosa, and cholinergic neurons that influence macrophages in the external muscle layers. The enteric neuropeptides, calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), tachykinins, and neuromedin U (NMU), which are contained in IPANs, and VIP produced by the mucosa innervating neurons, all influence immune cells, notably innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). ILC2 are stimulated by VIP to release IL‐22, which promotes microbial defense and tissue repair. Enteric neurons are innervated by the vagus, and, in the large intestine, by the pelvic nerves. Vagal nerve stimulation reduces gut inflammation, which may be both by stimulation of efferent (motor) pathways to the ENS, and stimulation of afferent pathways that connect to integrating centers in the CNS. Efferent pathways from the CNS have their anti‐inflammatory effects through either or both vagal efferent neurons and sympathetic pathways. The final neurons in sympathetic pathways reduce gut inflammation by the action of noradrenaline on β2 adrenergic receptors expressed by immune cells. Activation of neural anti‐inflammatory pathways is an attractive option to treat inflammatory bowel disease that is refractory to other treatments. Further investigation of the ways in which enteric reflexes, vagal pathways and sympathetic pathways integrate their effects to modulate the gut immune system and gut inflammation is needed to optimize neuromodulation therapy.

Role of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 2 in lower oesophageal sphincter in rat acid reflux oesophagitis

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder. In the present study, we investigated TRP vanilloid subfamily member 2 (TRPV2) expression in lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) and its involvement in acid reflux oesophagitis in rats. Expression of TRPV2 and nerve growth factor mRNAs was significantly enhanced in LES of rats with reflux oesophagitis compared with normal rats. TRPV2 was mainly expressed in inhibitory motor neurons, and partly in intrinsic and extrinsic primary afferent neurons, and macrophages in LES of normal and reflux oesophagitis rats. Number of TRPV2-immunopositive nerve fibres was significantly increased, but that of nNOS-, CGRP-, and PGP9.5-nerve fibres was not changed in reflux oesophagitis compared with normal group. Probenecid produced nitric oxide production and relaxation in LES and this response was significantly enhanced in oesophagitis compared with normal group. Probenecid-induced relaxant effect was blocked by a TRPV2 inhibitor, tranilast, and a NOS inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, in reflux oesophagitis rats. Oral administration of tranilast significantly improved body weight loss, oesophageal lesions, and epithelial thickness in oesophagitis model. These results suggest that up-regulation of TRPV2 in inhibitory motor neurons is involved in LES relaxation in oesophagitis model. TRPV2 inhibition might be beneficial for treatment of GERD.

The α isoform of cGMP-dependent protein kinase 1 (PKG1α) is expressed and functionally important in intrinsic primary afferent neurons of the guinea pig enteric nervous system.

Intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) enable the gut to manifest reflexes in the absence of CNS input. PKG1α is selectively expressed in a subset of neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and has been linked to nociception and long-term hyperexcitability. We used immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and in vitro assays of IPAN-dependent enteric functions to test hypotheses that subsets of primary neurons of the ENS and DRG share a reliance on PKG1α expression. PKG1α immunoreactivity was demonstrated in immunoblots from isolated myenteric ganglia. PKG1α, but not PKG1β, immunoreactivity, was coincident with that of neuronal markers (HuC/D; β3-tubulin) in both enteric plexuses. PKG1α immunoreactivity also co-localized with the immunoreactivities of the IPAN markers, calbindin (100%; myenteric plexus) and cytoplasmic NeuN (98±1% submucosal plexus). CGRP-immunoreactive DRG neurons, identified as visceral afferents by retrograde transport, were PKG1α-immunoreactive. We used intraluminal cholera toxin to determine whether PKG1α was necessary to enable stimulation of the mucosa to activate Fos in enteric neurons. Tetrodotoxin (1.0µM), low Ca2+ /high Mg2+ media, and the PKG inhibitor, N46 (100µM), all inhibited Fos activation in myenteric neurons. N46 also concentration dependently inhibited peristaltic reflexes in isolated preparations of distal colon (IC50 =83.3±1.3µM). These data suggest that PKG1α is present and functionally important in IPANs and visceral afferent nociceptive neurons.

Congenital Myenteric Hypoganglionosis.

Congenital myenteric hypoganglionosis is a rare developmental disorder characterized clinically by severe and persistent neonatal intestinal pseudoobstruction. The diagnosis is established by the prevalence of small myenteric ganglia composed of closely spaced ganglion cells with sparse surrounding neuropil. In practice, the diagnosis entails familiarity with the normal appearance of myenteric ganglia in young infants and the ability to confidently recognize significant deviations in ganglion size and morphology. We review clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical findings from 12 patients with congenital myenteric hypoganglionosis in comparison with similar data from age-matched controls and clearly delineate the diagnostic features of the condition. Practical guidelines are provided to assist surgical pathologists, who are likely to encounter this condition only infrequently. The diagnosis typically requires full-thickness intestinal biopsy as the abnormality is confined to the myenteric plexus in many patients. Immunohistochemistry for Hu C/D may be used to confirm hypoganglionosis. Reduced staining for calretinin and NeuN implicates a selective deficiency of intrinsic primary afferent neurons in this disease.

Squalamine Restores the Function of the Enteric Nervous System in Mouse Models of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder thought to be caused by accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) within the brain, autonomic nerves, and the enteric nervous system (ENS). Involvement of the ENS in PD often precedes the onset of the classic motor signs of PD by many years at a time when severe constipation represents a major morbidity. Studies conducted in vitro and in vivo, have shown that squalamine, a zwitterionic amphipathic aminosterol, originally isolated from the liver of the dogfish shark, effectively displaces membrane-bound α-syn. Here we explore the electrophysiological effect of squalamine on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of mouse models of PD engineered to express the highly aggregating A53T human α-syn mutant. GI motility and in vivo response to oral squalamine in PD model mice and controls were assessed using an in vitro tissue motility protocol and via fecal pellet output. Vagal afferent response to squalamine was measured using extracellular mesenteric nerve recordings from the jejunum. Whole cell patch clamp was performed to measure response to squalamine in the myenteric plexus. Squalamine effectively restores disordered colonic motility in vivo and within minutes of local application to the bowel. We show that topical squalamine exposure to intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) of the ENS rapidly restores excitability. These observations may help to explain how squalamine may promote gut propulsive activity through local effects on IPANs in the ENS, and further support its possible utility in the treatment of constipation in patients with PD.

Simulations of Myenteric Neuron Dynamics in Response to Mechanical Stretch.

Background Intestinal sensitivity to mechanical stimuli has been studied intensively in visceral pain studies. The ability to sense different stimuli in the gut and translate these to physiological outcomes relies on the mechanosensory and transductive capacity of intrinsic intestinal nerves. However, the nature of the mechanosensitive channels and principal mechanical stimulus for mechanosensitive receptors are unknown. To be able to characterize intestinal mechanoelectrical transduction, that is, the molecular basis of mechanosensation, comprehensive mathematical models to predict responses of the sensory neurons to controlled mechanical stimuli are needed. This study aims to develop a biophysically based mathematical model of the myenteric neuron with the parameters constrained by learning from existing experimental data. Findings. The conductance-based single-compartment model was selected. The parameters in the model were optimized by using a combination of hand tuning and automated estimation. Using the optimized parameters, the model successfully predicted the electrophysiological features of the myenteric neurons with and without mechanical stimulation. Conclusions The model provides a method to predict features and levels of detail of the underlying physiological system in generating myenteric neuron responses. The model could be used as building blocks in future large-scale network simulations of intrinsic primary afferent neurons and their network.

Identification of intrinsic primary afferent neurons in mouse jejunum

The gut is the only organ system with intrinsic neural reflexes. Intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) of the enteric nervous system initiate intrinsic reflexes, form gut-brain connections, and undergo considerable neuroplasticity to cause digestive diseases. They remain inaccessible to study in mice in the absence of a selective marker. Advillin is used as a marker for primary afferent neurons in dorsal root ganglia. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that advillin is expressed in IPANs of the mouse jejunum. Advillin expression was assessed with immunohistochemistry and using transgenic mice expressing an inducible Cre recombinase under the advillin promoter were used to drive tdTomato and the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP5. These mice were used to characterize the morphology and physiology of advillin-expressing enteric neurons using confocal microscopy, calcium imaging, and whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. Advillin is expressed in about 25% of myenteric neurons of the mouse jejunum, and these neurons demonstrate the requisite properties of IPANs. Functionally, they demonstrate calcium responses following mechanical stimuli of the mucosa and during antidromic action potentials. They have Dogiel type II morphology with neural processes that mostly remain within the myenteric plexus, but also project to the mucosa and express NeuN and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), but not nNOS. Advillin marks jejunal IPANs providing accessibility to this important neuronal population to study and model digestive disease.

Evaluation of the role of cholinergic and nitrergic myenteric neurons in colonic motility using genetically‐encoded optical tools

Activity of neuronal subtypes within the myenteric plexus underlies coordinated patterns of gastro‐intestinal motility. Cholinergic neurons include intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPAN), ascending interneurons, and excitatory motor neurons (eMNs) projecting to smooth muscle, whereas nitrergic neurons include descending interneurons and inhibitory motor neurons (iMNs) projecting to smooth muscle. The activity of cholinergic eMNs and nitrergic iMNs is believed to produce the two major patterns of motility underlying peristalsis in the colon, namely the periodic colonic migrating motor complex (CMMC) and the intervening periods of tonic inhibition, respectively. The objective of this study was to determine whether a.) such correlated activities of cholinergic eMNs and nitrergic iMNs could be discerned in the myenteric plexus of transgenic mice expressing the genetically‐encoded calcium indicator GCaMP6f in each of these two cell types (i.e., choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)‐GCaMP6f mice or neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)‐GCaMP6f mice), and b.) optogenetic activation of in these subtypes with genetically‐encoded optical actuator channelrhodopsin‐2 (ChR2) would produce CMMCs (in ChAT‐ChR2 mice) or tonic inhibition (in nNOS‐ChR2 mice). In order to correlate activity patterns, which require imaging of sliced colon, with defined states of motility, which require intact colon with force transducers, we took advantage of CAGGS‐GCaMP3 mice, which show widespread GCaMP3 expression. In loosely pinned preparations imaged at low power, we could easily discern CMMCs, which displayed pronounced movement together with robust smooth muscle Ca2+ responses. Then, we imaged the activity of nitrergic and cholinergic neurons against the backdrop of these movements. In nNOS‐GCaMP6f mice, as expected, we observed large numbers of cells that exhibited tonic Ca2+ responses in between CMMCs. We also observed a subpopulation of nitrergic neurons that exhibited a large phasic response just prior to the CMMC. Consistent with this finding, we found that optogenetic stimulation of the colon of nNOS‐ChR2 mice in between spontaneous CMMCs (i.e., during tonic inhibition) resulted in the generation of CMMCs. These ectopic CMMC were reduced by treatment with the ganglionic nicotinic AChR blocker hexamethonium, suggesting that they were primarily mediated by activation of nitrergic INs. In ChAT‐GCaMP6f mice, we observed fewer cells that exhibited tonic activity in between CMMCs. During CMMCs, we observed many cholinergic neurons that exhibited large phasic responses just after the CMMC was initiated. Similar to the effects in nNOS‐ChR2 mice, optogenetic stimulation of the colon of ChAT‐ChR2 mice in between spontaneous CMMCs produced ectopic CMMCs. Whether these effects are mediated by IPANs, ascending INs or eMNs is under investigation. These studies reveal unexpected complexity in the regulation of colonic motility by cholinergic and nitrergic myenteric neurons.Support or Funding InformationSPARC : OT2OD024899 (Director, Y Tache, UCLA)

A121 SILENCING ENTERIC SENSORY NEURONS ABOLISHES THE EXCITATORY EFFECT OF SERTRALINE ON VAGAL AFFERENTS

Abstract Background Two thirds of vagal afferents supplying the small intestine terminate on intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) of the enteric nervous system via intraganglionic laminar endings (IGLEs) rather than the luminal epithelium (FASEB J, 28, 3064–3074, 2014). The IPAN to IGLE connection forms a functional intramural sensory synapse within the myenteric plexus. We have recently shown (Sci Rep, 9, 14290, 2019) that the antidepressant behavioural effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are dependent on the vagus nerve and that intraluminal application of the SSRIs fluoxetine and sertraline increase vagal afferent firing rate in vitro. Aims We hypothesize that the vagal afferent response to intraluminal sertraline is mediated by IPAN to IGLE sensory signaling. Methods Mesenteric nerve recordings were performed using 2–3 cm jejunal segments and attached mesentery from 6–8 weeks old male Balb/c mice. Jejunal tissue was pinned out and dissected in a petri dish of Krebs to remove excess mesentery to isolate the mesenteric nerve bundle. Multi-unit electrical activity was recorded by patch-clamp electrode using an amplifier and signal converter by sucking onto the mesenteric nerve bundle with a glass micropipette. Baseline firing was recorded for 30 mins during luminal Krebs perfusion. The vagal afferent firing response to sertraline (10 µM) was measured in the absence or presence of 5 µM of the intermediate conductance calcium-dependent (IKCa) channel opener 5,6-dichloro-1-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-one (DCEBIO) to the serosa to selectively silence IPANs. Dataview software (J Neuroscience Methods, 185, 151, 2009) was used to isolate single unit firing post-hoc. Vagal fibre action potentials were identified by response to CCK. Results Intraluminal sertraline decreased the mean vagal interspike interval (increased vagal firing frequency) by 29% (p = 0.008) compared to Krebs control (N = 15 fibres). In contrast, addition of luminal sertraline in the presence of DCEBIO increased mean vagal interspike interval by 48% (p = 0.0103) compared to Krebs control (N = 12 fibres). Serosal addition of the N-type Ca2+ channel blocker w-Conotoxin GVIA simultaneously with luminal sertraline increased the mean vagal interspike interval by 12% (p = 0.0282) compared to Krebs control (N = 7 fibres). Conclusions Silencing of myenteric IPANs to vagus neurotransmission blocked excitatory response of vagal afferent fibres to intraluminal sertraline. Blocking myenteric neurotransmission reduced the vagus excitatory response to sertraline by more than 50%. These results suggest that the therapeutically necessary vagus nerve stimulation by sertraline involves activation of the myenteric intramural sensory synapse. Funding Agencies NSERC, OGS

A119 AN EX VIVO MODEL TO STUDY THE GUT SEROTONERGIC SYSTEM RESPONSE TO LIVE AND HEAT-KILLED LACTOBACILLUS RHAMNOSUS STRAIN JB-1

Abstract Background Enterochromaffin (EC) cells are one of the most abundant enteroendocrine cells in the intestinal epithelium, responsible for producing and storing the largest pool of serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the body. 5-HT has been shown to be important for modulating a large number of gastrointestinal reflexes in health and disease. 5-HT can stimulate extrinsic (vagal and spinal afferents) or intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) which are involved in motility, secretion and vasodilation within the intestines. Where EC cell localized enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase (TpH) isoform 1 is responsible for 5-HT synthesis, serotonin reuptake transporter (Sert) and monoamine oxidase A (Mao A) are responsible for termination by uptake and metabolism of 5-HT respectively. Our previous research has demonstrated the effects Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) on the firing frequency of spinal nerve fibres and motility. Increasing interest is being focused on potential health benefits of heat-inactivated microbes and purified bacterial components. However, the effect of these heat-killed bacteria on the intestinal epithelium cells, particularly on EC cells, is unknown. Aims Small intestinal organoids are shown to recapitulate in vivo characteristics of the small intestine epithelium. The present study aims to assess the suitability of intestinal organoids to study bacterial effects on the serotonergic system in the gut. Here we determined changes in the gene expression of key mediators in the serotonergic system [serotonin reuptake transporter (Sert), tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (Tph-1) and monoamine oxidase A (Mao A)] in response to live and heat-killed JB-1. Methods Male C57bl/6 mice aged 6–8 weeks were used for both ex vivo and in vivo experiments. Jejunal organoids were grown from whole crypts isolated using DTT-EDTA solution. Live and heat-killed JB-1 bacteria were used as treatments. Gene expression analysis was performed on jejunal organoids and jejunum tissue using qRT-PCR. Results JB-1 induced a significant increase in gene expression of Sert, Mao A and Tph-1. No significant difference was observed between the effects of live and heat-killed bacteria. In contrast the JB-1 increased expression of the peptide hormone CCK. Effects of JB-1 on gene expression in organoid culture were reflective of changes observed in in vivo experiments involving feeding of the bacteria. Conclusions Ex vivo organoid culture could be a useful tool in studying mechanisms underlying bacterial effects on serotonergic signalling. The observation that heat-killed bacteria produced comparable effects to the live organism suggests the possibility of isolating active 5-HT modulating components from these strains. Future research will focus on identifying such bacterial components and how their effects on gene expression influence serotonin availability Funding Agencies None

Intrinsic sensory neurons provide direct input to motor neurons and interneurons in mouse distal colon via varicose baskets.

Connections from intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs), to ascending motor and interneurons have been described in guinea pig colon. These mono- and polysynaptic circuits may underlie polarized motor reflexes evoked by local gut stimulation. There is a need to translate findings in guinea pig to mouse, a species increasingly used in enteric neuroscience. Here, mouse distal colon was immunolabeled for CGRP, a marker of putative IPANs. This revealed a combination of large, intensely immunofluorescent axons in myenteric plexus and circular muscle, and thinner varicose axons with less immunofluorescence. The latter formed dense, basket-like varicosity clusters (CGRP+ baskets) that enveloped myenteric nerve cell bodies. Immunolabeling after 4-5 days in organ culture caused loss of large CGRP+ axons, but not varicose CGRP+ fibers and CGRP+ baskets. Baskets were characterized further by triple labeling with CGRP, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and calretinin (CALR) antibodies. Approximately half (48%) of nerve cell bodies inside CGRP+ baskets lacked both NOS and CALR, while two overlapping populations containing NOS and/or CALR comprised the remainder. Quantitative analysis revealed CGRP+ varicosities were most abundant in baskets, followed by CALR+ varicosities, with a high degree of colocalization between the two markers. Few NOS+ varicosities occurred in baskets. Significantly higher proportions of CALR+ and CGRP+ varicosities colocalized in baskets than in circular muscle. In conclusion, CGRP+ baskets in mouse colon are formed by intrinsic enteric neurons with a neurochemical profile consistent with IPANs and have direct connections to both excitatory and inhibitory neurons.