Non-adrenergic Non-cholinergic Inhibitory Neurotransmission Research Articles

Gastric motor dysfunction coincides with the onset of obesity in rats fed with high-fat diet.

Exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) has been reported to impair central autonomic and enteric neurocircuitries, however, the relevant mechanisms and their time course are inadequately clarified. This study aimed to investigate the effects of HFD consumption through the period of adolescence on gastric motor functions in adulthood. Male Sprague-Dawley rats consumed a regular diet or HFD (60% kcal by fat) from 4 to 12 weeks of age. Body weight and food intake were monitored weekly. In adult rats, gastric emptying (GE) was measured. Additionally, using in-vitro organ bath, contractile and relaxant responses of antral and fundic strips were assessed with bethanechol and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively. The expressions of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were detected by immunofluorescence, whereas, the number of myenteric neurons were evaluated by staining with cuprolinic blue and enteric neuronal marker PGP 9.5. In adulthood, the HFD did not alter food intake, while significantly increasing the body weight. In HFD-fed adult rats, increased visceral fat mass was accompanied by delayed GE. Moreover, bethanechol- and SNP-induced responses were attenuated in antral and fundic tissues. HFD remarkably decreased the number of myenteric neurons and NOS immunoreactivity both in fundus and antrum. HFD remarkably decreased ChAT expression, while increasing the immunoreactivity for VIP in antrum. In conclusion, consumption of HFD between early adolescence and adulthood results in obesity and impairment of gastric motor functions. Particularly, HFD-induced gastric dysmotility appears to be predominantly dependent on the modifications in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory neurotransmission.

Toll-Like Receptor 4 Modulates Small Intestine Neuromuscular Function through Nitrergic and Purinergic Pathways.

Objective: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a pivotal role in the homeostatic microflora-host crosstalk. TLR4-mediated modulation of both motility and enteric neuronal survival has been reported mainly for colon with limited information on the role of TLR4 in tuning structural and functional integrity of enteric nervous system (ENS) and in controlling small bowel motility.Methods: Male TLR4 knockout (TLR4-/-, 9 ± 1 weeks old) and sex- and age-matched wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J mice were used for the experiments. Alterations in ENS morphology and neurochemical code were assessed by immunohistochemistry whereas neuromuscular function was evaluated by isometric mechanical activity of ileal preparations following receptor and non-receptor-mediated stimuli and by gastrointestinal transit.Results: The absence of TLR4 induced gliosis and reduced the total number of neurons, mainly nNOS+ neurons, in ileal myenteric plexus. Furthermore, a lower cholinergic excitatory response with an increased inhibitory neurotransmission was found together with a delayed gastrointestinal transit. These changes were dependent on increased ileal non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxations mediated by a complex neuronal-glia signaling constituted by P2X7 and P2Y1 receptors, and NO produced by nNOS and iNOS.Conclusion: We provide novel evidence that TLR4 signaling is involved in the fine-tuning of P2 receptors controlling ileal contractility, ENS cell distribution, and inhibitory NANC neurotransmission via the combined action of NO and adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP). For the first time, this study implicates TLR4 at regulating the crosstalk between glia and neurons in small intestine and helps to define its role in gastrointestinal motor abnormalities during dysbiosis.

Pre- and post-junctional bradykinin B2 receptors regulate smooth muscle tension to the pig intravesical ureter.

Neuronal and non-neuronal bradykinin (BK) receptors regulate the contractility of the bladder urine outflow region. The current study investigates the role of BK receptors in the regulation of the smooth muscle contractility of the pig intravesical ureter. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to show the expression of BK B1 and B2 receptors and myographs for isometric force recordings. B2 receptor expression was consistently detected in the intravesical ureter urothelium and smooth muscle layer, B1 expression was not detected where a strong B2 immunoreactivity was observed within nerve fibers among smooth muscle bundles. On ureteral strips basal tone, BK induced concentration-dependent contractions, were potently reduced by extracellular Ca(2+) removal and by B2 receptor and voltage-gated Ca(2+) (VOC) channel blockade. BK contraction did not change as a consequence of urothelium mechanical removal or cyclooxygenase and Rho-associated protein kinase inhibition. On 9,11-dideoxy-9a,11a-methanoepoxy prostaglandin F2α (U46619)-precontracted samples, under non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) and nitric oxide (NO)-independent NANC conditions, electrical field stimulation-elicited frequency-dependent relaxations which were reduced by B2 receptor blockade. Kallidin, a B1 receptor agonist, failed to increase preparation basal tension or to induce relaxation on U46619-induced tone. The present results suggest that BK produces contraction of pig intravesical ureter via smooth muscle B2 receptors coupled to extracellular Ca(2+) entry mainly via VOC (L-type) channels. Facilitatory neuronal B2 receptors modulating NO-dependent or independent NANC inhibitory neurotransmission are also demonstrated.

Evidence that Nitric Oxide Is a Non-Adrenergic Non-Cholinergic Inhibitory Neurotransmitter in the Circular Muscle of the Mouse Distal Colon: A Study on the Mechanism of Nitric Oxide-Induced Relaxation

The gastrointestinal tract is composed of outer longitudinal muscle layers and inner circular muscle layers. Nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and ATP play major roles as non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory neurotransmitters in the longitudinal muscle of the mouse distal colon, whereas it is unclear which NANC inhibitory neurotransmitters are in its circular muscle. We investigated the electric field stimulation (EFS)-induced relaxations in the circular smooth muscle of the distal colon under NANC conditions. In the experiments in which N^ω-nitro-<smlcap>L</smlcap>-arginine, an inhibitor of NO synthase, was added, the EFS-induced relaxation decreased in a concentration-dependent manner and finally vanished. In contrast, CO, purinergic receptor ligands, and peptidergic substances do not play major roles as NANC neurotransmitters in the circular muscle of the mouse distal colon. ODQ, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, strongly attenuated EFS-induced relaxation. Ryanodine, a Ca²⁺ release modulator at the sarcoplasmic reticulum, strongly attenuated EFS-induced relaxation as well. Relaxation induced by NOR-1, which generates NO, was inhibited by ODQ and ryanodine. Next, we performed experiments that simultaneously measured tension and the cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_cyt). NOR-1 decreased the tension and [Ca²⁺]_cyt levels in the circular muscle. ODQ and ryanodine strongly attenuated the NOR-1-induced change in both tension and [Ca²⁺]_cyt levels. In this study, we demonstrate that NO functions as a NANC inhibitory neurotransmitter in the circular muscle obtained from the mouse distal colon.

Interstitial cells of Cajal plasticity rather than regeneration restores slow-wave activity and enteric neurotransmission upon acute damage

Background The enteric nervous system contains excitatory and inhibitory neurons which control contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle cells and gastrointestinal (GI) motor activity. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role as a nonadrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system, which activates the NO-GC/ cGMP/PKG signalling pathway and thus relaxation of the smooth musclulature in the GI tract. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) act as pacemaker cells in the GI tract by generating slow waves of depolarisation to induce rhythmic smooth muscle contractions. In addition, our previous work established a surprising role of ICCs in excitatory and inhibitory nitrergic neurotransmission. The aim of the present study was to investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms, which mediate regeneration of intestinal slow-waves and inhibitory nitrergic neurotransmission upon acute damage of the ICC network.

Neuronal and non-neuronal bradykinin receptors are involved in the contraction and/or relaxation to the pig bladder neck smooth muscle

The current study investigates the role played by bradykinin (BK) receptors in the contractility to the pig bladder neck smooth muscle. Bladder neck strips were mounted in myographs for isometric force recordings and BK receptors expression was also determined by immunohistochemistry. B2 receptor expression was observed in the muscular layer and urothelium whereas B1 expression was consistent detected in urothelium. A strong B2 immunoreactivity was also observed within nerve fibers among smooth muscle bundles. On urothelium-denuded preparations basal tone, BK induced concentration-dependent contractions which were reduced in urothelium-intact samples, by extracellular Ca(2+) removal and by blockade of B2 receptors and voltage-gated Ca(2+) (VOC) and non-VOC channels, and increased by cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition. On phenylephrine-precontracted denuded strips, under non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) conditions, electrical field stimulation-elicited frequency-dependent relaxations which were reduced by B2 receptor blockade. In urothelium-intact samples, the B1 receptor agonist kallidin promoted concentration-dependent relaxations which were reduced by blockade of B1 receptors, COX, COX-1 and large-conductance Ca(2+) -activated K(+) (BKCa ) channels and abolished in urothelium-denuded samples and in K(+) -enriched physiological saline solution-precontracted strips. These results suggest that BK produces contraction of pig bladder neck via smooth muscle B2 receptors coupled to extracellular Ca(2+) entry via VOC and non-VOC channels with a minor role for intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization. Facilitatory neuronal B2 receptors modulating NANC inhibitory neurotransmission and urothelial B1 receptors producing relaxation via the COX-1 pathway and BKCa channel opening are also demonstrated. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:558-565, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Endothelin ETB Receptors Are Involved in the Relaxation to the Pig Urinary Bladder neck

The involvement of endothelin receptors in the contraction of the lower urinary tract smooth muscle is well established. There is scarce information, however, about endothelin receptors mediating relaxation of the bladder outlet region. The current study investigates the possible existence of endothelin ET(B) receptors involved in the relaxation of pig bladder neck. ET(B) receptor expression was determined by immunohistochemistry and urothelium-denuded bladder neck strips were mounted in organ baths for isometric force recording. ET(B) -immunoreactivity (ET(B) -IR) was observed within nerve fibers among smooth muscle bundles and urothelium. BQ3020 (0.01-300 nM), an ET(B) receptor agonist, produced concentration-dependent relaxations which were reduced by BQ788, an ET(B) receptor antagonist, and by inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA) and large (BK(Ca) )- or small (SK(Ca) )-conductance Ca(2+) -activated K(+) channels. Pretreatment with BK(Ca) or SK(Ca) channel inhibitors plus PKA blocking did not cause further inhibition compared with that exerted by inhibiting BK(Ca) or SK(Ca) channels only. BQ3020-induced relaxation was not modified by blockade of either nitric oxide (NO) synthase, guanylyl cyclase, cyclooxygenase (COX) or of intermediate-conductance Ca(2+) -activated-(IK(Ca) ), ATP-dependent-(K(ATP) ), or voltage-gated-(K(v) ) K(+) channels. Under non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) conditions, electrical field stimulation (0.5-16 Hz) evoked frequency-dependent relaxations, which were reduced by BQ788 and potentiated by threshold concentrations of BQ3020. These results suggest that BQ3020 produces relaxation of the pig bladder neck via activation of muscle endothelin ET(B) receptors, NO/cGMP- and COX-independent-, cAMP-PKA pathway-dependent-mechanisms, and involving BK(Ca) and SK(Ca) channel activation. ET(B) receptors are also involved in the NANC inhibitory neurotransmission.

Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide as Possible Mediator of Relaxation in the Rat Gastric Fundus

Relaxations were induced in longitudinal muscle strips of the rat gastric fundus by stimulation of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurons and by administration of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) or isoprenaline. The effect of antiserum against vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP antiserum) and of control serum on these relaxations was investigated. Incubation with VIP antiserum (dilution 1/50) for 1 h almost completely prevented the relaxation by VIP. It partially prevented the relaxation evoked by electrical stimulation while the relaxation induced by isoprenaline was not influenced. Control serum decreased the VIP- and stimulation-induced relaxations much less than did VIP antiserum. In addition, the effect of the putative VIP antagonist (4Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17) VIP was studied on the relaxations induced by NANC neuron stimulation and by VIP. The VIP antagonist (3 x 10(-5) M, incubation time 10 min) had a relaxatory effect itself but had no influence on either VIP- or stimulation-induced relaxations. The results with VIP antiserum confirm the involvement of VIP in the inhibitory NANC neurotransmission of the rat gastric fundus.

Functional evidence of nitrergic neurotransmission in the human urinary bladder neck

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory neurotransmission of the lower urinary tract. However, functional evidence of this involvement in the human urinary bladder neck has not been consistently demonstrated. Therefore, the current study investigates the relaxations to endogenously released and/or exogenously added NO, in the human bladder neck. Urothelium-denuded bladder neck strips were dissected and mounted in isolated organ baths, containing a physiological saline solution (PSS) at 37 °C and continuously gassed with 5% CO 2 and 95% O 2, for isometric force recording. The relaxations to transmural nerve stimulation (EFS) or to exogenously applied NO, as an acidified solution of NaNO 2 were carried out on strips precontracted with phenylephrine, and treated with guanethidine and atropine, to block noradrenergic neurotransmission and muscarinic receptors, respectively. EFS (0.5–16 Hz) and exogenous NaNO 2 (1 μM to 1 mM) evoked frequency- and concentration-dependent relaxations, respectively. The nerve responses were abolished by the blockade of neuronal voltage-activated Na + channels with tetrodotoxin, indicating their neurogenic character. N G-nitro- l-arginine ( l-NOARG), a NO synthase inhibitor, abolished the relaxations to nerve stimulation, which were partially reversed by the substrate of NO synthesis l-arginine. l-NOARG failed to modify the relaxations to exogenous NaNO 2. These results suggest that NO is the major NANC inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human urinary bladder neck. Blockers of NO synthase could be useful in therapy for the urinary incontinence produced by intrinsic sphincteric deficiency.

Investigation of a possible interaction between the heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase and nitric oxide synthase pathway in murine gastric fundus and jejunum

This study investigated the possible interaction between the heme oxygenase (HO)/biliverdin reductase (BVR) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) pathway in murine gastric fundus and jejunum, since previous studies have shown that both HO-2 and BVR are expressed in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and co-localized with neuronal NOS in a large proportion of myenteric neurons along the gastrointestinal tract. Neither HO inhibition by chromium mesoporphyrin (CrMP) nor co-incubation with CO or biliverdin/bilirubin affected nitrergic neurotransmission — i.e. relaxations induced by non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) nerve stimulation or exogenous NO — under normal physiological conditions. However, biliverdin/bilirubin reversed the inhibitory effect of the superoxide generator LY83583 on exogenous NO-induced relaxations in both tissues. When gastric fundus muscle strips were depleted of the endogenous antioxidant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) by the Cu-chelator DETCA, electrically induced NANC relaxations were also affected by LY82583; however, biliverdin/bilirubin could not substitute for the loss of Cu/Zn SOD when this specific antioxidant enzyme was depleted. In jejunal muscle strips, the combination DETCA plus LY83583 nearly abolished contractile phasic activity and, hence, did not allow studying nitrergic relaxation in these experimental conditions. In conclusion, this study does not establish a role for HO/CO in inhibitory NANC neurotransmission in murine gastric fundus and jejunum under normal physiological conditions. However, the antioxidants biliverdin/bilirubin might play an important role in the protection of the nitrergic neurotransmitter against oxidative stress.

PACAP 38 is involved in the non‐adrenergic non‐cholinergic inhibitory neurotransmission in the pig urinary bladder neck

To investigate the role played by pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide 38 (PACAP 38) in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmission of the pig urinary bladder neck. Urothelium-denuded bladder neck strips were dissected and mounted in organ baths containing a physiological saline solution (PSS) at 37 degrees C and gassed with 5% CO(2) and 95% O(2), for isometric force recording. The relaxations to transmural nerve stimulation (EFS) or PACAP 38 were performed on strips precontracted with 1 microM phenylephrine (PhE). EFS experiments were carried out in the absence and the presence of guanethidine (10 microM), atropine (0.1 microM), and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG, 100 microM), to block noradrenergic neurotransmission, muscarinic receptors, and nitric oxide (NO) synthase, respectively. EFS (2-16 Hz, 1 ms duration, 20 sec trains, 75 mA current output) evoked frequency-dependent relaxations which were reduced by the VIP/PACAP receptor antagonist PACAP (6-38) (3 microM), and by the neurotoxin of the capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents capsaicin (10 microM), and abolished by the neuronal voltage-activated Na(+) channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 microM). The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor antagonist [Lys(1), Pro(2,5), Arg(3,4), Tyr(6)]-VIP (3 microM) failed to modify the EFS-induced relaxations. PACAP 38 (1 nM-1 microM) induced concentration-dependent relaxations which were reduced by PACAP (6-38), TTX and by the neuronal voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel inhibitor omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTX, 1 microM). The results suggest that PACAP 38, mainly released from capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents, is involved in the NANC inhibitory neurotransmission of the pig urinary bladder neck, producing relaxation through neuronal and muscle VIP/PACAP receptor activation.

Mediators of non‐adrenergic non‐cholinergic inhibitory neurotransmission in porcine jejunum

The purpose of this study was to determine the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory neurotransmitter in pig jejunum. Intracellular electrical activity was recorded from circular smooth muscle cells. Inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) evoked by electrical field stimulation were inhibited by tetrodotoxin (1 micromol L(-1)), omega-conotoxin GVIA (0.1 micromol L(-1)) tetrodotoxin, apamin (1 micromol L(-1)), 1-[6-((17beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl)amino)hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U-73122; 10 micromol L(-1)) but not by N omega-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA; 100 micromol L(-1)), haemoglobin (10 micromol L(-1)), 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 10 micromol L(-1)) or 9-(tetrahydro-2-furyl)adenine (SQ-22536; 10 micromol L(-1)). S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) hyperpolarized the membrane potential. This was inhibited by ODQ (3 micromol L(-1)) and charybdotoxin (0.1 micromol L(-1)). Adenosine-5-triphosphate (ATP; 100 micromol L(-1)) and 2-methylthio ATP (2-MeS-ATP; 100 micromol L(-1)) did not hyperpolarize the membrane potential and 6-N-N-diethyl-beta- gamma -dibromomethylene-d-adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ARL67156; 100 micromol L(-1)) did not modify IJPs. Carbon monoxide (CO; 10%) and tricarbonyl dichlororuthenium dimer ([Ru(CO3Cl2)]2; 100 micromol L(-1)) hyperpolarized the membrane potential however zinc, copper and tin protoporphyrin IX (100 micromol L(-1)) did not alter IJPs. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) hyperpolarized the membrane potential but 4-Cl-d-Phe6-Leu17-VIP (1 micromol L(-1)) did not modify IJPs. Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP)38 (0.5 micromol L(-1)) hyperpolarized the membrane potential. This was inhibited by apamin (1 micromol L(-1)) but not by tetrodotoxin (1 micromol L(-1)). Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide6-38 (1 micromol L(-1)) inhibited IJPs. These data suggest that inhibitory neurotransmission in pig jejunum is mediated partly by PACAP.

Interaction of NO and VIP in gastrointestinal smooth muscle relaxation.

Gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscle cell activity is controlled by contractile cholinergic neurons and relaxant non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurons in the myenteric plexus between the circular and longitudinal muscle layer. Decreased or increased NANC relaxation might be involved in the pathophysiology of functional GI motility disorders. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO) are the primary inhibitory NANC neurotransmitters. As classic neurotransmitters, VIP is stored in vesicles in the nerve endings, while NO is synthetized on demand by the neuronal isoform of NO synthase (nNOS). The VIP/nNOS co-localization in myenteric neurons, reported for various regions of the GI tract in different species, suggests that VIP and NO are co-transmitters. At the presynaptic level, VIP and NO can induce each others release. Most clear-cut evidence for this mechanism was obtained in isolated myenteric ganglia where VIP induced NO release, and NO facilitated VIP release. At the postsynaptic level, many studies support that VIP and NO are parallel co-transmitters, acting via the adenylate cyclase/3'5' adenosine cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanylate cyclase/3'5' cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway respectively. Mainly based on results obtained in isolated GI smooth muscle cells, a serial postsynaptic VIP/NO interaction model was proposed, whereby VIP is the principle neurotransmitter, acting partially via a VPAC receptor and the adenylate cyclase/cAMP pathway but also by induction of muscular NO production. Recent results suggest that the capacity of VIP to release NO from isolated smooth muscle cells is related to the induction of inducible NOS (iNOS) in the cells during the isolation procedure. The relative contribution of NO and VIP to GI NANC relaxation differs upon tissue and nerve firing frequency, so that interference with either of them will lead to varying effects.

Functional evidence that ATP or a related purine is an inhibitory NANC neurotransmitter in the mouse jejunum: study on the identity of P2X and P2Y purinoceptors involved.

1. Conflicting views exist on whether ATP is a neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system. We investigated the role of ATP in enteric transmission in circular muscle strips of the mouse jejunum. 2. On PGF2alpha-precontracted muscle strips and in the presence of atropine and guanethidine, electrical field stimulation (EFS, 1-8 Hz) of nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) nerves induced transient relaxations that were abolished by the nerve-conductance blocker tetrodotoxin. The NO synthase blocker l-nitroarginine (l-NOARG) partially inhibited the NANC relaxations to EFS, but fast-twitch relaxations to EFS were still observed in the presence of l-NOARG. 3. In the presence of l-NOARG, ATP, the P2X receptor agonist alphabetaMeATP and the P2Y receptor agonist ADPbetaS relaxed jejunal muscle strips. Tetrodotoxin did not affect the relaxation to ATP and ADPbetaS, but inhibited that to alphabetaMeATP. 4. The l-NOARG-resistant NANC relaxations to EFS were almost abolished by apamin, a blocker of small-conductance Ca2+ activated K+ channels, and by suramin and PPADS, blockers of P2 purinoceptors. Relaxations to ATP were almost abolished by apamin and suramin but not affected by PPADS. 5. Desensitisation of alphabetaMeATP-sensitive P2X receptors, the P2X receptor blocker Evans blue and the P2X1,2,3 receptor blocker NF 279 inhibited the l-NOARG-resistant NANC relaxations to EFS and that to alphabetaMeATP without affecting the relaxation to ADPbetaS. Brilliant blue G, a P2X2,5,7 receptor blocker, did not affect the relaxations to EFS. 6. Desensitisation of P2Y receptors and MRS 2179, a P2Y1 receptor blocker, virtually abolished the l-NOARG-resistant NANC relaxations to EFS and the relaxation to ADPbetaS without affecting the relaxation to alphabetaMeATP. 7. Dipyridamole, an adenosine uptake inhibitor, or theophylline and 8-phenyltheophylline, blockers of P1 and A1 purinoceptors, respectively, did not affect the purinergic NANC relaxations to EFS. 8. Our results suggest that ATP or a related purine acts as an inhibitory NANC neurotransmitter in the mouse jejunum, activating P2 but not P1 purinoceptors. Relaxations to the purinergic NANC neurotransmitter mainly involve P2Y receptors of the P2Y1 subtype that are located postjunctionally. Purinergic NANC neurotransmission also involves P2X receptors, most likely of the P2X1 and P2X3 subtype, located pre- and/or postjunctionally.

Okadaic acid inhibits relaxant neural transmission in rat gastric fundus in vitro.

The aim of the present study was to characterize the influence of the phosphatase type 1 and 2A inhibitor okadaic acid on non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmission in the rat gastric fundus. Okadaic acid (10-6 M), an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, did not show any influence on the basal tonus or on a contraction plateau induced by 5-HT (10-7 M) within 30 min of observation. When okadaic acid (10-6 M) was applied 10 min prior to 5-HT (10-7 M), the contraction plateau of serotonin was unchanged. To investigate the inhibitory neurotransmission, the muscle strips were pre-contracted using 5-HT (10-7 M), and inhibitory stimuli were applied at the contraction plateau, which was stable over 30 min. The inhibitory effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), nitric oxide (NO) and electrical field stimulation (EFS, 40 V, 0.5 ms, frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 16 Hz) were examined. When okadaic acid (10-6 M) was applied prior to EFS-induced NANC relaxation, significant attenuation of the inhibitory response was demonstrated (16 Hz: control: -92.4 +/- 1.9%; okadaic acid 10-7 M: -60.7 +/- 6.1%; okadaic acid 10-6 M: -25.3 +/- 3.4%; n=11; P < 0.01). By contrast, neither the concentration-dependent inhibitory actions of VIP (10-11-10-8 M) (VIP 10-8 M: -100%; VIP 10-8 M + okadaic acid 10-6 M: -89.9 +/- 8.3%; n=8; n.s) nor that of diethylamine nitric oxide (DEA-NO) (3 x 10-7-10-4 M) (DEA-NO 10-4 M: -95.3 +/- 8.4%; DEA-NO 10-4 M + okadaic acid 10-7 M: -98.3 +/- 6.3%; DEA-NO 10-4 M + okadaic acid 10-6 M: 96.5 +/- 7.6%; n=9; n.s.) on 5-HT induced contraction were altered by pre-incubation with okadaic acid (10-6 M). This is the first report that supports the concept that protein phosphatases 1 and 2A may contribute to the regulation of rat gastric fundus motility. The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid significantly reduces electrically induced inhibitory NANC responses, while leaving direct muscular effects of the inhibitory NANC neurotransmitters VIP and NO unaffected - suggesting a neural site of action. The potential roles of protein phosphatases on NANC neurotransmission remain to be clarified in detail, as this might offer a new pathway for modulating smooth-muscle function.

Effect of cannabinoids on neural transmission in rat gastric fundus.

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible role of cannabinoids on the neuromuscular function of rat gastric fundus. In addition to possible direct effects on smooth muscle, the influence of cannabinoids on contractile (cholinergic) and relaxant (non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC)) neural innervation of the rat gastric fundus was investigated in vitro. Neither anandamide (an endogenous cannabinoid receptor agonist) nor Win 55,212-2 and methanandamide (synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists) nor AM 630 (a cannabinoid receptor antagonist) showed any effect on smooth muscle activity at baseline or after precontraction with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 10(-7) M). Electrical field stimulation (EFS) of the smooth muscle preparation (40 V; 5 Hz) caused cholinergically mediated twitch contractions that were abolished by atropine (10(-6) M) or tetrodotoxin (TTX; 10(-6) M). Anandamide and Win 55,212-2 reduced these twitch contractions in a concentration-dependent manner, an effect that could be reversed by the cannabinoid receptor antagonist AM 630 for anandamide, but not for Win 55,212-2. When NANC relaxant neural responses (presence of atropine (10(-6) M) and guanethidine (10(-6) M)) were induced by EFS, the cannabinoid receptor agonists anandamide and Win 55,212-2 reduced the relaxant response, an effect that could be reversed by the cannabinoid receptor antagonist AM 630 for anandamide, but not for Win 55,212-2. When given alone AM 630 caused an increase in the EFS-induced relaxant response. The presence of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptor mRNA within the rat stomach was demonstrated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results of this study indicate that cannabinoids modulate excitatory cholinergic and inhibitory NANC neurotransmission in the rat gastric fundus. Endogenous cannabinoids may play a physiological role only in NANC inhibitory transmission, as AM 630 did not modify the electrically induced cholinergic contraction. The involved cannabinoid receptors are most likely located on neuronal structures. The present study also provides evidence that more than one receptor type is involved.

Relaxation by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the gastric fundus of nitric oxide synthase-deficient mice.

In many gastrointestinal tissues nitric oxide (NO) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) both play a role as inhibitory non-adrenergic non-cholinergic neurotransmitters. As the mode of interaction between NO and VIP remains controversial, the aim of this study was to investigate the interplay between NO and VIP in the mouse gastric fundus and to evaluate the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoform involved in VIP-induced relaxation by using inducible NOS (iNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) knockout mice. The influence of NOS inhibitors on the relaxant effect of VIP was determined in isolated smooth muscle cells and smooth muscle strips of wild-type and knockout mice. In isolated smooth muscle cells from wild-type, eNOS knockout and nNOS knockout mice, the relaxation induced by VIP (10(-9) M) was inhibited by approximately 70-95 % by both the non-selective NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA; 10(-4) M) and the selective inducible NOS inhibitor N-(3-(aminomethyl)-benzyl)acetamidine (1400W; 10(-6) M). In cells isolated from iNOS knockout mice, VIP still induced full relaxation but it was not influenced by L-NA or 1400W. In smooth muscle strips from wild-type and knockout mice, the concentration-dependent relaxation by VIP (10(-9) to 3 x 10(-7) M) was not influenced by L-NA or 1400W. These results suggest that the experimental method determines the influence of NOS inhibitors on the relaxant effect of VIP. iNOS, probably induced by the isolation procedure, might be involved in the relaxant effect of VIP in isolated smooth muscle cells but not in classic smooth muscle strips.

Effect of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced ileitis on the motor function of non-inflamed rat gastric fundus.

During intestinal inflammation, motility disturbances are not restricted to inflamed regions, but may also occur in remote non-inflamed sites of the gastrointestinal tract. Our aim was to investigate the motor function of the gastric fundus after the induction of terminal ileitis in the rat. Ileal inflammation was induced by intraluminal installation of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) into the ileum. Inflammation was assessed both histologically and biochemically. Contractions and relaxations of longitudinal muscle strips from the gastric fundus were studied 36 h and 1 week later. During the acute phase of ileal inflammation (36 h), the non-inflamed stomach was distended. The contractility of longitudinal muscle strips of the gastric fundus was decreased due to a post-receptor defect. In addition, nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) relaxations were inhibited due to neuronal dysfunction. Aortic contractility remained normal and the mere presence of food in the stomach did not account for the disturbed neuromuscular function in the gastric fundus. Ablation of extrinsic primary afferent neurones by capsaicin further impaired gastric fundus contractility. Transection and re-anastomosis of the jejunum reversed the effect of TNBS-induced ileitis on the neuromuscular function of the gastric fundus. One week after TNBS, cholinergic neurotransmission was increased in the gastric fundus. During acute ileitis, smooth muscle cell contractility and inhibitory NANC neurotransmission are inhibited in the non-inflamed gastric fundus. This phenomenon may be mediated by intrinsic connections within the enteric nervous system.

Evidence that adenosine 5′-triphosphate is the third inhibitory non-adrenergic non-cholinergic neurotransmitter in the rat gastric fundus

In the rat gastric fundus, non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxations are mediated by nitric oxide (NO), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and a third, as yet unidentified, neurotransmitter. The possible involvement of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in the NANC relaxations was examined using pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',5'-disulphonic acid (PPADS), apamin and desensitization to alpha,beta-methylene ATP. NANC responses were studied in the absence and presence of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME; 100 microM) and alpha-chymotrypsin (1 u ml(-1)), to inhibit responses to NO and VIP, respectively. PPADS (100 microM), apamin (1 microM) and desensitization to alpha,beta-methylene ATP (10 microM, three additions) all significantly (P<0.05) reduced NANC relaxations to electrical field stimulation (0.5 - 4 Hz, 30 s trains) in longitudinal strips of rat gastric fundus and almost abolished the residual relaxation remaining in the presence of NAME and alpha-chymotrypsin. PPADS had no effect on responses to the NO-donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or VIP. Apamin slightly reduced relaxations to SNP, but did not affect those to VIP, whereas desensitization to alpha,beta-methylene ATP markedly reduced responses to both SNP and VIP. The effects of PPADS and apamin in this study provide strong evidence that the third inhibitory NANC neurotransmitter in the rat gastric fundus is ATP.

Nonadrenergic, noncholinergic responses of the rabbit detrusor smooth muscle and the role of L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway in these responses.

In the present study, nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) responses of rabbit detrusor smooth muscle and the possible involvement of the L-arginine/nitric oxide (L-ARG/NO) pathway was investigated. In the presence of atropine (10(-6) M) and guanethidine (10(-5) M), frequency-response curves were obtained by stimulating tissue with 10-sec trains at increasing frequencies (1-10 Hz) with 3-min intervals between stimulations. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) evoked a biphasic response in rabbit detrusor smooth muscle, consisting of an initial contraction followed by relaxation. ATP desensitization significantly inhibited contractions. L-NAME (10(-5) M) increased the contractions by a maximum of 33 +/- 5% at 1 Hz, 37 +/- 5% at 2 Hz, 18 +/- 4% at 4 Hz, 20 +/- 3% at 8 Hz and 15 +/- 4% at 10 Hz. In detrusor preparations, exposure to L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 10(-5) M) significantly reduced the maximal relaxation to electrical stimulation to 7 +/- 3% of the control. In the presence of L-ARG (10(-4) M), contractions induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 10 Hz were reduced by 20 +/- 4, 24 +/- 3, 25 +/- 3, 20 +/- 3 and 30 +/- 5%, respectively. Exposure to L-ARG (10(-4) M) significantly increased the maximal relaxation to electrical stimulation to 52 +/- 5% of the control. Exogenously applied ATP (10(-5)-10(-2) M) to rabbit detrusor muscle resulted in contractions while sodium nitroprusside (10(-7)-10(-3) M) caused concentration-dependent relaxation. These results suggest that nitric oxide (NO) acts as an inhibitory NANC neurotransmitter in the rabbit detrusor smooth muscle. Additionally, NANC contractions mediated by ATP released from NANC nerves, may be masked by the L-ARG/NO pathway in this tissue.