Cholinergic nerve-mediated excitation in the guinea pig choledochoduodenal junction activated by distension

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (5) ◽  
pp. G938-G946 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Vogalis ◽  
R. R. Bywater ◽  
G. S. Taylor

The electrical basis of propulsive contractions in the guinea pig choledochoduodenal junction (CDJ), which are triggered by distension, was investigated using intracellular microelectrode recording techniques. The isolated CDJ was placed in a continuously perfused tissue chamber at 37 degrees C. Membrane potential was recorded from smooth muscle cells in either the ampulla or in the upper CDJ (upper junction) regions, which were immobilized by pinning. Distension of the upper junction (20-30 s) by increasing intraductal hydrostatic pressure (mean elevation: 2.0 +/- 0.3 kPa, n = 13) triggered "transient depolarizations" (TDs: < 5 mV in amplitude and 2-5 s in duration) and action potentials in the circular muscle layer of the ampulla. The frequency of TDs in the ampulla was increased from 2.2 +/- 0.2 to 15.9 +/- 2.2 min-1 (n = 13) during distension. Simultaneous impalements of cells in the longitudinal and circular muscle layers in the ampulla revealed that subthreshold TDs in the circular layer were associated with an increased rate of action potential discharge in the longitudinal layer. Atropine (Atr; 1.4 x 10(-6) M) and tetrodotoxin (TTX; 3.1 x 10(-6) M blocked the distension-evoked increase in TD frequency, without affecting the frequency of ongoing TDs. The sulfated octapeptide of cholecystokinin (1-5 x 10(-8) M) increased the amplitude of TDs recorded in the circular muscle layer of the ampulla and increased action potential discharge rate. In separate recordings, radial stretch of the ampulla region increased the rate of discharge of action potentials in the smooth muscle of the upper junction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (5) ◽  
pp. C357-C364 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Parkington

Action potentials of the simple spike form, similar to those observed in the longitudinal myometrium, were recorded intracellularly from the strands of longitudinal muscle that are associated with the guinea pig oviduct. Action potentials recorded from the circular layer were dominated by a prolonged (1- to 10-s) plateau component that was sometimes preceded by a spike. Electrotonic potentials in response to hyperpolarizing current pulses are consistent with the view that the plateau component might be associated with an increase in membrane conductance. Action potentials of circular smooth muscle were resistant to changes in the extracellular cationic concentration. Increasing external Ca2+ prolonged the duration of the plateau component of the action potential in the region nearest the uterus on days 3 and 4 after ovulation: Ca2+ had no consistent effect at other times during the estrous cycle or on ampullary segments at any time. Reducing the concentration of external Cl- in the presence of Na+ resulted in a significant increase in the amplitude of the plateau.


2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (2) ◽  
pp. G388-G399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma J. Dickens ◽  
F. R. Edwards ◽  
G. D. S. Hirst

The effects of vagal stimulation in the presence of a muscarinic antagonist were examined on three distinct rhythmically active cells located in guinea pig antrum. Vagal stimulation inhibited contractions of the circular muscle layer but did not change their rate of occurrence. With the use of intracellular recording techniques, these stimuli were found to initiate inhibitory junction potentials in the circular layer but produced smaller potential changes in driving and follower cells. Inhibition of the circular muscle layer involved two separate components. The dominant component was independent of changes in membrane potential and was abolished by nitro-l-arginine. After abolishing Ca2+ entry into smooth muscle cells with a Ca2+ antagonist, vagal stimulation continued to inhibit the residual contractions associated with each slow wave. When the cyclic changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration associated with each slow wave were measured, they were found to be unchanged by vagal stimulation. The observations suggest that vagal inhibition of stomach movements does not alter pacemaker activity in the stomach; rather, it results from a change in the sensitivity of smooth muscle contractile proteins to Ca2+.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (1) ◽  
pp. G125-G133 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Vogalis ◽  
K. M. Sanders

Studies were performed to characterize the intrinsic innervation of the circular muscle layer of the canine pylorus. Cross-sectional strips of muscle were studied with intracellular recording techniques, and junction potentials were elicited with transmural nerve stimulation. Neurally mediated responses were recorded from cells at several points through the thickness of the circular layer. Excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) increased and inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) decreased in amplitude with distance from the myenteric border of the circular muscle. Atropine blocked EJPs throughout the circular layer, demonstrating that excitatory inputs are primarily cholinergic. The gradient in IJP amplitude persisted after blockade of EJPs. Three components of IJPs were identified: 1) a fast, apamin-sensitive component that reached a peak and decayed within approximately 1 s; 2) a slower, apamin-insensitive component that reached a peak within 800 ms but decayed slowly over 5 s; and 3) a very slow component that reached a maximum in 7-10 s. Junctional potentials affected the pattern of myogenic electrical activity. Transmural stimulation could evoke premature slow waves in the myenteric portion of the circular layer but when excitatory inputs were blocked, IJPs greatly reduced the amplitude of slow waves. EJPs elicited action potentials in submucosal portion of circular muscles, and IJPs hyperpolarized these cells. The influence of intrinsic nerves on contractile patterns of pyloric muscles was also characterized. These data demonstrate that a neuromuscular apparatus exists within the gastroduodenal junction for 1) local regulation of slow waves and 2) independent control of the myenteric and submucosal regions of the circular layer.


1989 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 1427-1433 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Fehér ◽  
G Burnstock

We investigated the distribution of FMRF amide-like immunoreactivity in the small intestine of the guinea pig. Immunoreactive nerve fibers were found mainly in the myenteric and submucous plexuses and in the inner circular muscle layer. The labeled processes contained variable proportions of small clear vesicles 30-40 nm in diameter and large granular vesicles 80-120 nm in diameter. The large granular vesicles showed heavy immunoreactivity. The antisera against FMRF amide crossreact with peptides belonging to the pancreatic polypeptide family; it has therefore been suggested that the FMRF amide immunoreactivity demonstrated in the small intestine is caused by a peptide that is biosynthetically related to, but not necessarily a member of, the pancreatic polypeptide family.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 1437-1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Faussone-Pellegrini ◽  
C. Cortesini ◽  
D. Pantalone

The circular muscle layer of the human caecum and ascending colon is clearly subdivided into two portions: an outer one which includes the bulk of the circular muscle layer, and an inner one made up of only six to eight rows of cells. In the right transverse colon no demarcation can be observed, but a difference exists between the innermost and the outermost cells, since those of the two innermost rows possess some peculiarities with regard to the sarcoplasmic reticulum, glycogen particles, caveolae, and intercellular junctions. In the left part of the colon, the circular muscle layer is also divided into two portions. In fact, the innermost smooth muscle cells still possess peculiar morphologies, progressively increase in number, and become separate from each other making up a superficial muscle network. A fibrous lamella, along and inside which a ganglionated nerve plexus runs, is strictly apposed to the submucosal border of the circular muscle layer of the entire colonic length. A second nerve plexus runs between the two portions of the circular muscle layer. Both these plexuses are accompanied by interstitial cells of Cajal in the right colon only. The peculiar organization of the entire submucosal border of the human colonic circular muscle layer distinguishes it from other parts of the gut and probably represents a structural basis for control of human colonic motility. The presence of putative pacemaker cells (interstitial cells and peculiar smooth muscle cells) indicates that the inner border of human colonic circular muscle layer possesses pacemaking activities. Moreover, the interstitial cell – smooth muscle cell ratio differs depending on the colonic level; two main regions can be identified: the right and the left colon. Consequently, we might expect regional variation in pacemaking.Key words: smooth muscle cells, interstitial cells of Cajal, human colon, ultrastructure.


1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (1) ◽  
pp. G184-G191 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Ward

The ontogenetic development of the circular muscle layer of the canine proximal colon was studied in animals from midway through gestation to 30 days old. With age, there was an increase in resting membrane potential along the submucosal surface and a decrease along the myenteric surface of the circular layer. Coinciding with the changes in membrane potential, slow waves increased in amplitude along the submucosal border and decreased in amplitude along the myenteric border. Muscle strips from animals midway through gestation were mechanically quiescent; however, 1 wk before birth spontaneous activity was observed. Electrical field stimulation of enteric nerves increased spontaneous contractions; this increase in activity was reversed to inhibition by atropine. In the presence of atropine and N omega-nitro-L-arginine or N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a noncholinergic excitation was revealed at stimulation frequencies > 5 Hz. The results of these studies provide evidence that the canine proximal colon is spontaneously rhythmic and that a functional innervation to the circular muscle layer exists before birth. The gradient in resting membrane potential across the circular layer is absent at birth but develops within 2-3 wk after parturition.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (6) ◽  
pp. C1552-C1561 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Zhang ◽  
A. D. Bonev ◽  
M. T. Nelson ◽  
G. M. Mawe

Smooth muscle cells in the intact guinea pig gallbladder had a resting membrane potential of about -45 mV and had spontaneous action potentials that consisted of a rapid depolarization, a transient repolarization, a plateau phase, and a complete repolarization. These action potentials lasted approximately 570 ms and occurred at a frequency of approximately 0.4 Hz. Action potentials were abolished by the dihydropyridine (DHP)-sensitive Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine (1.0 microM) and were enhanced by the DHP-sensitive Ca2+ channel agonist BAY K 8644 (0.5 microM). The K+ channel blockers tetraethylammonium chloride (5.0 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 2.0 mM) prolonged the action potential, whereas charybdotoxin (100 nM), a blocker of calcium-activated potassium channels, had no effect. Whole cell currents were characterized in enzymatically isolated smooth muscle cells from the same preparation. 4-AP, a blocker of voltage-dependent K+ channels, suppressed 70% of the outward current at 0 mV. Charybdotoxin (100 nM) reduced an additional 15% of the current at 0 mV. Single calcium-activated potassium channels were identified. The potential for half-activation of these channels, at a cytosolic Ca2+ concentration of 100 nM, was 66.8 mV. A fivefold increase in cytosolic Ca2+ resulted in a shift of the activation curve by -53 mV. External tetraethylammonium chloride (200 microM) reduced the mean single channel current by 48% at 0 mV. The whole cell outward current was abolished by replacement of intracellular K+ for Cs+. Ca2+ currents were inhibited by nifedipine and were increased by BAY K 8644. We conclude that DHP-sensitive voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are responsible for the depolarization of the action potentials and that the repolarization is due to primarily 4-AP-sensitive K+ current.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (5) ◽  
pp. G756-G767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhide Horiguchi ◽  
Kathleen D. Keef ◽  
Sean M. Ward

Electrical and mechanical activity of the circular muscle layer in the rectoanal region of the gastrointestinal tract undergoes considerable changes in the site of dominant pacemaking activity, frequency, and waveform shape. The present study was performed to determine whether changes in the structural organization of the circular layer or in the density, distribution, and ultrastructure of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) could account for this heterogeneity in electrical and mechanical activities. Light microscopy revealed that the structural organization of the circular muscle layer underwent dramatic morphological changes, from a tightly packed layer with poorly defined septa in the proximal rectum to one of discrete muscle bundles separated by large septae in the internal anal sphincter. Kit immunohistochemistry revealed a dense network of ICC along the submucosal and myenteric borders in the rectum, whereas in the internal anal sphincter, ICC were located along the periphery of muscle bundles within the circular layer. Changes in electrical activity within the circular muscle layer can be partially explained by changes in the structure of the muscle layer and changes in the distribution of ICC in the rectoanal region of the gastrointestinal tract.


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