Excitatory Neuronal Responses of Ca2+ Transients in Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Small Intestine

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Authors

Baker, Salah A.
Drumm, Bernard T.
Skowronek, Karolina E.
Rembetski, Benjamin E.
Peri, Lauren E.
Hennig, Grant W.
Perrino, Brian A.
Sanders, Kenton M.

Issue Date

2018

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Article

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Keywords

c-Kit , enteric neurotransmission , gastrointestinal motility

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Abstract

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) regulate smooth muscle excitability and motility in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. ICC in the deep muscular plexus (ICC-DMP) of the small intestine are aligned closely with varicosities of enteric motor neurons and thought to transduce neural responses. ICC-DMP generate Ca2+ transients that activate Ca2+ activated Cl-channels and generate electrophysiological responses. We tested the hypothesis that excitatory neurotransmitters regulate Ca2+ transients in ICC-DMP as a means of regulating intestinal muscles. High-resolution confocal microscopy was used to image Ca2+ transients in ICC-DMP within murine small intestinal muscles with cell-specific expression of GCaMP3. Intrinsic nerves were stimulated by electrical field stimulation (EFS). ICC-DMP exhibited ongoing Ca2+ transients before stimuli were applied. EFS caused initial suppression of Ca2+ transients, followed by escape during sustained stimulation, and large increases in Ca2+ transients after cessation of stimulation. Basal Ca2+ activity and the excitatory phases of Ca2+ responses to EFS were inhibited by atropine and neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1) antagonists, but not by NK2 receptor antagonists. Exogenous ACh and substance P (SP) increased Ca2+ transients, atropine and NK1 antagonists decreased Ca2+ transients. Neurokinins appear to be released spontaneously (tonic excitation) in small intestinal muscles and are the dominant excitatory neurotransmitters. Subcellular regulation of Ca2+ release events in ICC-DMP may be a means by which excitatory neurotransmission organizes intestinal motility patterns.

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Citation

Baker, S. A., Drumm, B. T., Skowronek, K. E., Rembetski, B. E., Peri, L. E., Hennig, G. W., … Sanders, K. M. (2018). Excitatory Neuronal Responses of Ca2+ Transients in Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Small Intestine. Eneuro, 5(2), ENEURO.0080�"18.2018. doi:10.1523/eneuro.0080-18.2018

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

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ISSN

2373-2822

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