II. Integration of afferent signaling from the viscera by the nodose ganglia

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (1) ◽  
pp. G8-G14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsteen N. Browning ◽  
David Mendelowitz
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Tissue Injury ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Nodose Ganglia ◽  
Vagal Afferent ◽  
Afferent Signaling ◽  
Recent Demonstration ◽  
Stimulation Of

To understand vago-vagal reflexes, one must have an appreciation of the events surrounding the encoding, integration, and central transfer of peripheral sensations by vagal afferent neurons. A large body of work has shown that vagal afferent neurons have nonuniform properties and that distinct subpopulations of neurons exist within the nodose ganglia. These sensory neurons display a considerable degree of plasticity; electrophysiological, pharmacological, and neurochemical properties have all been shown to alter after peripheral tissue injury. The validity of claims of selective recordings from populations of neurons activated by peripheral stimuli may be diminished, however, by the recent demonstration that stimulation of a subpopulation of nodose neurons can enhance the activity of unstimulated neuronal neighbors. To better understand the neurophysiological processes occurring after vagal afferent stimulation, it is essential that the electrophysiological, pharmacological, and neurochemical properties of nodose neurons are correlated with their sensory function or, at the very least, with their specific innervation target.

Connections between thoraco-coxal proprioceptive afferents and motor neurons in the locust

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-445
Author(s):  
M. Wildman
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Chordotonal Organ ◽  
Synaptic Connections ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Postsynaptic Potentials ◽  
The Common ◽  
Proprioceptive Afferents ◽  
Stimulation Of

The position of the coxal segment of the locust hind leg relative to the thorax is monitored by a variety of proprioceptors, including three chordotonal organs and a myochordotonal organ. The sensory neurons of two of these proprioceptors, the posterior joint chordotonal organ (pjCO) and the myochordotonal organ (MCO), have axons in the purely sensory metathoracic nerve 2C (N2C). The connections made by these afferents with metathoracic motor neurons innervating thoraco-coxal and wing muscles were investigated by electrical stimulation of N2C and by matching postsynaptic potentials in motor neurons with afferent spikes in N2C. Stretch applied to the anterior rotator muscle of the coxa (M121), with which the MCO is associated, evoked sensory spikes in N2C. Some of the MCO afferent neurons make direct excitatory chemical synaptic connections with motor neurons innervating the thoraco-coxal muscles M121, M126 and M125. Parallel polysynaptic pathways via unidentified interneurons also exist between MCO afferents and these motor neurons. Connections with the common inhibitor 1 neuron and motor neurons innervating the thoraco-coxal muscles M123/4 and wing muscles M113 and M127 are polysynaptic. Afferents of the pjCO also make polysynaptic connections with motor neurons innervating thoraco-coxal and wing muscles, but no evidence for monosynaptic pathways was found.

Leptin and CCK modulate complementary background conductances to depolarize cultured nodose neurons

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (2) ◽  
pp. C427-C432 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Peters ◽  
R. C. Ritter ◽  
S. M. Simasko
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Vagal Afferents ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Inward Current ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Nodose Ganglia ◽  
Sodium Dependent ◽  
Ionic Mechanisms ◽  
Vagal Afferent

We have previously reported that intraceliac infusion of leptin induces a reduction of meal size that depends on intact vagal afferents. This effect of leptin is enhanced in the presence of cholecystokinin (CCK). The mechanisms by which leptin and CCK activate vagal afferent neurons are not known. In the present study, we have begun to address this question by using patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques to examine the mechanisms by which leptin and CCK activate cultured vagal afferents from adult rat nodose ganglia. We found that leptin depolarized 41 (60%) of 68 neurons. The magnitude of membrane depolarization was dependent on leptin concentration and occurred in both capsaicin-sensitive and capsaicin-insensitive neurons. We also found that a majority (16 of 22; 73%) of nodose neurons activated by leptin were also sensitive to CCK. CCK-induced depolarization was primarily associated with the increase of an inward current (11 of 12), whereas leptin induced multiple changes in background conductances through a decrease in an outward current (7 of 13), an increase in an inward current (3 of 13), or both (3 of 13). However, further isolation of background currents by recording in solutions that contained only sodium or only potassium revealed that both leptin and CCK were capable of increasing a sodium-dependent conductance or inhibiting a potassium-dependent conductance. Our results support the hypothesis that vagal afferents are a point of convergence and integration of leptin and CCK signaling for control of food intake and suggest multiple ionic mechanisms by which leptin and CCK activate vagal afferent neurons.

Cholecystokinin increases cytosolic calcium in a subpopulation of cultured vagal afferent neurons

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (6) ◽  
pp. R1303-R1313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Simasko ◽  
Jason Wiens ◽  
Adrienne Karpiel ◽  
Mihai Covasa ◽  
Robert C. Ritter
Keyword(s):  
Cytosolic Calcium ◽  
Threshold Concentration ◽  
Extracellular Calcium ◽  
Calcium Stores ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Nodose Ganglia ◽  
Vagal Afferent ◽  
High Concentrations

Imaging fluorescent measurements with fura 2 were used to examine cytosolic calcium signals induced by sulfated CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) in dissociated vagal afferent neurons from adult rat nodose ganglia. We found that 40% (184/465) of the neurons responded to CCK-8 with a transient increase in cytosolic calcium. The threshold concentration of CCK-8 for inducing the response varied from 0.01 to 100 nM. In most neurons (13/16) the response was eliminated by removing extracellular calcium. Depleting intracellular calcium stores with thapsigargin slightly augmented the response. Most neurons were unresponsive to nonsulfated CCK-8. The response was eliminated by the CCK-A receptor antagonist lorglumide. Low concentrations of JMV-180 had no effect; however, high concentrations of JMV-180 reduced responses to CCK-8. These results demonstrate that CCK acts at the low-affinity site of the CCK-A receptor to trigger the entry of extracellular calcium into vagal afferent neurons. Increased cytosolic calcium may participate in acute activation of vagal afferent neurons, or it may initiate long-term changes, which modulate future neuronal responses to sensory stimuli.

scholarly journals Diet-induced obesity leads to the development of leptin resistance in vagal afferent neurons

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (1) ◽  
pp. E187-E195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume de Lartigue ◽  
Claire Barbier de la Serre ◽  
Elvis Espero ◽  
Jennifer Lee ◽  
Helen E. Raybould
Keyword(s):  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Leptin Resistance ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Leptin Signaling ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Nodose Ganglia ◽  
Vagal Afferent

Ingestion of high-fat, high-calorie diets is associated with hyperphagia, increased body fat, and obesity. The mechanisms responsible are currently unclear; however, altered leptin signaling may be an important factor. Vagal afferent neurons (VAN) integrate signals from the gut in response to ingestion of nutrients and express leptin receptors. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that leptin resistance occurs in VAN in response to a high-fat diet. Sprague-Dawley rats, which exhibit a bimodal distribution of body weight gain, were used after ingestion of a high-fat diet for 8 wk. Body weight, food intake, and plasma leptin levels were measured. Leptin signaling was determined by immunohistochemical localization of phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) in cultured VAN and by quantifaction of pSTAT3 protein levels by Western blot analysis in nodose ganglia and arcuate nucleus in vivo. To determine the mechanism of leptin resistance in nodose ganglia, cultured VAN were stimulated with leptin alone or with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and SOCS-3 expression measured. SOCS-3 protein levels in VAN were measured by Western blot following leptin administration in vivo. Leptin resulted in appearance of pSTAT3 in VAN of low-fat-fed rats and rats resistant to diet-induced obesity but not diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. However, leptin signaling was normal in arcuate neurons. SOCS-3 expression was increased in VAN of DIO rats. In cultured VAN, LPS increased SOCS-3 expression and inhibited leptin-induced pSTAT3 in vivo. We conclude that VAN of diet-induced obese rats become leptin resistant; LPS and SOCS-3 may play a role in the development of leptin resistance.

scholarly journals Expression of transient receptor potential channels and two-pore potassium channels in subtypes of vagal afferent neurons in rat

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (2) ◽  
pp. G212-G221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Zhao ◽  
Leslie K. Sprunger ◽  
Steven M. Simasko
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential ◽  
Receptor Potential ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential Channels ◽  
Vagal Afferents ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Single Cell Pcr ◽  
Nodose Ganglia ◽  
Vagal Afferent ◽  
Transient Receptor

Vagal afferent neurons relay important information regarding the control of the gastrointestinal system. However, the ionic mechanisms that underlie vagal activation induced by sensory inputs are not completely understood. We postulate that transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and/or two-pore potassium (K2p) channels are targets for activating vagal afferents. In this study we explored the distribution of these channels in vagal afferents by quantitative PCR after a capsaicin treatment to eliminate capsaicin-sensitive neurons, and by single-cell PCR measurements in vagal afferent neurons cultured after retrograde labeling from the stomach or duodenum. We found that TRPC1/3/5/6, TRPV1-4, TRPM8, TRPA1, TWIK2, TRAAK, TREK1, and TASK1/2 were all present in rat nodose ganglia. Both lesion results and single-cell PCR results suggested that TRPA1 and TRPC1 were preferentially expressed in neurons that were either capsaicin sensitive or TRPV1 positive. Expression of TRPM8 varied dynamically after various manipulations, which perhaps explains the disparate results obtained by different investigators. Last, we also examined ion channel distribution with the A-type CCK receptor (CCK-RA) and found there was a significant preference for neurons that express TRAAK to also express CCK-RA, especially in gut-innervating neurons. These findings, combined with findings from prior studies, demonstrated that background conductances such as TRPC1, TRPA1, and TRAAK are indeed differentially distributed in the nodose ganglia, and not only do they segregate with specific markers, but the degree of overlap is also dependent on the innervation target.

Activity-Dependent Sensitivity of Proprioceptive Sensory Neurons in the Stick Insect Femoral Chordotonal Organ

2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 2387-2398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph A. DiCaprio ◽  
Harald Wolf ◽  
Ansgar Büschges
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Mechanical Stimulation ◽  
Stick Insect ◽  
Chordotonal Organ ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Generator Potential ◽  
Slow Adaptation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mechanical Factors ◽  
Stimulation Of

Mechanosensory neurons exhibit a wide range of dynamic changes in response, including rapid and slow adaptation. In addition to mechanical factors, electrical processes may also contribute to sensory adaptation. We have investigated adaptation of afferent neurons in the stick insect femoral chordotonal organ (fCO). The fCO contains sensory neurons that respond to position, velocity, and acceleration of the tibia. We describe the influence of random mechanical stimulation of the fCO on the response of fCO afferent neurons. The activity of individual sensory neurons was recorded intracellularly from their axons in the main leg nerve. Most fCO afferents (93%) exhibited a marked decrease in response to trapezoidal stimuli following sustained white noise stimulation (bandwidth = 60 Hz, amplitudes from ±5 to ±30°). Concurrent decreases in the synaptic drive to leg motoneurons and interneurons were also observed. Electrical stimulation of spike activity in individual fCO afferents in the absence of mechanical stimulation also led to a dramatic decrease in response in 15 of 19 afferents tested. This indicated that electrical processes are involved in the regulation of the generator potential or encoding of action potentials and partially responsible for the decreased response of the afferents. Replacing Ca2+ with Ba2+ in the saline surrounding the fCO greatly reduced or blocked the decrease in response elicited by electrically induced activity or mechanical stimulation when compared with control responses. Our results indicate that activity of fCO sensory neurons strongly affects their sensitivity, most likely via Ca2+-dependent processes.

scholarly journals Ghrelin receptors in rat and human nodose ganglia: putative role in regulating CB-1 and MCH receptor abundance

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (6) ◽  
pp. G1289-G1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Burdyga ◽  
Andrea Varro ◽  
Rod Dimaline ◽  
David G. Thompson ◽  
Graham J. Dockray
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue ◽  
Ghrelin Receptor ◽  
Nodose Ganglia ◽  
Melanin Concentrating Hormone ◽  
Ghrelin Receptors ◽  
Vagal Afferent ◽  
Immunohistochemical Studies

Intact vagal afferent neurons are required for the satiety effects of the intestinal hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) and the orexigenic effects of the gastric regulatory peptide ghrelin. In this study, we examined the localization of ghrelin receptors in nodose ganglia and their function in regulating the expression of other orexigenic receptors, notably cannabinoid (CB)-1 and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)-1 receptors. With the use of RT-PCR, transcripts corresponding to both functional [growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R)1a] and truncated forms (GHS-R1b) of the ghrelin receptor were detected in rat nodose ganglia. There was no difference in expression between rats fed ad libitum or fasted for up to 48 h. Immunohistochemical studies using antibodies directed at GHS-R1a revealed expression in over 75% of neurons also expressing CCK-1 receptors in the mid- and caudal regions of the ganglion. There was also expression in human nodose ganglia. In fasted rats in which CB-1 and MCH-1 receptor expression was increased, administration of ghrelin prevented the downregulation by refeeding. We conclude that the actions of CCK and ghrelin are mediated by a common population of vagal afferent neurons. Ghrelin may act to limit the action of CCK in depressing expression of CB-1 and MCH-1 receptors and other receptors.

Nerve injury alters profile of receptor-mediated Ca2+ channel modulation in vagal afferent neurons of rat nodose ganglia

2004 ◽  
Vol 364 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue-Zhu Huang ◽  
Yu-Jin Won ◽  
Byong-Gon Park ◽  
Byung Pil Cho ◽  
Joong-Woo Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nerve Injury ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Channel Modulation ◽  
Nodose Ganglia ◽  
Vagal Afferent

scholarly journals Cooperative Activation of Cultured Vagal Afferent Neurons by Leptin and Cholecystokinin

Endocrinology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 145 (8) ◽  
pp. 3652-3657 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Peters ◽  
A. B. Karpiel ◽  
R. C. Ritter ◽  
S. M. Simasko
Keyword(s):  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Cytosolic Calcium ◽  
Extracellular Calcium ◽  
Vagal Afferents ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Nodose Ganglia ◽  
Vagal Afferent ◽  
Acute Changes ◽  
And Control

Abstract To test the hypothesis that leptin can directly activate vagal afferent neurons, we used fluorescence imaging to detect acute changes in cytosolic calcium after leptin application to primary cultures of vagal afferent neurons dissociated from adult rat nodose ganglia. We found that approximately 40% of vagal afferent neurons exposed to leptin (40 ng/ml) responded with rapid and reversible increases in cytosolic calcium. These responses were dependent upon extracellular calcium. As previously reported, about 35% of vagal afferents increase cytosolic calcium in response to the gut-peptide cholecystokinin (CCK). A majority (74%) of neurons that responded to CCK also exhibited increases in cytosolic calcium in response to leptin. In addition, synergistic increases in cytosolic calcium were observed when leptin and CCK were applied in combination. These results demonstrate that leptin acts directly on vagal afferent neurons to trigger acute influxes of extracellular calcium. Our results also suggest cooperation between leptin and CCK in the activation of some vagal afferent neurons. Acute activation of vagal afferents by leptin alone and in combination with CCK may contribute to modulation of visceral reflexes and control of food intake.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document