Butyrate enemas enhance both cholinergic and nitrergic phenotype of myenteric neurons and neuromuscular transmission in newborn rat colon

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (12) ◽  
pp. G1373-G1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne Suply ◽  
Philine de Vries ◽  
Rodolphe Soret ◽  
François Cossais ◽  
Michel Neunlist

Postnatal changes in the enteric nervous system (ENS) are involved in the establishment of colonic motility. In adult rats, butyrate induced neuroplastic changes in the ENS, leading to enhanced colonic motility. Whether butyrate can induce similar changes during the postnatal period remains unknown. Enemas (Na-butyrate) were performed daily in rat pups between postnatal day (PND) 7 and PND 17. Effects of butyrate were evaluated on morphological and histological parameters in the distal colon at PND 21. The neurochemical phenotype of colonic submucosal and myenteric neurons was analyzed using antibodies against Hu, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Colonic motility and neuromuscular transmission was assessed in vivo and ex vivo. Butyrate (2.5 mM) enemas had no impact on pup growth and histological parameters compared with control. Butyrate did not modify the number of Hu-immunoreactive (IR) neurons per ganglia. A significant increase in the proportion (per Hu-IR neurons) of nNOS-IR myenteric and submucosal neurons and ChAT-IR myenteric neurons was observed in the distal colon after butyrate enemas compared with control. In addition, butyrate induced a significant increase in both nitrergic and cholinergic components of the neuromuscular transmission compared with control. Finally, butyrate increased distal colonic transit time compared with control. We concluded that butyrate enemas induced neuroplastic changes in myenteric and submucosal neurons, leading to changes in gastrointestinal functions. Our results support exploration of butyrate as potential therapy for motility disorders in preterm infants with delayed maturation of the ENS.

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (2) ◽  
pp. G539-G547 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. de Vries ◽  
R. Soret ◽  
E. Suply ◽  
Y. Heloury ◽  
M. Neunlist

Profound changes in intestinal motility occur during the postnatal period, but the involvement of the enteric nervous system (ENS), a key regulator of gastrointestinal (GI) motility, in these modifications remains largely unknown. We therefore investigated the postnatal development of the ENS phenotype and determined its functional repercussion on the neuromuscular transmission in the rat colon. Sprague-Dawley rats were euthanized at postnatal day (P) 1, P3, P5, P7, P14, P21, and P36. Whole mounts of colonic myenteric plexus were stained with antibodies against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and HuC/D. Colonic contractile response induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) was investigated in organ chambers in absence or presence of N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) and/or atropine. In vivo motility was assessed by measurement of the colonic bead latency time. Randomly occurring ex vivo contractions appeared starting at P5. Starting at P14, rhythmic phasic contractions occurred whose frequency and amplitude increased over time. In vivo, bead latency was significantly reduced between P14 and P21. Ex vivo, EFS-induced contractile responses increased significantly over time and were significantly reduced by atropine starting at P14 but were sensitive to l-NAME only after P21. The proportion of ChAT-immunoreactive (IR) neurons increased time dependently starting at P14. The proportion of nNOS-IR neurons increased as early as P5 compared with P1 but did not change afterward. Our data support a key role for cholinergic myenteric pathways in the development of postnatal motility and further identify them as putative therapeutic target for the treatment of GI motility disorders in the newborn.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. R64-R69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Tsukamoto ◽  
Hajime Ariga ◽  
Chris Mantyh ◽  
Theodore N. Pappas ◽  
Hidenori Yanagi ◽  
...  

Enterochromaffin (EC) cells of the epithelial cells release 5-HT into the lumen, as well as basolateral border. However, the physiological role of released 5-HT into the lumen is poorly understood. Concentrations of 5-HT in the colonic mucosa, colonic lumen, and feces were measured by HPLC in rats. To investigate whether intraluminal 5-HT accelerates colonic transit, 5-HT and 51Cr were administered into the lumen of the proximal colon, and colonic transit was measured. To investigate whether 5-HT is released into the lumen, we used an ex vivo model of isolated vascularly and luminally perfused rat proximal colon. To investigate whether luminal 5-HT is involved in regulating stress-induced colonic motility, the distal colonic motility was recorded under the stress loading, and a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (ondansetron, 10−6 M, 0.5 ml) was administered intraluminally of the distal colon. Tissue content of 5-HT in the proximal colon (15.2 ± 4.3 ng/mg wet tissue) was significantly higher than that in the distal colon (3.3 ± 0.7 ng/mg wet tissue), while fecal content and luminal concentration of 5-HT was almost the same between the proximal and distal colon. Luminal administration of 5-HT (10−6–10−5 M) significantly accelerated colonic transit. Elevation of intraluminal pressure by 10 cmH2O significantly increased the luminal concentration of 5-HT but not the vascular concentration of 5-HT. Stress-induced stimulation of the distal colonic motility was significantly attenuated by the luminal administration of ondansetron. These results suggest that luminally released 5-HT from EC cells plays an important role in regulating colonic motility in rats.


2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (4) ◽  
pp. G763-G774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen Rodriguez-Tapia ◽  
Alberto Perez-Medina ◽  
Xiaochun Bian ◽  
James J. Galligan

Enteric inhibitory motoneurons use nitric oxide and a purine neurotransmitter to relax gastrointestinal smooth muscle. Enteric P/Q-type Ca2+ channels contribute to excitatory neuromuscular transmission; their contribution to inhibitory transmission is less clear. We used the colon from tottering mice ( tg/tg, loss of function mutation in the α1A pore-forming subunit of P/Q-type Ca2+ channels) to test the hypothesis that P/Q-type Ca2+ channels contribute to inhibitory neuromuscular transmission and colonic propulsive motility. Fecal pellet output in vivo and the colonic migrating motor complex (ex vivo) were measured. Neurogenic circular muscle relaxations and inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) were also measured ex vivo. Colonic propulsive motility in vivo and ex vivo was impaired in tg/tg mice. IJPs were either unchanged or somewhat larger in tissues from tg/tg compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Nifedipine (L-type Ca2+ channel antagonist) inhibited IJPs by 35 and 14% in tissues from tg/tg and WT mice, respectively. The contribution of N- and R-type channels to neuromuscular transmission was larger in tissues from tg/tg compared with WT mice. The resting membrane potential of circular muscle cells was similar in tissues from tg/tg and WT mice. Neurogenic relaxations of circular muscle from tg/tg and WT mice were similar. These results demonstrate that a functional deficit in P/Q-type channels does not alter propulsive colonic motility. Myenteric neuron L-type Ca2+ channel function increases to compensate for loss of functional P/Q-type Ca2+ channels. This compensation maintains inhibitory neuromuscular transmission and normal colonic motility.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (5) ◽  
pp. R1269-R1276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Fukumoto ◽  
Makoto Tatewaki ◽  
Tadanori Yamada ◽  
Mineko Fujimiya ◽  
Chris Mantyh ◽  
...  

We studied whether physiological concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) affects colonic transit and colonic motility in conscious rats. Intraluminal administration of SCFAs (100–200 mM) into the proximal colon significantly accelerated colonic transit. The stimulatory effect of SCFAs on colonic transit was abolished by perivagal capsaicin treatment, atropine, hexamethonium, and vagotomy, but not by guanethidine. The stimulatory effect of SCFAs on colonic transit was also abolished by intraluminal pretreatment with lidocaine and a 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)3 receptor antagonist. Intraluminal administration of SCFAs provoked contractions at the proximal colon, which migrated to the mid- and distal colon. SCFAs caused a significant increase in the luminal concentration of 5-HT of the vascularly isolated and luminally perfused rat colon ex vivo. It is suggested that the release of 5-HT from enterochromaffin cells in response to SCFAs stimulates 5-HT3 receptors located on the vagal sensory fibers. The sensory information is transferred to the vagal efferent and stimulates the release of acetylcholine from the colonic myenteric plexus, resulting in muscle contraction.


1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (2) ◽  
pp. G275-G279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yohei Mizuta ◽  
Toku Takahashi ◽  
Chung Owyang

Nitric oxide has been shown to be an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian colon, although its role in colonic transit remains unclear. We investigated the effect of the nitric oxide biosynthesis inhibitor NG -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) on colonic transit in conscious rats. Colonic transit was determined by calculating the geometric center of the distribution of radiochromium instilled into the proximal colon. We also studied the effect ofl-NAME on colonic motility in vivo and on descending relaxation in vitro.l-NAME (10 mg/kg) significantly delayed colonic transit compared with saline. The inhibitory effect ofl-NAME was prevented byl-arginine (100 mg/kg) but not by d-arginine (100 mg/kg).l-NAME (10 mg/kg) induced random and uncoordinated phasic contractions throughout the rat colon in vivo. Luminal distension evoked descending relaxation in the proximal and distal rat colon in vitro.l-NAME (10−4 M) significantly inhibited this relaxation. It is suggested, therefore, that nitric oxide enhances transit in the rat colon by mediating descending relaxation, which, in turn, facilitates propulsion of the colonic contents.


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (6) ◽  
pp. E951-E957 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Whorwood ◽  
P. C. Barber ◽  
J. Gregory ◽  
M. C. Sheppard ◽  
P. M. Stewart

In the rat kidney 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) maintains normal in vivo specificity for mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) by converting the active steroid corticosterone to inactive 11-dehydrocorticosterone, leaving aldosterone to occupy the MR. Clinical observations support the hypothesis that 11 beta-HSD also protects the distal colonic MR from glucocorticoid excess. We have measured 11 beta-HSD mRNA and activity along the rat colon and have analyzed the distribution of 11 beta-HSD, MR, and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA within rat distal colon using in situ hybridization. Levels of 11 beta-HSD mRNA (1.7 and 3.4 kb) and activity were higher in distal vs. proximal colon, paralleling reported MR mRNA levels. Within the distal colon mucosa both 11 beta-HSD immunoreactivity and mRNA was observed in cells in the lamina propria but not in epithelial cells. MR mRNA was present in surface epithelial cells, but was also colocalized with the same 11 beta-HSD-expressing cells in the lamina propria. In contrast GR mRNA was more uniformly distributed. The localization of MR mRNA to nonepithelial cells in the lamina propria, possibly neuroendocrine cells, suggests that mineralocorticoid-regulated sodium transport across colonic epithelial cells may also involve a paracrine mechanism. As with the kidney, exposure of active mineralocorticoid to the MR in these cells in the lamina propria is dictated by 11 beta-HSD in an autocrine fashion.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (1) ◽  
pp. G419-G428 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Wang ◽  
V. Martínez ◽  
H. Kimura ◽  
Y. Taché

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] acts as a modulator of colonic motility and secretion. We characterized the action of the 5-HT precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on colonic myenteric neurons and propulsive motor activity in conscious mice. Fos immunoreactivity (IR), used as a marker of neuronal activation, was monitored in longitudinal muscle/myenteric plexus whole mount preparations of the distal colon 90 min after an intraperitoneal injection of 5-HTP. Double staining of Fos IR with peripheral choline acetyltransferase (pChAT) IR or NADPH-diaphorase activity was performed. The injection of 5-HTP (0.5, 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg ip) increased fecal pellet output and fluid content in a dose-related manner, with a peak response observed within the first 15 min postinjection. 5-HTP (0.5–10 mg/kg) dose dependently increased Fos expression in myenteric neurons, with a maximal response of 9.9 ± 1.0 cells/ganglion [ P < 0.05 vs. vehicle-treated mice (2.3 ± 0.6 cells/ganglion)]. There was a positive correlation between Fos expression and fecal output. Of Fos-positive ganglionic cells, 40 ± 4% were also pChAT positive and 21 ± 5% were NADPH-diaphorase positive in response to 5-HTP, respectively. 5-HTP-induced defecation and Fos expression were completely prevented by pretreatment with the selective 5-HT4 antagonist RS-39604. These results show that 5-HTP injected peripherally increases Fos expression in different populations of cholinergic and nitrergic myenteric neurons in the distal colon and stimulates propulsive colonic motor function through 5-HT4 receptors in conscious mice. These findings suggest an important role of activation of colonic myenteric neurons in the 5-HT4 receptor-mediated colonic propulsive motor response.


Author(s):  
Michael Murninkas ◽  
Roni Gillis ◽  
Danielle I Lee ◽  
Sigal Elyagon ◽  
Nikhil Suresh Bhandarkar ◽  
...  

The complex pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) is governed by multiple risk factors in ways that are still elusive. Basic electrophysiological properties including atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and conduction velocity are major factors determining the susceptibility of the atrial myocardium to AF. Although there is a great need for affordable animal models in this field of research, in-vivo rodent studies are limited by technical challenges. Recently, we introduced an implantable system for long-term assessment of AF susceptibility in ambulatory rats. However, technical considerations did not allow us to perform concomitant supraventricular electrophysiology measurements. Here, we designed a novel quadripolar-electrode specifically adapted for comprehensive atrial studies in ambulatory rats. Electrodes were fabricated from medical-grade silicone, four platinum-iridium poles and stainless steel fixating pins. Initial quality validation was performed ex-vivo, followed by implantation in adult rats and repeated electrophysiological studies 1, 4 and 8 weeks post implantation. Capture threshold was stable. Baseline AERP values (38.1±2.3 and 39.5±2.0 using 70ms and 120ms S1-S1 cycle lengths, respectively) confirmed the expected absence of rate-adaptation in the unanesthetized state and validated our prediction that markedly higher values reported under anesthesia are non-physiological. Evaluation of AF substrate in parallel with electrophysiological parameters validated our recent finding of a gradual increase in AF susceptibility over-time and demonstrated that this phenomenon is associated with an electrical remodeling process characterized by AERP shortening. Our findings indicate that the miniature quadripolar-electrode is a potent new tool, which opens a window of opportunities for better utilization of rats in AF research.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (3) ◽  
pp. R748-R755 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jourdan ◽  
L. Cynober ◽  
C. Moinard ◽  
M. C. Blanc ◽  
N. Neveux ◽  
...  

Splanchnic sequestration of amino acids (SSAA) is a process observed during aging that leads to decreased peripheral amino acid (AA) availability. The mechanisms underlying SSAA remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine whether a high-protein diet could increase nitrogen retention in aged rats by saturating SSAA and whether SSAA could be explained by dysregulation of hepatic nitrogen metabolism. Adult and aged male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed in individual metabolic cages and fed a normal-protein (17% protein) or high-protein diet (27%) for 2 wk. Nitrogen balance (NB) was calculated daily. On day 14, livers were isolated and perfused for 90 min to study AA and urea fluxes. NB was lower in aged rats fed a normal-protein diet than in adults, but a high-protein diet restored NB to adult levels. Isolated perfused livers from aged rats showed decreased urea production and arginine uptake, together with a release of alanine (vs. uptake in adult rats) and a hepatic accumulation of alanine. The in vivo data suggest that SSAA is a saturable process that responds to an increase in dietary protein content. The hepatic metabolism of AA in aged rats is greatly modified, and urea production decreases. This result refutes the hypothesis that SSAA is associated with an increase in AA disposal via urea production.


1990 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Cella ◽  
V. De Gennaro Colonna ◽  
V. Locatelli ◽  
V. Moiraghi ◽  
S. Loche ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT It is known that in adult rats, GH by itself and by promoting secretion of the somatomedins acts at the level of the hypothalamus to trigger release of somatostatin and decrease output of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH), thereby inhibiting further secretion of GH. To assess whether these mechanisms are already operative in the early postnatal period, we have evaluated the effect of short-term administration of GH in 10-day-old rats. Twice-daily s.c. administration of 25 μg human GH/rat, from days 5 to 9 of life, significantly reduced pituitary content of GH, decreased hypothalamic levels of GHRH mRNA and abolished the in-vivo GH response to a challenge dose of GHRH (20 ng/100 g body weight, s.c.). GHRH (20 ng/100 g body weight, twice daily, s.c.) given concomitantly with the GH treatment, completely counteracted the inhibitory effect of the latter on pituitary content of GH and restored to normal the in-vivo GH response to the GHRH challenge. These data indicate that impaired secretion of GHRH is involved in the inhibitory effect elicited by GH treatment in infant rats. However, concomitant involvement of hypothalamic somatostatin as a result of GH treatment cannot be ruled out. In fact, pituitaries from rats pretreated with GH responded in the same manner as pituitaries from control rats to the GHRH challenge in vitro. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 124, 199–205


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