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Mechanical activation of the mucosal lining of the colon by brush stroking elicits an intestinal neural reflex and an increase in short circuit current (Isc) indicative of electrogenic chloride ion transport. We tested whether endogenous nucleotides are physiologic regulators of mucosal reflexes that control ion transport. The brush stroking-evoked Isc response in mucosa and submucosa preparations (M-SMP) of rat colon was reduced by the P2Y1 receptor (R) antagonist 2'deoxy-N6-methyl adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate diammonium salt (MRS 2179) and further blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX). M-SMP Isc responses to serosal application of the P2Y1 R agonist 2-methylthioadenosine-diphosphate (2MeSADP) or the P2Y2/P2Y4 R agonist 5'uridine-triphosphate (UTP) were reduced but not abolished by TTX. The potency profile of nucleotides for increasing Isc was 5'adenosine-triphosphate (ATP; effective concentration at half maximal response [EC50] 0.65 x 10(4) M) congruent with UTP (EC50 1.0 x 10(-4) M) congruent with 2MeSADP (EC50 = 1.60 x 10(-4) M). Mucosal touch and distention-induced Ca2+ transients in submucous neurons were reduced by apyrase and prevented by blocking the P2Y1 R with MRS 2179 and TTX; denervation of the mucosa. It did not occur by touching a ganglion directly. 2MeSADP Ca2+ responses occurred in subsets of neurons with or without substance P (SP) responses. The potency profile of nucleotides on the neural Ca2+ response was 2MeSADP (5 x 10(-7) M) > UTP (6 x 10(-6) M) > ATP (9 x 10(-5) M). The expression of P2Y R immunoreactivity (ir) in nerve cell bodies was in the order of P2Y1 R > P2Y4 R >> P2Y2 R. P2Y1R ir occurred in the cell somas of more than 90% of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), calretinin, or neuropeptide Y (NPY)-ir neurons, 78% of somatostatin neurons, but not in calbindin or SP neurons. P2Y2 R ir was expressed in a minority of SP, VIP, NPY, vesicular acetylcholine transporter, and calcitonin gene-related peptide-ir varicose fibers (5-20%) and those surrounding calbindin (5-20%) neurons. P2Y4 ir occurred mainly in the cell somas of 93% of NPY neurons. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of the submucosa demonstrated mRNA for P2Y1R, P2Y2, P2Y4, P2Y6, and P2Y12 Rs. Expression of P2Y1, P2Y2, and P2Y4 protein was confirmed by western blots. In conclusion, endogenous nucleotides acting at P2YRs transduce mechanically evoked reflex chloride ion transport in rat distal colon. Nucleotides evoke reflexes by acting primarily at postsynaptic P2Y1 Rs and P2Y4 R on VIP+/NPY+ secretomotor neurons, at P2Y2 Rs on no more than 2% of VIP+ secretomotor neurons, and 2Y2 Rs mainly of extrinsic varicose fibers surrounding putative intrinsic primary afferent and secretomotor neurons. During mucosal mechanical reflexes, it is postulated that P2Y1 R, P2Y2 R, and P2Y4 R are activated by endogenous ATP, UTP, and 5'uridine-diphosphate., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Stroking the mucosal lining of the guinea pig colon with a brush elicits an intestinal neural reflex, and an increase in short-circuit current (Isc) indicative of chloride secretion. We tested whether endogenous and exogenous nucleotides are physiologic regulators of mucosal reflexes that modulate chloride secretion. The basal Isc was augmented by 6-N,N-diethyl-beta,gamma-dibromomethylene-D-adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ARL67156) inhibition of nucleotide breakdown or adenosine A1 receptor blockade and reduced by apyrase inactivation of nucleotidases, P2 receptor antagonists, tetrodotoxin (TTX), or piroxicam. ARL67156 augmented, and apyrase inhibited, stroking-evoked Isc responses. TTX and atropine inhibited nucleotide-evoked Isc responses. The agonist potency profile for Isc, 2-methylthioadenosine-diphosphate (2MeSADP) = 2-methioadenosine-triphosphate >> 5'adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) > or = 5'adenosine-diphosphate > 5'uridine-triphosphate > or = 5'uridine-diphosphate, supports a P2Y1 receptor (R). The P2 receptor antagonists suramin and pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2'4'-disulfonic acid, reduced stroking responses (36%) and their effects were additive. The selective P2Y1 R antagonist, 2'deoxy-N6-methyl adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate diammonium salt, reduced stroking (54%) and 2MeSADP (70%) responses at P2Y1 Rs. The P2X1/3 R agonist, alpha,betaMeATP, increased Isc. A desensitizing dose of alpha,betaMeATP reduced stroking Isc responses but did not prevent the 2MeSADP-evoked Isc response. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed mRNAs for P2Y1 R, P2Y2 R, P2Y4 R, P2Y6 R, and P2Y12 R in submucosa. The expression of P2Y R immunoreactivity (ir) in cell bodies of submucous neurons followed the order of P2Y1 = P2Y2 >> P2Y4 R ir; P2Y1 Rs and P2Y2 R ir were abundant (21-50% of neurons). P2Y1 R ir was abundant in cholinergic secretomotor neurons and fewer than 2% of neuropeptide Y (NPY)/choline acetyltransferase secretomotor neurons, and P2Y2 R ir was expressed in virtually all NPY secretomotor neurons and approximately 30% of calbindin/intrinsic primary afferent neurons. P2Y4 R ir was present in NPY-positive neurons. P2Y ir was rare or absent in varicose nerve fibers. The functional data support the hypothesis that mechanical stimulation with a brush releases nucleotides that act predominantly at P2Y1 Rs and to a lesser extent on P2X1/3 Rs to mediate reflex chloride secretion. A separate P2Y2 R neural circuit pathway exists that is not activated by mechanical forces. Other receptors including P2Y4, P2Y6, P2Y12, or P4 Rs cannot be excluded., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

The role of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was investigated when mucosal stroking and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were used to activate neural reflexes that stimulate chloride secretion in the guinea pig colon. Muscle-stripped segments of colon containing intact submucosal ganglia without myenteric ganglia were set up in modified flux chambers in order to record short-circuit current (Isc). Mucosal stroking with a brush for 1 s or a pulse of 5-HT (injection of 15 microliters of 100 microM 5-HT into 1.5 ml of mucosal solution) caused an increase in Isc that was reduced by the VIP antagonist, neurotensin6-11-VIP7-28, in a concentration-dependent manner. The Isc responses to mucosal stroking and a 5-HT pulse were reduced by 53% and 58%, respectively, by 2 microM neurotensin6-11-VIP7-28. The residual Isc response in the presence of neurotensin6-11-VIP7-28 was abolished by atropine. Blockade of 5-HT1P receptors on submucosal afferent neurons decreased Isc responses to stroking or a 5-HT pulse. The residual Isc response after 5-HT1P receptors were blocked was reduced by only 11-14% by neurotensin6-11-VIP7-28. In the presence of blockade of both 5-HT1P and VIP receptors, atropine abolished the Isc response to both stimuli. The observations suggest that the neural circuitry activated by stroking includes at least two independent pathways. One pathway contains VIP neurons which receive inputs directly or indirectly from 5-HT1P receptor-containing afferents. A second pathway involves muscarinic cholinergic transmission that is independent of 5-HT1P and VIP receptor activation.

The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in neural reflexes regulating secretion was examined in muscle-stripped segments of guinea-pig colon set up in modified flux chambers. A 15-microL pulse of 5-HT (100 microM) to the mucosal bath (1.5 mL), which was continuously perfused, evoked an increase in short-circuit current (Isc). The 5-HT-induced increase in Isc was inhibited by tetrodotoxin, N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptophyl-5-hydroxytryptophan amide (5-HTP-DP), GR82334 and atropine, but not by tropisetron. 5-HTP-DP reduced the response to a 5-HT pulse over the concentration range of 1 nM to 1 microM. The Isc response to a 5-HT pulse was unaffected by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, piroxicam. This contrasted with a reduction in the Isc response to mucosal stroking with a brush by piroxicam. The results suggest that a 5-HT pulse, like mucosal stroking, activates a secretory reflex that includes tachykinin and cholinergic neurons but, unlike mucosal stroking, does not release prostaglandins.

The role of substance P in neural reflex pathways activated by stroking was investigated in muscle-stripped segments of distal colon from guinea pigs. Stroking the mucosal surface with a brush at 1 stroke/s evoked an increase in short-circuit current (Isc) indicative of chloride secretion. The response to mucosal stroking was maximally reduced by 69-75% by the antagonist GR-82334. The agonist [Sar9,Met(O2)11] substance P caused a bumetanide-sensitive increase in Isc when added to the mucosal or serosal bath. Ablation of extrinsic afferents with acute or chronic administration of capsaicin did not alter the mucosal stroking response. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization revealed the presence of neurokinin1 (NK1) receptor messenger RNA in isolated colonocytes or crypt glands. Ligand binding of 125I-Bolton-Hunter-labeled substance P was inhibited by GR-82334. The 50% inhibitory concentration was 0.84 nM. The results demonstrate a role for substance P released from capsaicin-insensitive submucosal neurons and in mucosal stroking reflexes. The presence of NK1 receptors on isolated colonocytes suggests that appropriate elements are present for axon reflex activation of intestinal epithelial cells.

Previous studies demonstrated neurally mediated recurrent increases in short-circuit current (Isc) suggestive of anion secretion in guinea pig distal colon. To determine the neural pathways involved, segments of distal colon from guinea pigs were mounted in flux chambers. In muscle-stripped or whole thickness preparations, serosal addition of the histamine H2 receptor agonist, dimaprit, caused cyclical increases in Isc, which were reduced by the chloride channel blocker, N-phenylanthranilic acid, but not by the sodium channel blocker amiloride. Dimaprit stimulated release of [3H]acetylcholine and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) from submucosal/mucosal sheets. Dimaprit caused recurrent increases in Isc, which were significantly decreased by mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist, and nearly abolished by the muscarinic antagonist, atropine (M3 > M1 = M2). The muscarinic antagonist, 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methiodide (4-DAMP, M3 > M1), was more potent than pirenzepine (M1 > M3) in reducing recurrent increases in Isc. Dimaprit- and electrically evoked secretion were inhibited by the VIP antagonists [4Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17]VIP and VIP hybrid. The results suggest the involvement of VIP-ergic and cholinergic neurons utilizing nicotinic and muscarinic synapses in mediating secretion.

The role of H3 receptors in neurally-evoked recurrent increases in chloride ion secretion evaluated from changes in short-circuit current (Isc) was examined during application of histamine or histamine analogs. Muscle-stripped or whole thickness segments of distal colon were set up in flux chambers. Histamine and dimaprit, an H2 receptor agonist, caused recurrent increases in Isc. Dimaprit-evoked recurrent responses were reduced by the H3 receptor agonists, N alpha-methylhistamine and R alpha-methylhistamine, and the inhibition was reversed by the H3 receptor antagonist, burimamide. Histamine-evoked recurrent increases in Isc were enhanced by the H3 receptor antagonists burimamide and thioperamide. The results indicate that H3 receptors play an inhibitory role in histamine-evoked, neurally-mediated recurrent increases in Isc in guinea pig colon.

The effects of leukotriene D4 (LTD4) on ion transport were investigated in submucosa/mucosa colonic segments from guinea pigs sensitized to cow's milk and in age-matched, non-immune animals. Mediators released from mast cells in immune animals challenged with beta-lactoglobulin evoked an increase in short-circuit current that was reduced by SK&F 102922, a peptidoleukotriene antagonist. Serosal addition of LTD4 (0.15-1 microM) evoked a concentration-dependent, bumetanide-sensitive increase in short-circuit current which was greater in immune than non-immune controls. In the absence of ongoing neural activity, 1 microM LTD4 evoked an 8-20 microA/cm2 increase in short-circuit current which was increased 8-13-fold when ongoing neural activity was present. In tissues with ongoing activity, the response to 0.15 microM LTD4 was reduced by SK&F 102922, tetrodotoxin and atropine. LTD4 enhanced the responsiveness of the tissue to carbachol by a factor of two, but did not affect responses of T84 colonic epithelial cell monolayers to this agent. These results show enhanced secretory function for LTD4 in animals with allergy to cow's milk. They suggest that the level of ongoing neural activity in the enteric neural microcircuits is one of the major determinants of colonic secretory capacity.

Short-circuit current (Isc) was measured simultaneously with muscle tension recorded in the longitudinal or circumferential axis from strain-gauge transducers sutured to the serosal surface of whole thickness segments of distal colon from guinea pigs. Isc and the amplitude and frequency of small-amplitude phasic contractions were stable for several hours. The histamine H2-receptor agonist dimaprit (5-10 microM) evoked recurrent increases in Isc at a frequency of 0.32-0.37 cycles/min. Associated with each cyclical Isc response was an increase in muscle tension indicative of large-amplitude phasic contractions. Recurrent cycles of Isc and associated large-amplitude phasic contractions were abolished by 10 microM cimetidine. In the presence of dimaprit, severing the neural connections between the myenteric and submucosal plexuses abolished the large-amplitude phasic contractions but not cyclical Isc. The results suggest that coordination of cyclical secretion and large-amplitude contraction during chronic activation of histamine H2 receptors requires intact neural connections between the submucosal and myenteric plexuses. The findings provide potential mechanisms to explain altered motility and ion transport during inflammatory diseases or allergic responses to food antigens.

Ehrlichia risticii, an obligate intracellular bacterium in the family Rickettsiaceae, causes Potomac horse fever which is often associated with severe watery diarrhoea. The mechanism of the diarrhoea is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether sodium and chloride transport, morphology and cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) content of colonic mucosa was altered in E risticii-infected horses. Mucosa-submucosa sheets from the large and small colon of nine infected and seven to nine uninfected horses were set up in Ussing chambers for measurement of short-circuit current and transepithelial 22Na and 36Cl fluxes. Uninfected tissues absorbed both sodium and chloride whereas absorption of sodium and chloride was abolished in infected tissues. Bethanechol and histamine evoked a concentration-dependent increase in short-circuit current in both groups, but the responses were attenuated at all concentrations in infected horses. Slight focal degeneration of colonic epithelial cells and loss of microvilli from glandular epithelial cells occurred in infected horses. There was a significant increase in cyclic AMP content in colonic mucosa of infected animals. The results suggest that E risticii infection induces focal microscopic degeneration of epithelial cells and an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP in colonic mucosa. These alterations are associated with malabsorption of sodium and chloride and could cause diarrhoea.

The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on epithelial short-circuit current (Isc) were determined and related to the 5-HT effects on electrical and synaptic behavior of neurons in the submucosal plexus of the guinea pig colon. 5-HT evoked a biphasic increase in Isc that was reduced by bumetanide, Cl(-)-free solutions, atropine, and mecamylamine and abolished by tetrodotoxin. The 5-HT response was mimicked by 2-methyl-5-HT, but not by 5-hydroxyindalpine, 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane, and 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeOT). ICS 205-930 suppressed the 5-HT response. Electrical field stimulation of submucosal neurons evoked an increase in Isc indicative of Cl- secretion that was reduced by 5-MeOT and enhanced by 2-methyl-5-HT. Application of 5-HT to submucosal neurons by micropressure ejection resulted in membrane depolarization, augmented excitability, and repetitive spike discharge. The depolarization was biphasic, consisting of rapidly and slowly activating components. The rapidly activating component was suppressed by ICS 205-930. Fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of interganglionic connectives were suppressed by 5-HT and 5-MeOT. These results suggest that 5-HT activates 5-HT3 receptors, which mediate fast excitatory responses in submucosal neurons, leading to release of acetylcholine at nicotinic and muscarinic synapses and stimulation of Cl- secretion. Presynaptic inhibition suppresses acetylcholine release and results in attenuation of neurally evoked Cl- secretion.

The role of submucosal neurons in anaphylactic-like responses in colonic epithelium from immunized guinea pigs was examined 6-8 wk after inoculation with 2 x 10(3) infective Trichinella spiralis larvae. Serosal addition of T. spiralis antigen (20 micrograms/ml) to muscle-stripped segments of colon set up in flux chambers evoked a maximum increase in short-circuit current within 5 min in immune, but not nonimmune, guinea pigs. Quercetin, a membrane-stabilizing drug, and pyrilamine, a histamine H1 receptor antagonist, attenuated epithelial responses evoked by T. spiralis antigen. Antigen-induced epithelial responses were reduced by neural blockade with tetrodotoxin and by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine but not by blockade of nicotinic receptors with mecamylamine. Antigenic challenge of colonic mucosa from immune guinea pigs enhanced the secretory responses to endogenously released neurotransmitters evoked by electrical field stimulation and substance P. In the presence of antigen, the tetrodotoxin-insensitive component of the carbachol response was enhanced and was reversed by quercetin but not pyrilamine. The results suggest that submucosal cholinergic nerves play a role in mediating the rapid epithelial responses evoked by worm antigen in the colonic mucosa of T. spiralis-immune guinea pigs. Interaction of immunological mediators with neurotransmitters in the submucosal plexus augments the secretory mucosal response triggered by T. spiralis in immunized hosts.

We tested the hypothesis that histamine mediates ion secretion in the guinea pig distal colon by stimulating H2 receptors on submucosal neurons. Serosal addition of histamine evoked a transient increase in short-circuit current (Isc) followed by recurrent cyclical increases in Isc. The transient phase of the response was examined previously and was not investigated in these studies. Histamine (1.5-2.5 x 10(-5) M) evoked a peak increase in Isc of 177 +/- 25 microA/cm2 at intervals of 5 min for 1-2 h. The duration of each recurrent cycle averaged 2.1 +/- 0.3 min. The H2 agonist dimaprit evoked recurrent cycles that had larger amplitudes than those caused by histamine. In the presence of histamine or dimaprit, the amplitude of the first cycle of the response was always less than subsequent cycles, regardless of the initial concentration. The cyclical responses to histamine, 2-methylhistamine, or dimaprit were unaltered by the H1 blocker pyrilamine, were reduced by the H2 antagonist cimetidine, and were abolished by the neuronal blocker tetrodotoxin. Blockade of prostaglandin formation with piroxicam did not prevent the recurrent cycles. The recurrent cycles were inhibited by the chloride transport blocker bumetanide and by removal of chloride ions. Our results demonstrate that histamine mediates prolonged cyclical chloride secretion in the guinea pig distal colon by activating H2 receptors on submucosal neurons involved in regulation of epithelial chloride transport.

We tested the hypothesis that the role of histamine in the control of intestinal secretion is mediated by prostaglandins (PGs). The effects of histamine on ion transport were examined in muscle-stripped sheets of mucosa/submucosa set up in flux chambers. Histamine evoked a transient concentration-dependent increase in short-circuit current (Isc) that was reduced by the Cl- transport inhibitor bumetanide. Histamine also caused the release of PGE2. The Isc response to histamine was reduced by indomethacin and piroxicam, which block PG formation, but not by nordihydroguaiaretic acid, which prevents production of lipoxygenase products. 2-Methylhistamine, but not dimaprit, evoked a concentration-dependent increase in Isc. The Isc response to histamine was reduced by the H1-blocker pyrilamine, but not by the H2-antagonist cimetidine. In addition to its direct effect, histamine augmented the responses of endogenously released neurotransmitters with and without indomethacin and hexamethonium. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) reduced the Isc response to 10(-3) M histamine. In the presence of TTX, exogenous histamine amplified the responses to PGs, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, 2-chloroadenosine, bethanechol, and carbachol. These results suggest that histamine acts at H1-receptors on cells within the gut to mediate intestinal Cl- secretion in part by releasing PGs and by augmenting the actions of endogenously released neurotransmitters. Our results indicate that histamine has a role in the regulation of colonic transport function.

The effects of tetrodotoxin (TTX) were examined in muscle-stripped segments of rabbit distal colon and in cells of isolated colonic crypts. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) of the submucosa/mucosa evoked an increase in short-circuit current (ISC) that was due to an increase in chloride secretion. The EFS-evoked response was reduced 81% by 10(-7) M TTX and 30% by 5 X 10(-6) M atropine. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), carbachol, aminophylline, and 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium increased ISC. Bumetanide reduced the responses to neural stimulation, aminophylline, and VIP. To determine whether TTX had direct effects on crypt epithelial cells, crypts were isolated and cells were impaled with microelectrodes. Mean resting potential (Vbl) was -67 +/- 1.1 mV (n = 63). VIP and aminophylline depolarized Vbl by 34 +/- 4.6 (n = 13) and 34 +/- 3.5 mV (n = 18), respectively. TTX had no significant effect on resting Vbl or on the responses to VIP or aminophylline. We conclude that stimulation of submucosal neurons in the rabbit distal colon evokes a TTX- and bumetanide-sensitive increase in net chloride secretion that is dependent on the release of acetylcholine and other secretory neurotransmitters. Electrophysiological studies rule out a direct effect of TTX on colonic crypt cells.