N. Mañé

Purinergic neuromuscular transmission is absent in the colon of P2Y1 knocked out mice

Key points  •  Neural‐mediated relaxation occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. To accomplish this function, two neurotransmitters, ATP or a related purine and nitric oxide, are released by inhibitory motorneurons. •  The type of purinergic receptor is still under debate but previous data using a classical pharmacological approach (receptor agonists and antagonists) suggested that P2Y1 receptors are responsible for purinergic neurotransmission in the gastrointestinal tract. •  In the present study we used a genetically modified mouse in which P2Y1 receptors had been knocked out. •  P2Y1‐deficient mice had functional nitrergic neurotransmission but purinergic neurotransmission was absent. •  The present work confirms the hypothesis demonstrating that P2Y1 receptors mediate the purinergic component of the smooth muscle relaxation in the gastrointestinal tract.

P2Y(1) knockout mice lack purinergic neuromuscular transmission in the antrum and cecum.

Background  Pharmacological studies using selective P2Y1 antagonists, such as MRS2500, and studies with P2Y1−/− knockout mice have demonstrated that purinergic neuromuscular transmission is mediated by P2Y1 receptors in the colon. The aim of the present study was to test whether P2Y1 receptors are involved in purinergic neurotransmission in the antrum and cecum.

Potential role of the gaseous mediator hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in inhibition of human colonic contractility.

BACKGROUND Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is an endogenous signalling molecule that might play a physiologically relevant role in gastrointestinal motility. Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) are two enzymes responsible for H2S production. d,l-Propargylglycine (PAG) is a CSE inhibitor whereas both aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) and hydroxylamine (HA) are CBS inhibitors. The characterization of H2S responses and its mechanism of action are crucial to define H2S function. METHODS Human colonic strips were used to investigate the role of H2S on contractility (muscle bath) and smooth muscle electrophysiology (microelectrodes). NaHS was used as a H2S donor. RESULTS Combination of PAG and AOAA depolarized the smooth muscle (5-6mV, n=4) and elicited a transient increase in tone (260.5±92.8mg, n=12). No effect was observed on neural mediated inhibitory junction potential or relaxation. In the presence of tetrodotoxin 1μM, NaHS concentration-dependently inhibited spontaneous contractions (EC50=329.2μM, n=18). This effect was partially reduced by the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ 10μM (EC50=2.6μM, n=12) and by l-NNA 1mM (EC50=1.4mM, n=8). NaHS reversibly blocked neural mediated cholinergic (EC50=2mM) and tachykinergic (EC50=5.7mM) contractions. NaHS concentration-dependently reduced the increase in spontaneous mechanical activity (AUC) induced by carbachol (EC50=1.9mM) and NKA (EC50=1.7mM AUC). CONCLUSIONS H2S might be an endogenous gasomediator regulating human colonic contractility. Its inhibitory effect is observed at high concentrations and could be mediated by a direct effect on smooth muscle with a possible synergistic effect with NO, as well as by an interaction with the cholinergic and tachykinergic neural mediated pathways.

Differential functional role of purinergic and nitrergic inhibitory cotransmitters in human colonic relaxation

ATP and nitric oxide (NO) are released from enteric inhibitory motor neurones and are responsible for colonic smooth muscle relaxation. However, how frequency of neural stimulation affects this cotransmission process and the post‐junctional responses has not been systematically characterized in the human colon.

Interplay between myogenic pacemakers and enteric neurons determine distinct motor patterns in the rat colon.

Waxing and waning of slow waves amplitude has been recently associated with a segmentation motor pattern in the murine small intestine. The ‘wax and wane’ phenomenon in this area of the gastrointestinal tract seems to be the result of modulation of slow waves by a second pacemaker of a lower frequency displayed by the interstitial cells of Cajal near the deep muscular plexus (ICC‐DMP). In the rat colon, smooth muscle cyclic depolarizations causing low‐frequency (LF) contractions (0.9 ± 0.1 cpm) occur together with slow wave activity associated to high‐frequency (HF) contractions (14 ± 0.3 cpm; ripples). In the present manuscript, we demonstrate the presence of ‘wax and wane’ in rat colonic slow waves. Depolarization from the ‘wax’ to the ‘wane’ was 7.6 ± 1.2 mV, i.e., smooth muscle cells went from a resting membrane potential (RMP) of −50.0 mV to a RMP of −42.4 mV. The amplitude of the slow wave decreased from 14.0 ± 2.2 mV to 3.4 ± 0.7 mV. The wax and wane phenomenon occurred at 0.9 ± 0.1 cpm, coinciding with the frequency of cyclic depolarizations. Therefore, we hypothesized that the ‘wax and wane’ of slow waves in the rat colon could be the result of their interaction with the LF pacemaker. We describe three different myogenic motor patterns that depend on the level of smooth muscle and ICC excitation: (i) LF propulsive contractions, (ii) regular slow waves causing ripples, and (iii) a wax and wane pattern that may lead to segmentation. Different intra‐ and extra‐luminal inputs probably determine the dominating motor pattern in each area through the enteric nervous system.

Mechanisms of action of otilonium bromide (OB) in human cultured smooth muscle cells and rat colonic strips.

The pharmacological properties of otilonium bromide (OB) have been investigated using different experimental models, techniques, and conditions, and consequently, the results are not always easy to compare. The aim of the present work was to investigate the pharmacological properties of OB in human cultured colonic smooth muscle cells (HCSMCs), which is the main target of the drug ‘in vivo’. Rat colonic strips were used to confirm the pharmacological properties.

EP2 and EP4 receptors mediate PGE2 induced relaxation in murine colonic circular muscle: pharmacological characterization.

BACKGROUND Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a regulator of gastrointestinal motility that might be involved in impaired motor function associated to gut inflammation. The aim of the present work is to pharmacologically characterize responses to exogenous and endogenous PGE2 in the mouse colon targeting EP2 and EP4 receptors. METHODS Wild type (WT) and EP2 receptor knockout (EP2-KO) mice were used to characterize PGE2 and butaprost (EP2 receptor agonist) effects on smooth muscle resting membrane potential and myogenic contractility in circularly oriented colonic preparations. RESULTS In WT animals, PGE2 and butaprost concentration-dependently inhibited spontaneous contractions and hyperpolarized smooth muscle cells. Combination of both EP2 (PF-04418948 0.1μM) and EP4 receptor antagonists (L-161,982 10μM) was needed to block both electrical and mechanical PGE2 responses. Butaprost inhibitory responses (both electrical and mechanical) were totally abolished by PF-04418948 0.1μM. In EP2-KO mice, PGE2 (but not butaprost) concentration-dependently inhibited spontaneous contractions and hyperpolarized smooth muscle cells. In EP2-KO mice, PGE2 inhibition of spontaneous contractility and hyperpolarization was fully antagonized by L-161,982 10μM. In WT animals, EP2 and EP4 receptor antagonists caused a smooth muscle depolarization and an increase in spontaneous mechanical activity. CONCLUSIONS PGE2 responses in murine circular colonic layer are mediated by post-junctional EP2 and EP4 receptors. PF-04418948 and L-161,982 are selective EP2 and EP4 receptor antagonists that inhibit PGE2 responses. These antagonists might be useful pharmacological tools to limit prostaglandin effects associated to dismotility in gut inflammatory processes.

α,β-meATP mimics the effects of the purinergic neurotransmitter in the human and rat colon

The purine receptor involved in inhibitory responses in the gastrointestinal tract has been recently identified. P2Y1 receptor activation mediates the fast component of the inhibitory junction potential (IJPf) and the non-nitrergic relaxation. The aim of the present work has been to investigate which purinergic agonist better mimics endogenous responses. We used different agonist and antagonist of P2 receptors. Contractility and microelectrode experiments were used to compare the effects of exogenously added purines and electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced nerve mediated effects in rat and human colonic strips. In rat colon, the IJPf and EFS-induced inhibition of contractions were concentration-dependently inhibited by the P2Y1 antagonist MRS2500 but not by iso-PPADS or NF023 (P2X antagonists) up to 1 μM. In samples from human colon, EFS-induced inhibition of contractions was inhibited by either MRS2500 or apamin (1 μM) but not by iso-PPADS. In both species, α,β-meATP, a stable analog of ATP, caused inhibition of spontaneous contractions. α,β-meATP effect was concentration-dependent (EC50: 2.7 μM rat, 4.4 μM human) and was antagonized by either MRS2500 or apamin but unaffected by P2X antagonists. ATP, ADP, β-NAD and ADP-ribose inhibited spontaneous contractions but did not show the same sensitivity profile to purine receptor antagonists as EFS-induced inhibition of contractions. The effect of α,β-meATP is due to P2Y1 receptor activation leading the opening of sKca channels. Accordingly, α,β-meATP mimics the endogenous purinergic mediator. In contrast, exogenously added putative neurotransmitters do not exactly mimic the endogenous mediator. Quick degradation by ecto-nuclease or different distribution of receptors (junctionally vs extrajunctionally) might explain these results.

Enteric motor pattern generators involve both myogenic and neurogenic mechanisms in the human colon.

Coordinated motor activity is required to develop the major functions of the colon, which are: 1-absorption of water, electrolytes, bile salts, short-chain fatty acids and other bacterial metabolites, 2-storage of colonic contents and 3-propulsion of fecal material (Christensen, 1991). Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) generate spontaneous pacemaker currents which are conducted to smooth muscle cells (SMCs) causing rhythmic contractile patterns (Rumessen et al., 1993; Huizinga et al., 1995). Even though in vitro experiments disrupt enteric neural pathways crucial to develop a variety of in vivo colonic motor patterns and rule out any influence of extrinsic innervation, they are useful to better understand the mechanisms underlying colonic motility. Accordingly, the aim of this article is to summarize myogenic and neurogenic activities described in the human colon, hypothesize about how these mechanisms might be related and propose a new concept, enteric motor pattern generators, for this interplay.

Inverse gradient of nitrergic and purinergic inhibitory cotransmission in the mouse colon

Gastrointestinal smooth muscle relaxation is accomplished by the neural corelease of ATP or a related purine and nitric oxide. Contractions are triggered by acetylcholine and tachykinins. The aim of this work was to study whether regional differences in neurotransmission could partially explain the varied physiological roles of each colonic area.