Mechanical responses evoked by nerve stimulation in gastric muscles of mouse lacking inositol trisphosphate receptor

H Takano1, K Imaeda, Y Yamamoto

  • 1Department of Physiology, Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan.

Insights

Mice lacking the IP, type-1 receptor show impaired stomach pylorus nerve responses. This impacts acetylcholine and nitric oxide signaling, altering muscle contractions.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Neurogastroenterology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The stomach pylorus plays a crucial role in regulating gastric emptying.
  • Nerve stimulation influences pyloric smooth muscle function through various neurotransmitters.
  • The IP, type-1 receptor's role in pyloric neurotransmission is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the IP, type-1 receptor in regulating pyloric smooth muscle mechanical responses to nerve stimulation.
  • To elucidate the specific neurotransmitter pathways involved in pyloric function in wild-type and mutant mice lacking the IP, type-1 receptor.

Main Methods:

  • Transmural nerve stimulation (TNS) was applied to isolated pylorus muscle from wild-type and mutant mice.
  • Pharmacological agents, including neurotransmission inhibitors (e.g., apamin, spantide), were used to identify mediator roles.
  • Changes in spontaneous contractions and off-responses were measured to assess mechanical activity.

Main Results:

  • TNS inhibited spontaneous contractions and caused an off-response in both wild-type and mutant mice.
  • In wild-type mice, acetylcholine (excitatory) and nitric oxide (inhibitory) were identified as key mediators.
  • Mutant mice exhibited attenuated cholinergic transmission and a lack of the nitroxidergic component, with substance P appearing as a novel excitatory mediator.

Conclusions:

  • Pyloric smooth muscle receives cholinergic excitatory and nitroxidergic/non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory inputs.
  • Absence of the IP, type-1 receptor impairs cholinergic and nitroxidergic pathways but not non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibition.
  • Mutation induces a substance P-mediated excitatory projection in the pylorus, not present in wild-type mice.