This project will investigate interactive signaling between the enteric nervous system (ENS), spinal sensory afferent innervation and enteric mast cells with guinea pig small intestine as the experimental model. The project tests a hypothesis, supported by publications from earlier funding cycles and new preliminary data, that a positive feed-forward signaling loop between spinal afferents, ENS neurons and enteric mast cells amplifies nociceptive and other forms of sensory input from the gut to the central nervous system. Neurophysiology of ENS-spinal afferent-mast cell interactions is basic for understanding visceral hypersensitivity and emerging recognition that functional abdominal pain involves co-morbidity of intestinal hypersensitivity with other pain syndromes (e.g., interstitial cystitis, prostatitis, vulvodynia and fibromyalgia). Primary objectives are to learn: a) which of the multiple morphological, electrophysiological and immunohistochemical neuronal subtypes in the ENS receive synaptic input from spinal afferents;b) kinds of synaptic potentials evoked by afferent stimulation and identification of neurotransmitters and receptors involved;c) how afferents innervate enteric mast cells to evoke release of mast cell mediators;d) the identity of the neurotransmitters released at afferent-mast cell junctions and the postjunctional receptors;e) how afferent-evoked release of mast cell mediators influences the electrophysiological and synaptic behavior of identified functional subclasses of neurons in the ENS.
The specific aims are:
Aim 1. Identification of the neurotransmitters released by intramural spinal afferents at their synapses with individually identified ENS neurons and the transmitters that evoke release of histamine and mast cell proteases form intramural mast cells in response to electrical or chemical activation of the afferents in intestinal preparations in vitro.
Aim 2. Identification of the post synaptic/postjunctional receptors and receptor subtypes that mediate the actions of neurotransmitters released by spinal afferents at synapses with enteric neurons and identification of the receptor subtypes responsible for the release of histamine and mast cell proteases that we find during electrical or chemical activation of the afferents in pilot/feasibility studies.
Aim 3. Identification of neurotransmitters released by motor neurons of the ENS at their junctions with neighboring mast cells and to identify the receptor subtypes for the transmitters, which activate the mast cells to release preformed and lipid membrane-derived paracrine signals (e.g., histamine, mast cell proteases and prostaglandins).

Public Health Relevance

This 5-year project is a study of interactive signaling between the enteric nervous system (ENS), spinal sensory afferent nerves and enteric mast cells, with the guinea pig small intestine as the experimental model. The project tests a hypothesis, supported by publications from earlier funding cycles and new preliminary data, that a positive feed-forward signaling loop between spinal afferents, ENS neurons and enteric mast cells amplifies nociceptive and other forms of sensory input from the gut to the central nervous system. The information to be gained from this neurophysiological investigation of interactions between spinal afferents, ENS and enteric mast cells is basic for translational understanding of visceral hypersensitivity and the emerging recognition that functional abdominal pain can involve comorbidity of gut hypersensitivity with other pain syndromes elsewhere in the body (e.g., interstitial cystitis, prostatitis, vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis and fibromyalgia).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK037238-23
Application #
8247785
Study Section
Clinical, Integrative and Molecular Gastroenterology Study Section (CIMG)
Program Officer
Serrano, Jose
Project Start
1985-09-01
Project End
2015-07-31
Budget Start
2012-08-01
Budget End
2013-07-31
Support Year
23
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$298,519
Indirect Cost
$102,769
Name
Ohio State University
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
832127323
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
43210
Wang, Guo-Du; Wang, Xi-Yu; Liu, Sumei et al. (2015) ?-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide acts at prejunctional adenosine A1 receptors to suppress inhibitory musculomotor neurotransmission in guinea pig colon and human jejunum. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 308:G955-63
Wang, Guo-Du; Wang, Xi-Yu; Liu, Sumei et al. (2014) Innervation of enteric mast cells by primary spinal afferents in guinea pig and human small intestine. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 307:G719-31
Wang, Guo-Du; Wang, Xi-Yu; Xia, Yun et al. (2014) Dietary glutamate: interactions with the enteric nervous system. J Neurogastroenterol Motil 20:41-53
Fei, G; Fang, X; Wang, G D et al. (2013) Neurogenic mucosal bicarbonate secretion in guinea pig duodenum. Br J Pharmacol 168:880-90
Wood, Jackie D (2013) Taming the irritable bowel. Curr Pharm Des 19:142-56
Wang, Guo-Du; Wang, Xi-Yu; Zou, Fei et al. (2013) Mast cell expression of the serotonin1A receptor in guinea pig and human intestine. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 304:G855-63
Gao, Na; Luo, Jialie; Uray, Karen et al. (2012) CaMKII is essential for the function of the enteric nervous system. PLoS One 7:e44426
Wood, J D (2012) Nonruminant Nutrition Symposium: Neurogastroenterology and food allergies. J Anim Sci 90:1213-23
Baldassano, Sara; Wang, Guo-Du; Mulè, Flavia et al. (2012) Glucagon-like peptide-1 modulates neurally evoked mucosal chloride secretion in guinea pig small intestine in vitro. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 302:G352-8
Sun, Xiaohong; Wang, Xiyu; Wang, Guo-Du et al. (2011) Lubiprostone reverses the inhibitory action of morphine on mucosal secretion in human small intestine. Dig Dis Sci 56:330-8

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