The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the division of the autonomic nervous system that resides within the gut wall. The ENS controls gastrointestinal (GI) motility, secretion and local blood flow. The ENS can perform these complex functions because it contains all the neuronal elements (sensory neurons, interneurons and motorneurons) required for GI reflexes and integration. The ENS contains 14 different types of neurons that release different neurotransmitters. There are also multiple receptors for each neurotransmitter. In addition, synapses in the ENS may be coded by the neurotransmitters released from presynaptic nerve terminals and by receptors expressed by postsynaptic cells. The proposed studies will use intracellular electrophysiological, immunohistochemical and molecular biological methods to study enteric neuromuscular transmission. There are 3 specific aims in this proposal.
Specific aim 1 will test the hypothesis that there are two separate populations of inhibitory nerves supplying the muscle layers. One subset uses nitric oxide (NO) as the primary neurotransmitter while the second population is purinergic (ATP and/or b-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide are the neurotransmitters). These studies will show that release of ATP/b-NAD and NO from nerve terminals is controlled by different Ca2+ channel types. An antibody against the vesicular nucleotide (VNUT) antibody will be used to localize purinergic nerves. These studies will also make use of P/Q type and R-type Ca2+ channel mutant mice.
Specific aim 2 will focus on Ca2+ channels expressed by interneurons in the myenteric plexus. Interneurons which project in an oral-anal direction release acetylcholine (ACh) and ATP as fast synaptic transmitters, while neurons that project in an anal-oral direction release ACh. These studies will test the hypothesis that R-, N- and P/Q type Ca2+ channels are expressed by neurons in the orally-projecting pathway while only N- and P/Q type Ca2+ channels are expressed by nerve terminals in the anally-projecting pathway. These studies will also use wild type and P/Q-type and R-type Ca2+ channel mutant mice.
Specific aim 3 will focus on K+ channels as regulators of gut smooth muscle tone and neuromuscular transmission in the colon. These studies will make use of a b1 subunit of the large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channel knockout mouse. Significance: Disturbances in enteric synaptic mechanisms contribute to GI motility disorders. Changes in the function of enteric neurons and their synapses might also contribute to visceral pain. Therefore, a more complete understanding of enteric neural circuits and synaptic transmission would provide insights into the pathophysiology of GI motility disorders. This information would help to develop new drug treatments for common motility disorders.

Public Health Relevance

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders, including chronic constipation are due partly to disruption in the function of nerves that control relaxation of GI muscle. The proposed studies will focus on basic physiological mechanisms that control GI muscle contraction and relaxation. These studies will provide new information about how nerves control motor function of the GI tract.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK094932-03
Application #
8640938
Study Section
Clinical, Integrative and Molecular Gastroenterology Study Section (CIMG)
Program Officer
Carrington, Jill L
Project Start
2012-04-01
Project End
2017-03-31
Budget Start
2014-04-01
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$288,624
Indirect Cost
$92,874
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
Galligan, James J; Sternini, Catia (2017) Insights into the Role of Opioid Receptors in the GI Tract: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance. Handb Exp Pharmacol 239:363-378
Rodriguez-Tapia, Eileen S; Naidoo, Vinogran; DeVries, Matthew et al. (2017) R-Type Ca2+ channels couple to inhibitory neurotransmission to the longitudinal muscle in the guinea-pig ileum. Exp Physiol 102:299-313
France, Marion; Skorich, Emmalee; Kadrofske, Mark et al. (2016) Sex-related differences in small intestinal transit and serotonin dynamics in high-fat-diet-induced obesity in mice. Exp Physiol 101:81-99
Rodriguez-Tapia, Eileen; Perez-Medina, Alberto; Bian, Xiaochun et al. (2016) Upregulation of L-type calcium channels in colonic inhibitory motoneurons of P/Q-type calcium channel-deficient mice. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 311:G763-G774
Bhattarai, Yogesh; Fried, David; Gulbransen, Brian et al. (2016) High-fat diet-induced obesity alters nitric oxide-mediated neuromuscular transmission and smooth muscle excitability in the mouse distal colon. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 311:G210-20
Peteu, Serban F; Whitman, Brandon W; Galligan, James J et al. (2016) Electrochemical detection of peroxynitrite using hemin-PEDOT functionalized boron-doped diamond microelectrode. Analyst 141:1796-806
Galligan, J J (2015) HIV, opiates, and enteric neuron dysfunction. Neurogastroenterol Motil 27:449-54
Bhattarai, Yogesh; Fernandes, Roxanne; Kadrofske, Mark M et al. (2014) Western blot analysis of BK channel ?1-subunit expression should be interpreted cautiously when using commercially available antibodies. Physiol Rep 2:
Galligan, James J; Akbarali, Hamid I (2014) Molecular physiology of enteric opioid receptors. Am J Gastroenterol Suppl 2:17-21
Duran, Boris; Brocenschi, Ricardo F; France, Marion et al. (2014) Electrochemical activation of diamond microelectrodes: implications for the in vitro measurement of serotonin in the bowel. Analyst 139:3160-6

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