scholarly journals Regulation of Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle Function by Interstitial Cells

Physiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 316-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenton M. Sanders ◽  
Yoshihiko Kito ◽  
Sung Jin Hwang ◽  
Sean M. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Function ◽  
Interstitial Cells Of Cajal ◽  
Smooth Muscles ◽  
Interstitial Cells ◽  
Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Function ◽  
Cells Of Cajal ◽  
Regulatory Functions

Interstitial cells of mesenchymal origin form gap junctions with smooth muscle cells in visceral smooth muscles and provide important regulatory functions. In gastrointestinal (GI) muscles, there are two distinct classes of interstitial cells, c-Kit+interstitial cells of Cajal and PDGFRα+cells, that regulate motility patterns. Loss of these cells may contribute to symptoms in GI motility disorders.

Morphology of the canine pyloric sphincter in relation to function

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 1560-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Daniel ◽  
I. Berezin ◽  
H. D. Allescher ◽  
H. Manaka ◽  
V. Posey-Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Substance P ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide ◽  
Interstitial Cells Of Cajal ◽  
Circular Muscle ◽  
Interstitial Cells ◽  
Pyloric Sphincter ◽  
Cells Of Cajal

The ultrastructure and immunocytochemistry of the canine distal pyloric muscle loop, the pyloric sphincter, were studied. Cells in this muscle were connected by gap junctions, fewer than in the antrum or corpus. The sphincter had a dense innervation and a sparse population of interstitial cells of Cajal. Most such cells were of the circular muscle type but a few were of the type in the myenteric plexus. Nerves were sometimes associated with interstitial cell profiles, but most nerves were neither close to nor associated with interstitial cells nor close to smooth muscle cells. Nerve profiles were characterized by an unusually high proportion of varicosities with a majority or a high proportion of large granular vesicles. Many of these were shown to contain material immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and some had substance P (SP) immunoreactive material. All were presumed to be peptidergic. VIP was present in a higher concentration in this muscle than in adjacent antral or duodenal circular muscle. Interstitial cells of Cajal made gap junctions to smooth muscle and to one another and might provide myogenic pacemaking activity for this muscle, but there was no evidence of a close or special relationship between nerves with VIP or SP and these cells. The absence of close relationships between nerves and either interstitial cells or smooth muscle cells leaves unanswered questions about the structural basis for previous observations of discrete excitatory responses or pyloric sphincter to single stimuli or nerves up to one per second. In conclusion, the structural observations suggest that this muscle has special neural and myogenic control systems and that interstitial cells may function to control myogenic activity of this muscle but not to mediate neural signals.Key words: vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, interstitial cells of Cajal, neuropeptides, gap junctions, substance P.

Neuromuscular structures in opossum esophagus: role of interstitial cells of Cajal

1984 ◽  
Vol 246 (3) ◽  
pp. G305-G315 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Daniel ◽  
V. Posey-Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Interstitial Cells Of Cajal ◽  
Circular Muscle ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Interstitial Cells ◽  
Complete Relaxation ◽  
Granular Vesicles ◽  
Cells Of Cajal

The structures of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and body circular muscle (BCM) from opossum were compared as to neural and muscular structures and the structural relations of interstitial cells of Cajal to nerves and muscle cells. Both LES and BCM were densely innervated by nerves with varicosities containing many small agranular vesicles and a few large granular vesicles. These nerves were more closely related structurally to the interstitial cells of Cajal than to smooth muscle cells. More gap junctions were observed between smooth muscle cells and between interstitial cells of Cajal and smooth muscle cells in BCM than in LES. Those between smooth muscle cells were larger in BCM. Complete relaxation of the LES strip by isoproterenol reduced these differences but did not eliminate them. The finding that interstitial cells of Cajal often had gap-junction contacts to smooth muscle and close associations with nerves is consistent with the hypothesis that interstitial cells are intercalated between the nerves and muscles and may mediate nerve responses. These findings also suggest that LES muscle cells may be less well coupled electrically than BCM muscle cells.

Action potentials in gastrointestinal smooth muscle

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 1133-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan D. Huizinga
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Interstitial Cells Of Cajal ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Interstitial Cells ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Wave Type ◽  
Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle ◽  
Cells Of Cajal

Recent investigation of the ultrastracture and electrophysiology of gastrointestinal smooth muscle layers has revealed a fascinating heterogeneity in cell type, cell structure, intercellular communication, and generated electrical activities. Networks of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) have been identified in many muscle layers and evidence is accumulating for a role of these networks in gut pacemaking activity. Synchronized motility in the organs of the gut result from interaction between ICC, neural-tissue, and smooth muscle cells. Regulation of cell to cell communication between the different cell types will be an important area for further research. Progress has been made in the elucidation of the ionic basis of the slow wave type action potentials and the spike-like action potentials. The mechanism underlying smooth muscle autorhythmicity seems different from that encountered in cardiac tissue, and evidence exists for metabolic regulation of the frequency of slow wave type action potentials.Key words: pacemaker activity, slow wave, autorhythmicity, interstitial cells of Cajal.

Proteins of interstitial cells of Cajal and intestinal smooth muscle, colocalized with caveolin-1

2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (3) ◽  
pp. G571-G585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woo Jung Cho ◽  
E. E. Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Gap Junction ◽  
Interstitial Cells Of Cajal ◽  
Smooth Muscles ◽  
Circular Muscle ◽  
Interstitial Cells ◽  
Caveolin 1 ◽  
Cells Of Cajal ◽  
Junction Proteins

The murine jejunum and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) were examined to determine the locations of various signaling molecules and their colocalization with caveolin-1 and one another. Caveolin-1 was present in punctate sites of the plasma membranes (PM) of all smooth muscles and diffusely in all classes of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC; identified by c-kit immunoreactivity), ICC-myenteric plexus (MP), ICC-deep muscular plexus (DMP), ICC-serosa (ICC-S), and ICC-intramuscularis (IM). In general, all ICC also contained the L-type Ca2+ (L-Ca2+) channel, the PM Ca2+ pump, and the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger-1 localized with caveolin-1. ICC in various sites also contained Ca2+-sequestering molecules such as calreticulin and calsequestrin. Calreticulin was present also in smooth muscle, frequently in the cytosol, whereas calsequestrin was present in skeletal muscle of the esophagus. Gap junction proteins connexin-43 and -40 were present in circular muscle of jejunum but not in longitudinal muscle or in LES. In some cases, these proteins were associated with ICC-DMP. The large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel was present in smooth muscle and skeletal muscle of esophagus and some ICC but was not colocalized with caveolin-1. These findings suggest that all ICC have several Ca2+-handling and -sequestering molecules, although the functions of only the L-Ca2+ channel are currently known. They also suggest that gap junction proteins are located at sites where ultrastructural gap junctions are know to exist in circular muscle of intestine but not in other smooth muscles. These findings also point to the need to evaluate the function of Ca2+ sequestration in ICC.

scholarly journals Interstitial Cells: Regulators of Smooth Muscle Function

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 859-907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenton M. Sanders ◽  
Sean M. Ward ◽  
Sang Don Koh
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Smooth Muscles ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Interstitial Cells ◽  
Pacemaker Activity ◽  
Molecular Features ◽  
Molecular Phenotypes ◽  
Cells Of Cajal

Smooth muscles are complex tissues containing a variety of cells in addition to muscle cells. Interstitial cells of mesenchymal origin interact with and form electrical connectivity with smooth muscle cells in many organs, and these cells provide important regulatory functions. For example, in the gastrointestinal tract, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and PDGFRα+cells have been described, in detail, and represent distinct classes of cells with unique ultrastructure, molecular phenotypes, and functions. Smooth muscle cells are electrically coupled to ICC and PDGFRα+cells, forming an integrated unit called the SIP syncytium. SIP cells express a variety of receptors and ion channels, and conductance changes in any type of SIP cell affect the excitability and responses of the syncytium. SIP cells are known to provide pacemaker activity, propagation pathways for slow waves, transduction of inputs from motor neurons, and mechanosensitivity. Loss of interstitial cells has been associated with motor disorders of the gut. Interstitial cells are also found in a variety of other smooth muscles; however, in most cases, the physiological and pathophysiological roles for these cells have not been clearly defined. This review describes structural, functional, and molecular features of interstitial cells and discusses their contributions in determining the behaviors of smooth muscle tissues.

scholarly journals Pyeloureteric peristalsis: role of atypical smooth muscle cells and interstitial cells of Cajal-like cells as pacemakers

2006 ◽  
Vol 576 (3) ◽  
pp. 695-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Lang ◽  
Mary A. Tonta ◽  
Beata Z. Zoltkowski ◽  
William F. Meeker ◽  
Igor Wendt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Interstitial Cells Of Cajal ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Interstitial Cells ◽  
Cells Of Cajal
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