Activation of large conductance potassium channels inhibits the afferent and efferent function of airway sensory nerves in the guinea pig.

Nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) contractile responses in guinea pig bronchi are due to the release of tachykinins from airway sensory nerves. The purpose of this study was to determine whether beta 2-receptor agonists modulate NANC contractions in guinea pig bronchi in vitro. Bronchial rings were suspended in organ baths for isometric measurement of tension, and comparable contractions were induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS; 40 V, 0.5 ms, 8 Hz for 20 s) or by exogenous substance P (3 microM). Aformoterol and salbutamol produced concentration-dependent inhibition of the NANC contraction, with aformoterol being ninefold more potent than salbutamol; approximate 50% inhibitory concentrations for aformoterol and salbutamol were 1.03 nM (n = 6) and 9.3 nM (n = 6), respectively. Aformoterol also inhibited the contraction induced by exogenous substance P but to a far lesser extent than its inhibition of EFS-induced responses. The inhibitory effects of formoterol (10 nM) on responses to EFS at 8 Hz were significantly prevented by propranolol (1 microM) and ICI 118551 (a beta 2-antagonist, 0.1 microM) but not by atenolol (a beta 1-antagonist, 1 microM) or phentolamine (10 microM). These experiments demonstrate that beta 2-agonists may modulate the release of tachykinins from airway sensory nerves by prejunctional receptors.

Download Full-text

Capsaicin-sensitive afferent nerves activate submucosal secretomotor neurons in guinea pig ileum

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpgi.1995.269.2.g203 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 269 (2) ◽

pp. G203-G209 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

S. Vanner ◽

W. K. MacNaughton

Keyword(s):

Guinea Pig ◽

Ion Transport ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Ussing Chamber ◽

Sensory Nerve ◽

Nerve Fibers ◽

Sensory Nerves ◽

Guinea Pig Ileum ◽

Secretomotor Neurons

This study examined whether capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves regulate intestinal ion transport using both Ussing chamber and intracellular recording techniques in in vitro submucosal preparations from the guinea pig ileum. In Ussing chamber studies, serosal application of capsaicin (20 nM-20 microM) evoked a biphasic dose-dependent increase in short-circuit current (Isc) (maximal effective concentration 200 nM and 2 microM, respectively). In chloride-free buffer, capsaicin responses were significantly reduced. Capsaicin evoked little or no response when extrinsic sensory nerve fibers had been surgically removed and tetrodotoxin and low-calcium and high-magnesium solutions blocked responses to capsaicin. In epithelial preparations devoid of submucosal neurons, capsaicin had virtually no effect, suggesting that responses evoked by capsaicin-sensitive nerves result from activation of submucosal secretomotor neurons. Intracellular recordings from single submucosal neurons demonstrated that superfusion with capsaicin (2 microM) depolarized neurons with an associated decreased conductance. Depolarizations were completely desensitized when capsaicin was reapplied, but synaptic inputs were unaffected. This study suggests that capsaicin-sensitive nerves can regulate ion transport in the gastrointestinal tract by release of neurotransmitter(s) that activate submucosal secretomotor neurons.

Download Full-text

Mechanism of action of capsaicin on submucosal arterioles in the guinea pig ileum

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpgi.1993.265.1.g51 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 265 (1) ◽

pp. G51-G55 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

S. Vanner

Keyword(s):

Guinea Pig ◽

Mechanism Of Action ◽

Sensory Nerves ◽

Human Calcitonin ◽

Prostaglandin F2 Alpha ◽

Afferent Fibers ◽

Calcitonin Gene ◽

Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists ◽

Repeated Applications

Vasomotor neurons in the enteric nervous system release acetylcholine to dilate submucosal arterioles, but it is not known whether sensory nerves that project to these vessels also can provide a vasodilator innervation. This possibility was examined by determining the mechanism of action of capsaicin on guinea pig ileal submucosal arterioles in vitro. Capsaicin dilated all vessels that had been preconstricted with prostaglandin F2 alpha; mean effective concentration was 11 nM, and maximal dilation occurred at 60-200 nM. The vasodilation showed marked desensitization upon repeated applications of capsaicin. Tetrodotoxin blocked the capsaicin-induced vasodilation but not the desensitization observed upon repeated application. Muscarinic receptor antagonists did not affect the actions of capsaicin. Capsaicin did not dilate arterioles whose extrinsic sensory afferent fibers had been surgically removed. Substance P and human calcitonin gene-related peptide II dilated arterioles; these dilations were not inhibited after desensitization of the capsaicin-induced vasodilation. Thus capsaicin dilates submucosal arterioles by selectively activating extrinsic afferent fibers that release vasodilator transmitter substances onto these vessels.

Download Full-text