The Morphology of the Gut of the Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)

1959 ◽  
Vol s3-100 (50) ◽  
pp. 183-198
Author(s):  
G. BURNSTOCK

1. In the trout gut a short oesophagus containing only striated circular muscles opens into a large cardiac stomach possessing inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle-coats, as well as a musculsris mucosse. Ahout 45 pyloric caeca come off the intestine, which, while containing muscle-coats, does not possess a muscularis mucosae. In the rectum, the longitudinal muscle is as thick as the circular muscle-coat, hut in other regions the circular muscle is dominant, especially in the pyloric stomach where it is over 10 times as thick ss the longitudinal layer. 2. The mucosa is distinguished by the presence of a prominent layer of dense collagen, the stratum compactum, which is perforated only by nerves and blood-vessels. This layer forms a firm and relatively inextensible (approximately 10% extensibility) basis to the gut-wall. It limits the extensibility of the smooth muscle to 75% radially in the stomach and 25% radially and longitudinally in the intestine. In contrast, the stomachs of the pike and perch, which do not possess a stratum compactum, extend up so 200%. 3. A detailed description of the regional junctions and sphincters gives a basis for the interpretation of events occurring in the living system. Valves at the junction of the pneumatic duct with the oesophagus, and between the duodenum and pyloric stomach, serve to prevent the regurgitation of gas and semi-digested food respectively. A complex sphincter mechanism exists at the pylorus, and to a lesser extent at the antrum. A series of about five circular muscle-constrictors represents the anus. 4. It is suggested that the cells forming the stratum granulosum, a layer closely associated with the stratum compactum, are composed of active fibroblast cells producing collagen. 5. The rectum contains a muscular annulo-spiral septum of unknown function which protrudes into the lumen.

1980 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-248
Author(s):  
ALLEN MANGEL ◽  
C. LADD PROSSER

The intact stomach of the toad initiates rhythmic slow-spikes of 5–15 s duration and frequency of 3-5 min−1. The spontaneous electrical waves originate in the longitudinal muscle layer; isolated circular muscle is quiescent. Aboral conduction velocity is 0.12–0.9 mm s−1. Reduction of external sodium concentration from 89.5 to 15 mM produced no effect on slow spikes, although further reduction to 1.5 mM increased frequency and decreased amplitude. Slow-spikes were unaffected by ouabain or by incubation in potassium-free solution. When calcium in the medium was reduced, slow-spike amplitude and frequency decreased. Slow-spikes exhibited a change in amplitude of 16 mV per decade change in CaO2+; slow-spikes were eliminated at 10−8 M CaO2+ and by blockers of calcium conductance channels. Intact intestine of toad demonstrated slow-waves which resembled those of mammalian intestine. These were sensitive to changes in external sodium and were eliminated by 1 × 10−4M ouabain. It is suggested that rhythmic slow-spikes of longitudinal smooth muscle of amphibian stomach may result from periodic changes in Ca conductance whereas endogenous electrical waves of intestine may result from rhythmic extrusion of sodium.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (1) ◽  
pp. G93-G102 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Murthy ◽  
J. F. Kuemmerle ◽  
G. M. Makhlouf

Recent studies have shown that Ca2+ mobilization in longitudinal muscle is initiated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-independent Ca2+ influx that acts as a trigger for Ca(2+)-induced Ca2R release. The present study examined whether arachidonic acid (AA) acts as mediator of the initial Ca2+ influx. Cholecystokinin octapeptide caused transient concentration-dependent increase in AA release in dispersed intestinal longitudinal but not circular muscle cells followed by sustained increase in both muscle cell types. The initial increase in AA release coincided with the initial Ca2+ transient and muscle contraction: all three events were abolished by guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), pertussis toxin (PTX), and the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, dimethyleicosadienoic acid, but were not affected by calphostin C or neomycin. Exogenous AA caused concentration-dependent contraction and increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in longitudinal but not circular muscle cells; both events were abolished by Ca2+ channel blockers. Depletion of Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin attenuated with thapsigargin attenuated agonist- and AA-mediated increase in [Ca2+]i and contraction in longitudinal muscle cells: the residual [Ca2+]i increase (35%) and contraction (25%) reflected the component of Ca2+ influx. We conclude that AA released by agonist-mediated G protein-dependent PTX-sensitive activation of PLA2 mediates Ca2+ influx, which then triggers Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release. The process is independent of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis and occurs exclusively in longitudinal smooth muscle, in which Ca2+ release channels are highly sensitive to Ca2+, ryanodine, and cyclic ADP-ribose and insensitive to IP3.


1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Garfield ◽  
G. Thilander ◽  
M. G. Blennerhassett ◽  
N. Sakai

Earlier, it was questioned whether gap junctions (GJs) were necessary for cell–cell communication in smooth muscle, and GJs were not seen in some smooth muscles. We reexamined this question in the myometrium and in intestinal smooth muscle, in light of current knowledge of the presence and function of GJs. In the uterus, numerous studies show that an increase in GJ number is associated with the onset of delivery and is required for effective parturition. In all cases, this increase in GJ number and the changes in uterine contractility were correlated with increased electrical and metabolic coupling. Evidence for the much smaller, but detectable, degree of electrical coupling in the preterm uterus is explained by the small (but again detectable) number of GJs present. In the intestine, GJs are readily detected in the circular muscle layer but have not been described in the adjacent longitudinal layer. While our immunohistochemical studies failed to detect GJs in the longitudinal layer, this may not be adequate to prove their absence. Therefore, current knowledge of GJ number and function is adequate to explain cell–cell coupling in the uterus. Although it remains uncertain whether GJs are absent from the longitudinal muscle of the intestine, there is no definitive evidence that cell–cell coupling can occur by means other than GJs.Key words: gap junctions, myometrium, connexins, smooth muscle, cell communication.


1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (5) ◽  
pp. G938-G946 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Vogalis ◽  
R. R. Bywater ◽  
G. S. Taylor

The electrical basis of propulsive contractions in the guinea pig choledochoduodenal junction (CDJ), which are triggered by distension, was investigated using intracellular microelectrode recording techniques. The isolated CDJ was placed in a continuously perfused tissue chamber at 37 degrees C. Membrane potential was recorded from smooth muscle cells in either the ampulla or in the upper CDJ (upper junction) regions, which were immobilized by pinning. Distension of the upper junction (20-30 s) by increasing intraductal hydrostatic pressure (mean elevation: 2.0 +/- 0.3 kPa, n = 13) triggered "transient depolarizations" (TDs: < 5 mV in amplitude and 2-5 s in duration) and action potentials in the circular muscle layer of the ampulla. The frequency of TDs in the ampulla was increased from 2.2 +/- 0.2 to 15.9 +/- 2.2 min-1 (n = 13) during distension. Simultaneous impalements of cells in the longitudinal and circular muscle layers in the ampulla revealed that subthreshold TDs in the circular layer were associated with an increased rate of action potential discharge in the longitudinal layer. Atropine (Atr; 1.4 x 10(-6) M) and tetrodotoxin (TTX; 3.1 x 10(-6) M blocked the distension-evoked increase in TD frequency, without affecting the frequency of ongoing TDs. The sulfated octapeptide of cholecystokinin (1-5 x 10(-8) M) increased the amplitude of TDs recorded in the circular muscle layer of the ampulla and increased action potential discharge rate. In separate recordings, radial stretch of the ampulla region increased the rate of discharge of action potentials in the smooth muscle of the upper junction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1984 ◽  
Vol 246 (5) ◽  
pp. G618-G626 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Elden ◽  
A. Bortoff

Space constants (lambda) were determined for longitudinal-circular muscle strips of cat jejunum by the partition method. Pulses of hyperpolarizing current spread along the major axes of circular muscle cells. In the absence of electrical coupling lambda measured from the longitudinal side of the strips should have been approximately 20 times shorter than lambda measured from the circular side. Median values were found to be statistically the same, 2.4 mm for the longitudinal side (n = 13) and 2.9 mm for the circular (n = 25). Methyl blue, iontophoretically injected into cells on the longitudinal side after recording large hyperpolarizing responses, was found in muscle cells located superficially in the longitudinal layer. The radial lambda for longitudinal muscle, determined from the change in magnitude of the hyperpolarizing response as the microelectrode was advanced through the layer, was 0.27 mm. This is too large to cause differences in depth of recording to significantly affect the circumferential lambda in this layer. These data provide evidence for a high degree of electrical coupling between the two muscle layers of cat jejunum.


1988 ◽  
Vol 254 (1) ◽  
pp. G124-G129 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Vermillion ◽  
S. M. Collins

We examined in vitro changes in contractility of jejunal longitudinal muscle strips in rats infected with the nematode parasite Trichinella spiralis. Length-passive tension relationships were unchanged. However, muscle from infected rats on days 5 and 6 postinfection (PI) generated maximal active tension induced by carbachol at significantly less stretch (39.9 +/- 1.0 and 34.3 +/- 6.3%, respectively) than control tissues (66.0 +/- 2.3%). In infected rats on day 5 PI, the maximum tension generated by carbachol (1.6 +/- 0.4 g/mm2) and by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HTP) (2.6 +/- 0.1 g/mm2) was significantly greater than in control tissue (0.5 +/- 0.2 g/mm2). On removal of calcium from the medium, responses of muscle from control and infected rats were reduced in a proportionate manner. The increased responsiveness to carbachol and 5-HTP was maximal by day 5 PI and was associated with a decrease in the ED50 value for 5-HTP but not for carbachol. All changes were reversed by 23 days PI. These results indicate that T. spiralis infection in the rat is associated with alterations in jejunal longitudinal smooth muscle function.


2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romina Vargiu ◽  
Anna Perinu ◽  
Antonello De Lisa ◽  
Frank Tintrup ◽  
Francesco Manca ◽  
...  

Background Ureteral peristalsis is the result of coordinated mechanical motor performance of longitudinal and circular smooth muscle layer of the ureter wall. The main aim of this study was to characterize in smooth muscle of proximal segments of human ureter, the mechanical properties at level of muscle tissue and at level of myosin molecular motors. Methods Ureteral samples were collected from 15 patients, who underwent nephrectomy for renal cancer. Smooth muscle strips longitudinally and circularly oriented from proximal segments of human ureter were used for the in vitro experiments. Mechanical indices including the maximum unloaded shortening velocity (Vmax), and the maximum isometric tension (P0) normalized per cross-sectional area, were determined in vitro determined in electrically evoked contractions of longitudinal and circular smooth muscle strips. Myosin cross-bridge (CB) number per mm2 (Ψ) the elementary force per single CB (Ψ) and kinetic parameters were calculated in muscle strips, using Huxley's equations adapted to nonsarcomeric muscles. Results Longitudinal smooth muscle strips exhibited a significantly (p<0.05) faster Vmax (63%) and a higher P0 (40%), if compared to circular strips. Moreover, longitudinal muscle strips showed a significantly higher unitary force (Ψ) per CB. However, no significant differences were observed in CB number, the attachment (f1) and the detachment (g2) rate constants between longitudinal and circular muscle strips. Conclusions The main result obtained in the present work documents that the mechanical, energetic and unitary forces per CB of longitudinal layer of proximal ureter are better compared to the circular one; these preliminary findings suggested, unlike intestinal smooth muscle, a major role of longitudinal smooth muscle layer in the ureter peristalsis.


1979 ◽  
Vol 236 (1) ◽  
pp. E33
Author(s):  
S Anuras ◽  
D L Faulk ◽  
J Christensen

Longitudinal muscle strips (LMS) and circular muscle strips (CMS), 2 mm wide and 1.5--2 cm long, from opossum duodenum were exposed to some autonomic agonists. The cholinergic agonists, acetylcholine, carbachol, methacholine, and bethanechol stimulated only tonic contractions in LMS and tonic followed by phasic contractions in CMS. These effects were abolished by atropine 10(-6) M. The ED50S of all cholinergic agonists for LMS were significantly lower than for CMS. Norepinephrine caused initial contraction (abolished by phenoxybenzamine, 10(-4) M), followed by relaxation (abolished by propranolol, 10(-5) M), and isopropylnorepinephrine caused relaxation (abolished by propranolol, 10(-5) M) in both layers. There were no differences in relative potencies for adrenergic agonists between the layers. Tetrodotoxin did not affect the response to adrenergic agonists. Thus, the potency of cholinergic agonists is greater in longitudinal than in circular muscle, and the layers respond differently to cholinergic agonists. The alpha-adrenergic receptors mediate contraction and beta-adrenergic receptors mediate relaxation on the duodenal smooth muscle.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (6) ◽  
pp. G883-G895 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Farrelly ◽  
S. Ro ◽  
B. P. Callaghan ◽  
M. A. Khoyi ◽  
N. Fleming ◽  
...  

Previous studies suggest that ether-a-go-go related gene (ERG) KCNH2 potassium channels contribute to the control of motility patterns in the gastrointestinal tract of animal models. The present study examines whether these results can be translated into a role in human gastrointestinal muscles. Messages for two different variants of the KCNH2 gene were detected: KCNH2 V1 human ERG (HERG) (28) and KCNH2 V2 (HERGUSO) (13). The amount of V2 message was greater than V1 in both human jejunum and brain. The base-pair sequence that gives rise to domains S3– S5 of the channel was identical to that previously published for human KCNH2 V1 and V2. KCNH2 protein was detected immunohistochemically in circular and longitudinal smooth muscle and enteric neurons but not in interstitial cells of Cajal. In the presence of TTX (10−6 M), atropine (10−6M). and l-nitroarginine (10−4 M) human jejunal circular muscle strips contracted phasically (9 cycles/min) and generated slow waves with superimposed spikes. Low concentrations of the KCNH2 blockers E-4031 (10−8 M) and MK-499 (3 × 10−8 M) increased phasic contractile amplitude and the number of spikes per slow wave. The highest concentration of E-4031 (10−6 M) produced a 10–20 mV depolarization, eliminated slow waves, and replaced phasic contractions with a small tonic contracture. E-4031 (10−6 M) did not affect [14C]ACh release from enteric neurons. We conclude that KCNH2 channels play a fundamental role in the control of motility patterns in human jejunum through their ability to modulate the electrical behavior of smooth muscle cells.


Gut ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Gattuso ◽  
M A Kamm ◽  
I C Talbot

Background—The aetiology and pathology of both idiopathic megarectum and idiopathic megacolon are unknown. In particular, it is unknown whether there are abnormalities involving enteric nerves or smooth muscle.Methods—Resected tissue was examined from 24 patients who underwent surgery for idiopathic megarectum, from six patients who had tissue resected for idiopathic megacolon, and 17 control patients who had surgery for non-obstructing large bowel cancer. Qualitative and quantitative histological examination was performed after staining with haematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid Schiff (PAS), Martius scarlet blue (MSB), and phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin (PTAH). Neural and glial tissue were examined after immunostaining with S100 and PGP9.5.Results—Compared with controls, patients with idiopathic megarectum had significant thickening of their muscularis mucosae (median 78 v 33 μm, p<0.005), circular muscle (1000 v 633 μm, p<0.005), and longitudinal muscle (1083v 303 μm, p<0.005), despite rectal dilatation. This thickening was relatively greater in the longitudinal than in the circular muscle. Fibrosis of the longitudinal muscle was seen, using MSB staining, in 58%, of circular muscle in 38%, and of muscularis mucosae in 29% of patients. The relation between muscle thickening and fibrosis was variable. The density of neural tissue in the longitudinal muscle seemed to be reduced in patients with idiopathic megarectum. There was no thickening of enteric muscle or alteration in the density of innervation in patients with idiopathic megacolon.Conclusion—There is notable thickening of the enteric smooth muscle in patients with idiopathic megarectum, but the architecture of the enteric innervation seems to be intact. Functional abnormalities of the latter remain a possible cause of the smooth muscle hypertrophy.


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