Physiology - Research Publications

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    A detailed, conductance-based computer model of intrinsic sensory neurons of the gastrointestinal tract
    Chambers, JD ; Bornstein, JC ; Gwynne, RM ; Koussoulas, K ; Thomas, EA (AMER PHYSIOLOGICAL SOC, 2014-09-01)
    Intrinsic sensory neurons (ISNs) of the enteric nervous system respond to stimuli such as muscle tension, muscle length, distortion of the mucosa, and the chemical content in the lumen. ISNs form recurrent networks that probably drive many intestinal motor patterns and reflexes. ISNs express a large number of voltage- and calcium-gated ion channels, some of which are modified by inflammation or repeated physiological stimuli, but how interactions between different ionic currents in ISNs produce both normal and pathological behaviors in the intestine remains unclear. We constructed a model of ISNs including voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels, N-type calcium channels, big conductance calcium-dependent potassium (BK) channels, calcium-dependent nonspecific cation channels (NSCa), intermediate conductance calcium-dependent potassium (IK) channels, hyperpolarization-activated cation (Ih) channels, and internal calcium dynamics. The model was based on data from the literature and our electrophysiological studies. The model reproduced responses to short or long depolarizing current pulses and responses to long hyperpolarizing current pulses. Sensitivity analysis showed that Ih, IK, NSCa, and BK have the largest influence on the number of action potentials observed during prolonged depolarizations. The model also predicts that changes to the voltage of activation for Ih have a large influence on excitability, but changes to the time constant of activation for Ih have a minor effect. Our model identifies how interactions between different iconic currents influence the excitability of ISNs and highlights an important role for Ih in enteric neuroplasticity resulting from disease.
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    Serotonin and cholecystokinin mediate nutrient-induced segmentation in guinea pig small intestine
    Ellis, M ; Chambers, JD ; Gwynne, RM ; Bornstein, JC (AMER PHYSIOLOGICAL SOC, 2013-04)
    Segmentation is an important process in nutrient mixing and absorption; however, the mechanisms underlying this motility pattern are poorly understood. Segmentation can be induced by luminal perfusion of fatty acid in guinea pig small intestine in vitro and mimicked by the serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (300 nM) and by cholecystokinin (CCK). Serotonergic and CCK-related mechanisms underlying nutrient-induced segmentation were investigated using selective 5-HT and CCK receptor antagonists on isolated segments of small intestine luminally perfused with 1 mM decanoic acid. Motility patterns were analyzed using video imaging and spatiotemporal maps. Segmenting activity mediated by decanoic acid was depressed following luminal application of the 5-HT receptor antagonists granisetron (5-HT(3), 1 μM) and SB-207266 (5-HT(4), 10 nM) and the CCK receptor antagonists devazepide (CCK-1, 300 nM) and L-365260 (CCK-2, 300 nM), but these antagonists did not further depress segmentation when combined. The P2 receptor antagonist pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate (10 μM) had no effect on activity. Serosal application of 5-HT antagonists had little effect on segmentation in the duodenum but reduced activity in the jejunum when granisetron and SB-207266 were applied together. These results reveal that 5-HT(3) and 5-HT(4) receptors, as well as CCK-1 and CCK-2 receptors, are critical in regulating decanoic acid-induced segmentation. Computational simulation indicated that these data are consistent with decanoic acid activating two pathways in the mucosa that converge within the enteric neural circuitry, while contraction-induced release of 5-HT from the mucosa provides feedback into the neural circuit to set the time course of the overall contractile activity.