大鼠泻剂结肠肠壁神经生长因子受体p75的表达及其意义

背景：神经生长因子（NGF）及其受体与肠神经系统关系密切，演剂结肠有肠壁神经丛损害，但NGF受体p75在泻剂结肠中的表达和作用尚不明确。目的：研究NGF受体p75在正常大鼠和泻剂结肠大鼠中的表达及其在泻剂结肠形成中的意义。方法：采用大黄和酚酞建立泻剂结肠大鼠模型，以墨汁推进试验测定其传输功能：采用免疫组化法对正常大鼠和泻剂结肠大鼠的结肠肠壁进行p75检测。观察其在肠壁中的分布和表达情况。结果：与对照组相比，模型组肠道传输功能明显减慢，大黄组和酚酞组黑染肠管长度和百分比（黑染肠管长度／肠管总长度）均较对照组显著减低（P〈0．01，P〈0．05）。p75存正常大鼠结肠黏膜下神经丛中呈阳性表达，在肌间神经丛中多呈弱阳性表达。大黄组中p75表达明显增强，黏膜下神经丛亦呈强阳性表达，与对照组相比有显著差异（P〈0．01）；肌间神经从中多呈阳性表达（P〈0．05）。酚酞组黏膜下神经丛呈阳性表达，肌间神绎丛3只呈阳性表达，余表现为弱阳性或阴性，与对照组相比无明显差异。结论：p75在泻剂结肠中的异常表达可能参与肠神经丛冲经元细胞的退化变性或凋亡．从而引起泻剂结肠的肠神经系统病理变化，进一步导致结肠动力异常。这种损害与长期应用刺激性泻剂有关。     

Pharmacological modulation of the hyperpolarization-activated current (I f) in human atrial myocytes: focus on G protein-coupled receptors

AIMS: In human atrial myocytes (HuAM) two beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-AR) and four splicing-variants of the serotonin 5-HT(4) receptor are present. Multiple coupling with G stimulatory (G(s)) and G inhibitory (G(i)) proteins has been proposed for both beta(2)-AR and 5-HT((4b)) subtypes, but no functional data exist in HuAM. Serotonin (5-HT) and catecholamines are able to trigger arrhythmias in human atrium, but the underlying cellular mechanisms are not completely understood. The pacemaker current (I(f)) is an inward Na(+)/K(+) current, constitutively present in HuAM and directly modulated by cAMP; I(f) could play a role in triggering human atrial arrhythmias. This study evaluated the different G protein coupling of beta(1)-AR, beta(2)-AR and 5-HT(4) receptors by assessing the modulation of I(f) by selective stimuli. METHODS: HuAM were isolated from right atrial appendages and utilized for patch-clamp recording. The coupling of receptor subtypes with G(i) proteins was tested by incubating HuAM in pertussis toxin (PTX). RESULTS: Beta(1)-AR stimulation (Isoprenaline [ISO] + ICI 118,551), and 5-HT caused a concentration-dependent significant shift of the half activation potential of I(f) activation curve (DeltaV(h)), P < 0.01. beta(2)-AR stimulation (ISO 1 microM + CGP 20712A) also significantly shifted V(h) (P < 0.0001), but with DeltaV(h)[beta(2)-AR] significantly smaller than the effect caused by 1 microM beta(1)-AR stimulation (P < 0.05). Pre-treatment of HuAM with PTX did not alter the effect of beta(1)-AR stimulation (both 0.1 and 1 microM) and 1 microM 5-HT on I(f), but significantly increased the effect in response to beta(2)-AR stimulation and 0.1 microM 5-HT (P < 0.05 for both), thus suggesting a G(i) protein coupling of these receptors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide the first functional evidence of the different G protein coupling of beta(1)-AR, beta(2)-AR and 5-HT(4) receptors in HuAM. Further they support the view that I(f) current might play an important role in triggering catecholamines and serotonin-induced atrial arrhythmias.     

Intestinal Auerbach plexus structures with NADH histochemistry in three strains of spontaneous diabetic rats

The enteric nervous system comprises two major systems: the submucosal and the myenteric plexus. The aim of this study was to describe the myenteric plexus from three strains of spontaneous diabetic rats from the histological point of view. Samples of small intestine and of proximal and distal colon were obtained fom three spontaneous diabetic rats i.e., eSS, eSMT, beta strains and 1-year old Wistar rats. Specimens were stained with NADH (beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced form) histochemical technique and examined with light microscope. Microscopically little modifications in mesh-like structure of intestinal Auerbach's plexus from eSS were detected in comparison with Wistar rats samples. Intestinal plexus of eSMT and beta rats showed disruption of mesh-like structures, modifications in the slightly colored background (smooth muscle) and augmented vascularization. Small intestine and colon are affected. In short: In our spontaneously diabetic rat models, mesh-like structure of Auerbach's plexus is strain dependent.     

Role of nitric oxide/cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP in beta3 adrenoceptor-chronotropic response

In this study we determine different signaling pathways involved in beta(3) adrenoceptor (beta(3)-AR) dependent frequency stimulation in isolated rodent atria. Promiscuous coupling between different G-proteins and beta(3)-AR could explain the multiple functional effects of beta(3)-AR stimulation. We examine the mechanisms and functional consequences of dual adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase pathways coupling to beta(3)-AR in isolated rodent atria. The beta(3)-AR selective agonists ZD 7114 and ICI 215001 stimulated in a dose-dependent manner the contraction frequency that significantly correlated with cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation. Inhibition of adenylate cyclase shifted the chronotropic effect to the right. On the other hand, the ZD 7114 activity on frequency was enhanced by the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and soluble guanylate cyclase. This countervailing negative chronotropic nitric oxide-cyclic GMP (NO-cGMP) significantly correlated with the increase on NOS activity and cGMP accumulation. Current analysis showed a negative cross talk between cAMP chronotropic and NO-cGMP effects by inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC), calcium/calmodulin (CaM), protein kinase C (PKC), NOS isoforms and Gi-protein on the effects of beta(3)-AR stimulation. RT-PCR detected both eNOS and nNOS in isolated rat atria. NOS isoforms performed independently. Only nNOS participated in limiting the effect of beta(3)-AR stimulation. In eNOS-KO (eNOS-/-) mice the chronotropic effect of beta(3)-AR agonists did not differ from wild type (WT) mice atria, but it was increased by the inhibition of nNOS activity. Our results suggest that the increase in frequency by beta(3)-AR activation on isolated rodent atria is associated to a parallel increases in cAMP. The nNOS-cGMP pathway negatively modulates beta(3)-AR activation. Multiple signal transduction pathways between G-protein and beta(3)-AR may protect myocardium from catecholamine-induced cardiotoxic effects.     

Ucn3及其受体CRFR2在肠易激综合征大鼠模型肠神经系统中的表达

目的:探讨尿皮质素3(Urocotin3,Ucn3)及其受体促肾上腺皮质释放因子受体2(corticotrophin releasing factor receptor2,CRFR2)在肠易激综合征中的表达.方法:将36只180-220g的Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组(N)、急性应激组(A,急性束缚1h)、慢性应激组(C,28d不可预知轻度应激)、急慢性联合应激组(AC,在慢性应激基础上给予急性束缚)4组建模.采用排便粒数、敞箱行为评分和蔗糖水偏嗜度评价动物模型.建成后留取大鼠结肠组织,采用Real-timePCR方法检测各组大鼠结肠中Ucn3及其受体CRFR2表达水平的变化.结果:Ucn3在各组大鼠结肠中的表达:N组1.108±0.293,A组3.594±1.839,C组1.852±0.674,AC组3.989±1.591,各应激组Ucn3的表达均高于对照组(P<0.05),各应激组间A组vsC组(P<0.017),C组vsAC组(P<0.002),表达有统计学差异.CRFR2在各组大鼠结肠中的表达:N组1.042±0.217,A组2.119±0.468,C组1.568±0.507,AC组2.392±0.840,各应激组CRFR2的表达均高于对照组(P<0.05).各应激组之间没有统计学差异.结论:慢性应激、慢急性联合应激建立肠易激综合征大鼠模型重复性好.Ucn3及其受体CRFR2在肠易激综合征中表达升高,且Ucn3在急性应激后升高比慢性应激后更明显.     

Serotonin excites neurons in the human submucous plexus via 5-HT3 receptors

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) is a key signaling molecule in the gut. Recently, the neural 5-HT3 receptor received a lot of attention as a possible target in functional bowel diseases. Yet, the 5-HT3 receptor-mediated changes in properties of human enteric neurons is unknown. METHODS: We used a fast imaging technique in combination with the potentiometric dye 1-(3-sulfonatopropyl)-4-[beta[2-(di-n-octylamino)-6-naphthyl]vinyl]pyridinium betaine to monitor directly the membrane potential changes in neurons of human submucous plexus from surgical specimens of 21 patients. An Ussing chamber technique was used to study 5-HT3 receptor involvement in chloride secretion. RESULTS: Local microejection of 5-HT directly onto ganglion cells resulted in a transient excitation of enteric neurons characterized by increased spike discharge. This response was mimicked by the 5-HT3 receptor agonist, 2-methyl-5-HT, and blocked by the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, tropisetron. The proportions of 5-HT-responsive nerve cells per ganglion ranged from 25.5% +/- 18.4% in the duodenum to 54.2% +/- 46.9% in the colon. Interestingly, 2-methyl-5-HT did not evoke chloride secretion in the human intestine but it did in the guinea-pig intestine. Specific 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B receptor subunit immunoreactivity as well as 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B receptor-specific messenger RNA were detected in the tissue samples. Based on co-labeling with the pan-neuronal marker HuC/D we conclude that submucous nerve cells potentially express heteromeric 5-HT3A/B receptors. CONCLUSIONS: We show that 5-HT excited human enteric neurons via 5-HT3 receptors, which may comprise both 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B receptor subunits.     

An increase in murine skeletal muscle peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha) mRNA in response to exercise is mediated by beta-adrenergic receptor activation

A single bout of exercise increases expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1alpha mRNA, which may promote mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle. In brown adipose tissue, cold exposure up-regulates PGC-1alpha expression via adrenergic receptor (AR) activation. Because exercise also activates the sympathetic nervous system, we examined whether exercise-induced increase in PGC-1alpha mRNA expression in skeletal muscle was mediated via AR activation. In C57BL/6J mice, injection of the beta2-AR agonist clenbuterol, but not alpha-, beta1-, or beta3-AR agonists, increased PGC-1alpha mRNA expression more than 30-fold in skeletal muscle. The clenbuterol-induced increase in PGC-1alpha mRNA expression in mice was inhibited by pretreatment with the beta-AR antagonist propranolol. In ex vivo experiments, direct exposure of rat epitrochlearis to beta2-AR agonist, but not alpha-, beta1-, and beta3-AR agonist, led to an increase in levels of PGC-1alpha mRNA. Injection of beta2-AR agonist did not increase PGC-1alpha mRNA expression in beta1-, beta2-, and beta3-AR knockout mice (beta-less mice). PGC-1alpha mRNA in gastrocnemius was increased 3.5-fold in response to running on a treadmill for 45 min. The exercise-induced increase in PGC-1alpha mRNA was inhibited by approximately 70% by propranolol or the beta2-AR-specific inhibitor ICI 118,551. The exercise-induced increase in PGC-1alpha mRNA in beta-less mice was also 36% lower than that in wild-type mice. These data indicate that up-regulation of PGC-1alpha expression in skeletal muscle by exercise is mediated, at least in part, by beta-ARs activation. Among ARs, beta2-AR may mediate an increase in PGC-1alpha by exercise.     

5-HT4 Receptors contribute to the motor stimulating effect of levosulpiride in the guinea-pig gastrointestinal tract

BACKGROUND: The dopamine D2 receptor antagonist levosulpiride is a substituted benzamide derivative, whose gastrokinetic properties are exploited clinically for the management of functional dyspepsia. However, for other benzamide derivatives, such as cisapride and mosapride, agonism towards serotonin 5-HT4 receptors is considered the main mechanism leading to gastrointestinal prokinesia. AIMS: To assess whether levosulpiride is able to activate 5-HT4 receptors in the guinea-pig isolated gastrointestinal tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Circular muscle strips from gastric antrum, and colonic longitudinal muscle strips were used to detect electrically stimulated neurogenic contractions. The effect of levosulpiride was assessed in the absence and presence of GR125487, a selective 5-HT4 receptor antagonist. Furthermore, potential interaction of levosulpiride with 5-HT3 receptors and tissue cholinesterases was assessed in unstimulated ileal longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparations. RESULTS: Antral and colonic strip contractions were cholinergic/tachykinergic in nature. Micromolar concentrations of levosulpiride potentiated submaximal responses, through a mechanism competitively antagonized by GR125487 (pKB=9.4). In LMMPs, levosulpiride slightly affected contractions caused by the 5-HT, receptor agonist 2-methyl-5-HT, and had no effect on contractions to exogenous acetylcholine. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that levosulpiride acts as a moderate agonist at the 5-HT4 receptor. This property, together with antagonism at D2 receptors, may contribute to its gastrointestinal prokinetic effect.     

A Nitrergic Secretomotor Neurotransmitter in the Chloride Secretory Response to Serotonin

The neural secretory response to serotonin is mediated by enteric nerve-based 5-HT3 receptors via a nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmitter. We hypothesize that nitric oxide (NO) is this neurotransmitter, acting through cGMP at the secretory cell level to induce chloride secretion in the rat distal colon. Chambered colon was exposed to the 5-HT3 agonist, 2-methyl-5-HT, in the presence and absence of potent neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitors, quantifying changes in short-circuit current (delta I(SC)). Isotopic chloride efflux was measured in isolated colonocytes treated with a NO* donor (DNO) or cGMP analogue in the presence and absence of a guanylyl cyclase antagonist. Cyclic GMP production was quantified in both models. Pretreatment with potent nNOS antagonists significantly reduced the concentration-dependent 2-methyl-5-HT-induced delta I(SC). 2-Methyl-5-HT caused significant cGMP production. DNO induced cGMP production and cGMP-dependent chloride efflux in colonocyte populations. These data indicate that NO is a secretomotor neurotransmitter in response to serotonin.     

Physiological evidence for β3-adrenoceptor in frog (Rana esculenta) heart

β3-Adrenergic receptors (ARs) have been recently identified in mammalian hearts where, unlike β1- and β2-ARs, induce cardio-suppressive effects. The aim of this study was to describe β3-AR role in the frog (Rana esculenta) heart and to examine its signal transduction pathway. The presence of β3-AR, by using Western blotting analysis, has been also identified. BRL₃₇₃₄₄, a selective β3-AR agonist, induced a dose-dependent negative inotropic effect at concentrations from 10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁶ M. This effect was not modified by nadolol (β1/β2-AR antagonist) and by phentolamine (α-AR antagonist), but it was suppressed by the β3-AR-specific antagonist SR₅₉₂₃₀ and by exposure to the Gi/o proteins inhibitor Pertussis Toxin. In addition, the involvement of EE-NOS-cGMP-PKG/PDE2 pathway in the negative inotropism of BRL₃₇₃₄₄ has been assessed. BRL₃₇₃₄₄ treatment induced eNOS and Akt phosphorylation as well as an increase of cGMP levels. β3-ARs activation induce a non-competitive antagonism against ISO stimulation which disappeared in presence of PKG and PDE2 inhibition. Taken together our findings provide, for the first time in the frog, a role for β3-ARs in the cardiac performance modulation which involves Gi/o protein and occurs via an EE-NO-cGMP-PKG/PDE2 cascade.     

腹泻型肠易激综合征模型大鼠结肠黏膜下神经丛神经元的改变

目的 检测慢急性联合应激腹泻型肠易激综合征(IBS-D)模型大鼠结肠黏膜下神经丛(SMP)神经元总数以及特异性标志物阳性神经元的变化,从肠神经系统(ENS)水平推断神经元改变在肠易激综合征(IBS)发病中的作用.方法 建立慢急性联合应激IBS-D大鼠模型,留取大鼠结肠制作SMP全层铺片标本.应用免疫组织荧光双染法检测SMP中神经元总数以及乙酰胆碱转移酶(CHAT)、血管活性肠肽(VIP)和一氧化氮合酶(NOS)阳性神经元数目和比例,评价IBS-D模型大鼠ENS神经元的改变.结果 IBS-D模型大鼠结肠SMP神经节和神经元总数无明显改变.与对照组相比,IBS-D模型大鼠结肠SMP中VIP阳性神经元比例明显增高(62.2%±6.2%比55.4%±5.4%,P<0.05),NOS阳性神经元比例亦明显增高(15.0%±4.0%比10.5%±2.9%,P<0.05),ChAT阳性神经元比例无明显改变.结论 IBS-D模型大鼠结肠SMP中VIP阳性神经元和NOS阳性神经元比例增高,提示在慢急性联合应激诱发1BS-D时,ENS中SMP神经元的变化可能通过增加肠道分泌而导致或加重腹泻症状.     

激动β_3肾上腺素受体对载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠肺脏血管紧张素受体表达的影响

目的探讨激动β3肾上腺素受体(β3-AR)对载脂蛋白E基因敲除(apoE-/-)老年高脂小鼠肺脏血管紧张素受体(ATR)表达的影响。方法野生型C57BL/6J小鼠10只作为对照组,apoE-/-老年高脂小鼠40只随机分为高脂模型组、β3-AR激动剂小剂量组(小剂量组)、β3-AR激动剂大剂量组(大剂量组)和β3-AR拮抗剂组(拮抗剂组),每组10只。给予高脂饮食饲养至36周龄后分别给予药物干预12周。采用全自动生化分析仪检测TC和VLDL/LDL-C水平,实时定量PCR或Western blot测定肺组织β3-AR、AT1R和AT2R的mRNA及蛋白表达水平。结果与高脂模型组比较,小剂量组、大剂量组TC和VLDL/LDL-C水平明显降低[(18.27±1.30)mmol/L,(17.06±1.50)mmol/L vs(22.20±1.29)mmol/L和(14.31±0.31)mmol/L,(12.78±0.55)mmol/L vs(19.41±0.40)mmol/L,P<0.01]。与对照组比较,高脂模型组和拮抗剂组AT1R mRNA和AT1R蛋白水平明显升高,AT2R mRNA、β3-AR蛋白水平明显降低(P<0.05)。与高脂模型组比较,小剂量组和大剂量组AT1R表达下调,AT2R和β3-AR表达上调(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论β3-AR激动剂在改善apoE-/-老年高脂小鼠血脂代谢紊乱的同时,影响了肺组织β3-AR和ATR各亚型表达,这种受体间交互作用可能与维持高脂血症条件下肺脏的正常功能有关。     

Serratia marcescens is injurious to intestinal epithelial cells

Diarrhea causes substantial morbidity and mortality in children in low-income countries. Although numerous pathogens cause diarrhea, the etiology of many episodes remains unknown. Serratia marcescens is incriminated in hospital-associated infections, and HIV/AIDS associated diarrhea. We have recently found that Serratia spp. may be found more commonly in the stools of patients with diarrhea than in asymptomatic control children. We therefore investigated the possible enteric pathogenicity of S. marcescens in vitro employing a polarized human colonic epithelial cell (T84) monolayer. Infected monolayers were assayed for bacterial invasion, transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), cytotoxicity, interleukin-8 (IL-8) release and morphological changes by scanning electron microscopy. We observed significantly greater epithelial cell invasion by S. marcescens compared to Escherichia coli strain HS (p = 0.0038 respectively). Cell invasion was accompanied by reduction in TEER and secretion of IL-8. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) extracellular concentration rapidly increased within a few hours of exposure of the monolayer to S. marcescens. Scanning electron microscopy of S. marcescens-infected monolayers demonstrated destruction of microvilli and vacuolization. Our results suggest that S. marcescens interacts with intestinal epithelial cells in culture and induces dramatic alterations similar to those produced by known enteric pathogens.     

Differential expression of cannabinoid receptors in the human colon: cannabinoids promote epithelial wound healing

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Two G-protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors, termed CB1 and CB2, have been identified and several mammalian enteric nervous systems express CB1 receptors and produce endocannabinoids. An immunomodulatory role for the endocannabinoid system in gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders has been proposed and this study sought to determine the location of both cannabinoid receptors in human colon and to investigate epithelial receptor function. METHODS: The location of CB1 and CB2 receptors in human colonic tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. Primary colonic epithelial cells were treated with both synthetic and endogenous cannabinoids in vitro, and biochemical coupling of the receptors to known signaling events was determined by immunoblotting. Human colonic epithelial cell lines were used in cannabinoid-binding studies and as a model for in vitro wound-healing experiments. RESULTS: CB1-receptor immunoreactivity was evident in normal colonic epithelium, smooth muscle, and the submucosal myenteric plexus. CB1- and CB2-receptor expression was present on plasma cells in the lamina propria, whereas only CB2 was present on macrophages. CB2 immunoreactivity was seen in the epithelium of colonic tissue characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease. Cannabinoids enhanced epithelial wound closure either alone or in combination with lysophosphatidic acid through a CB1-lysophosphatidic acid 1 heteromeric receptor complex. CONCLUSIONS: CB1 receptors are expressed in normal human colon and colonic epithelium is responsive biochemically and functionally to cannabinoids. Increased epithelial CB2-receptor expression in human inflammatory bowel disease tissue implies an immunomodulatory role that may impact on mucosal immunity.     

Development of beta 3-adrenoceptor agonists for the treatment of obesity and diabetes--an update.

Beta 3-adrenoceptor (beta 3-AR) agonists were found to have remarkable anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects in rodents shortly after their discovery in the early 1980s. Despite these promising qualities, several pharmaceutical problems and theoretical concerns have slowed the development of these products as therapeutic agents in humans during the last 15 years. To date, the pharmaceutical industry has not been successful in developing a beta 3-AR agonist for use in the treatment of human obesity and type 2 diabetes. Pharmaceutical problems in this area concern important differences between rodent and human beta 3-AR and the difficulty in finding a compound with sufficient bioavailability that is a highly selective and full agonist at the human receptor. Some of these problems seem to have been solved with the cloning of the human beta 3-AR, which has made it possible to develop novel compounds directly and specifically against the human receptor. However, several theoretical concerns still remain. These include the major question as to whether the number of biologically active beta 3-ARs in adult humans is sufficient to produce relevant metabolic effects and, if so, whether their long-term stimulation is safe and free of unwarranted side effects. In addition, the mechanisms of action of beta 3-AR agonists remain poorly understood. Recent studies using CL 316,243, a highly selective beta 3-adrenergic compound, have provided new insights into the potential mechanisms of action of these drugs in rodents as well as the first evidence that treatment with a highly selective beta 3-AR agonist exerts relevant metabolic effects in humans. It appears that chronic beta 3-adrenergic stimulation in white adipose tissue increases the expression of newly discovered mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCP 2 and 3) and a "reawakening" of dormant brown adipocytes. In addition, beta 3-ARs may be present in skeletal muscle where ectopic expression of UCP-1 has been reported. If these findings are confirmed, tissues other than brown fat may play an important role in mediating beta 3-adrenergic effects on thermogenesis and substrate oxidation. In humans, treatment with CL 316,243 for 8 weeks, in spite of limited bioavailability, induced marked plasma concentration-dependent increases in insulin sensitivity, lipolysis, and fat oxidation in lean volunteers, without causing beta 1-, or beta 2-mediated side effects. These results clearly indicate that favourable metabolic effects can be achieved by selective beta 3-AR stimulation in humans. The compounds of the next generation currently emerging from preclinical development are full agonists at the human beta 3-AR. These agents have demonstrated promising results in non-human primates. It will be interesting to see whether their efficacy in clinical trials is superior to that achieved with previous (rodent) beta 3-AR agonists and, if so, whether their effects will eventually translate into weight loss and improved metabolic control that could facilitate their use as effective drugs for the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes in humans.     

Alterations in the brain-gut axis underlying visceral chemosensitivity in Nippostrongylus brasiliensis-infected mice

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Visceral hypersensitivity, a hallmark of irritable bowel syndrome, is generally considered to be mechanosensitive in nature and mediated via spinal afferents. Both stress and inflammation are implicated in visceral hypersensitivity, but the underlying molecular mechanisms of visceral hypersensitivity are unknown. METHODS: Mice were infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) larvae, exposed to environmental stress and the following separate studies performed 3-4 weeks later. Mesenteric afferent nerve activity was recorded in response to either ramp balloon distention (60 mm Hg), or to an intraluminal perfusion of hydrochloric acid (50 mmol/L), or to octreotide administration (2 micromol/L). Intraperitoneal injection of cholera toxin B-488 identified neurons projecting to the abdominal viscera. Fluorescent neurons in dorsal root and nodose ganglia were isolated using laser-capture microdissection. RNA was hybridized to Affymetrix Mouse whole genome arrays for analysis to evaluate the effects of stress and infection. RESULTS: In mice previously infected with Nb, there was no change in intestinal afferent mechanosensitivity, but there was an increase in chemosensitive responses to intraluminal hydrochloric acid when compared with control animals. Gene expression profiles in vagal but not spinal visceral sensory neurons were significantly altered in stressed Nb-infected mice. Decreased afferent responses to somatostatin receptor 2 stimulation correlated with lower expression of vagal somatostatin receptor 2 in stressed Nb-infected mice, confirming a link between molecular data and functional sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in the intestinal brain-gut axis, in chemosensitivity but not mechanosensitivity, and through vagal rather than spinal pathways, are implicated in stress-induced postinflammatory visceral hypersensitivity.     

The role of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) in the normal human colon in vitro

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The possibility that interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) is a neuromodulator of the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory nerves which may be mediated by nitric oxide (NO) was recently reported from animal experiments. To clarify the physiological significance of the relationship between IL-1beta and NO in the normal human colon, enteric nervous responses to IL-1beta in the normal colon muscle strips were investigated. METHODOLOGY: Normal colon muscle strips derived from patients who underwent colon resection for left-sided colon cancers (14 cases) were used. The subjects consisted of 8 men and 6 women, aged from 44 to 65 years with a mean age of 56.8 years. A mechanographic technique was used to evaluate in vitro colon muscle responses to IL-1beta of adrenergic and cholinergic nerves before and after treatment with various autonomic nerve blockers and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). RESULTS: IL-1beta concentration dependently caused a relaxation reaction before and after the blockade of the adrenergic and cholinergic nerves. The frequency of relaxation responses after blocking the adrenergic and cholinergic nerves was higher than that before blocking, but there was no significant difference between them. Both tetrodotoxin and L-NNA inhibited the relaxation reaction in response to IL-1beta in the human colon. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that IL-1beta plays an important role in regulating relaxation of the normal human colon via nitregic nerves, and that NO plays a role as a neurotransmitter in the NANC inhibitory nerves.     

Neurochemical features of endomorphin-2-containing neurons in the submucosal plexus of the rat colon

AIM:To investigate the distribution and neurochemical phenotype of endomorphin-2(EM-2)-containing neurons in the submucosal plexus of the rat colon.METHODS:The mid-colons between the right and left flexures were removed from rats,and transferred into Kreb's solution. For whole-mount preparations,the mucosal,outer longitudinal muscle and inner circularmuscle layers of the tissues were separated from the submucosal layer attached to the submucosal plexus. The whole-mount preparations from each rat mid-colon were mounted onto seven gelatin-coated glass slides,and processed for immunofluorescence histochemical double-staining of EM-2 with calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP),choline acetyltransferase(Ch AT),nitric oxide synthetase(NOS),neuron-specific enolase(NSE),substance P(SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP). After staining,all the fluorescence-labeled sections were observed with a confocal laser scanning microscope. To estimate the extent of the co-localization of EM-2 with CGRP,Ch AT,NOS,NSE,SP and VIP,ganglia,which have a clear boundary and neuronal cell outline,were randomly selected from each specimen for this analysis. RESULTS:In the submucosal plexus of the mid-colon,many EM-2-immunoreactive(IR) and NSE-IR neuronal cell bodies were found in the submucosal plexus of the rat mid-colon. Approximately 6 ± 4.2 EM-2-IR neurons aggregated within each ganglion and a few EM-2-IR neurons were also found outside the ganglia. The EM-2-IR neurons were also immunopositive for Ch AT,SP,VIP or NOS. EM-2-IR nerve fibers coursed near Ch AT-IR neurons,and some of these fibers were even distributed around Ch AT-IR neuronal cell bodies. Some EM-2-IR neuronal cell bodies were surrounded by SP-IR nerve fibers,but many long processes connecting adjacent ganglia were negative for EM-2 immunostaining. Long VIP-IR processes with many branches coursed through the ganglia and surrounded the EM-2-IR neurons. The percentages of the EM-2-IR neurons that were also positive for Ch AT,SP,VIP or NOS were approximately 91% ± 2.6%,36% ± 2.4%,44% ± 2.5% and 44% ± 4.7%,respectively,but EM-2 did not co-localize with CGRP. CONCLUSION:EM-2-IR neurons are present in the submucosal plexus of the rat colon and express distinct neurochemical markers.     

Effects of the viability of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on rotavirus infection in neonatal rats

AIM: To study the effects of live and dead Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (GG) on rotavirus infection in a neonatal rat model.METHODS: At the age of 2 d, suckling Lewis rat pups were supplemented with either live or dead GG and the treatment was continued daily throughout the experiment. At the age of 5 and 6 d the pups received oral rotavirus (RV) SA-11 strain. The pups were sacrificed at the age of 7 or 8 d by decapitation. The gastrointestinal tract was removed and macroscopic observations were done. The consistency of feces in the colon was classified using a four-tier system. RV was detected from the plasma, small intestine, colon and feces by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR).RESULTS: In this neonatal rat model, RV induced a mild-to-moderate diarrhea in all except one pup of the RV-inoculated rats. RV moderately reduced body weight development from day 6 onwards. On day 7, after 2 d of RV infection, live and dead GG groups gained significantly more weight than the RV group without probiotics [36% (P = 0.001) and 28% (P = 0.031), respectively]. In addition, when compared with the RV control group, both live and dead GG reduced the weight ratio of colon/animal body weight to the same level as in the healthy control group, with reductions of 22% (P = 0.002) and 28% (P < 0.001), respectively. Diarrhea increased moderately in both GG groups. However, the diarrhea incidence and severity in the GG groups were not statistically significantly different as compared with the RV control group. Moreover, observed diarrhea did not provoke weight loss or death. The RV control group had the largest amount of RV PCR-positive samples among the RV-infected groups, and the live GG group had the smallest amount. Rats receiving live GG had significantly less RV in the colon (P = 0.027) when compared with the RV control group. Live GG was also more effective over dead GG in reducing the quantity of RV from plasma (P = 0.047).CONCLUSION: Both live and dead GG have beneficial effects in RV infection. GG may increase RV clearance from the body and reduce colon swelling.