Interstitial Cells of Cajal Mediate Cholinergic Neurotransmission from Enteric Motor Neurons

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.20-04-01393.2000
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03T17:33:19Z
• Authors: Sean M. Ward; Elizabeth A. H. B...; XuanYu Wang; Fred Baker; Mohammad Khoyi; Kenton M. Sanders
• Keywords: Vesicular acetylcholine transporter; Enteric Nervous System

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are interposed between enteric neurons and smooth muscle in gastrointestinal muscles. The role intramuscular ICC (IC-IM) mediating excitatory neural inputs was studied using gastric fundus muscles wild-type animals W/W(v) mutant mice, which lack IC-IM. Excitatory motor neurons, labeled with antibodies to vesicular acetylcholine transporter or substance-P, were closely associated Immunocytochemistry showed close contacts IC-IM also formed gap junctions cells. Electrical field stimulation yielded fast junction potentials the that blocked by atropine. Neural responses greatly reduced animals. Loss cholinergic seemed be caused loss synaptic IC-IM, because these not less responsive exogenous than responded nerve when breakdown neostigmine. density bundles within significantly different muscles, similar amounts (14)[C]choline released from preloaded response stimulation. impact losing on compliance evaluated intact stomachs. Pressure increased as a function fluid volume infusion rate animals, but little basal tone minimal increases pressure infusions. These data suggest play major receiving nervous system murine fundus.