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Muscarinic activation of Ca 2+ ‐activated Cl − current in interstitial cells of Cajal
Author(s) -
Zhu Mei Hong,
Sung In Kyung,
Zheng Haifeng,
Sung Tae Sik,
Britton Fiona C,
O’Driscoll Kate,
Koh Sang Don,
Sanders Kenton M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.211094
Subject(s) - interstitial cell of cajal , cholinergic , stimulation , acetylcholine , depolarization , excitatory postsynaptic potential , motility , muscarinic acetylcholine receptor , neuroscience , neurotransmitter , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , chemistry , gastrointestinal tract , biology , medicine , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , smooth muscle , receptor , central nervous system , biochemistry
Non‐technical summary Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are tightly associated with excitatory and inhibitory motor neurons in the gastrointestinal tract, and these cells are also connected electrically to smooth muscle cells. We have suggested that ICC participate in responses to neurotransmitters released from neurons that drive motility and help move nutrients and wastes through the gut. We studied responses of isolated ICC to cholinergic neurotransmitter and found that a Ca 2+ ‐activated Cl − current is activated in ICC in response to cholinergic stimulation. Such a current would result in depolarization that could be conducted to surrounding smooth muscle cells by the electrical connections. Exciting ICC would cause generalized excitation of the smooth muscle tissue. A different conductance is activated in smooth muscle cells by cholinergic stimulation. We tested drugs that blocked the Cl − current in ICC and found that responses to nerve stimulation in intact intestinal muscles were blocked by these drugs. This suggests that ICC mediate electrical responses to cholinergic nerve stimulation. In some human gastrointestinal motility disorders, ICC are damaged or lost. If these cells provide responses to neurotransmitters, this might provide an explanation for motor dysfunction in the gut.