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Inhibitory Neurones (inhibitory + neurone)
Selected AbstractsDemonstration of Postsynaptic Receptor Plasticity in an Amphibian Neuroendocrine InterfaceJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 11 2002B. G. Jenks Abstract Pituitary pars intermedia melanotrope cells are often used as a model to study mechanisms of neuroendocrine integration. In the amphibian Xenopus laevis, the synthesis and release of ,-melanophore-stimulating hormone (,-MSH) from these cells is a dynamic process dependent upon the colour of background. In animals on a black background, there is a higher level of synthesis and secretion of ,-MSH than in animals on a white background, and, consequently, there is skin darkening in animals on a black background. The melanotropes are innervated by hypothalamic neurones that produce neuropeptide Y (NPY), a peptide that inhibits ,-MSH secretion via the NPY Y1 receptor. The inhibitory neurones have a higher expression of NPY in animals adapted to a white background and both the size and the number of inhibitory synapses on the melanotrope cells are enhanced. The purpose of the present study was to determine if this presynaptic plasticity displayed by the inhibitory neurones is reciprocated by postsynaptic plasticity (i.e. if there is an enhanced expression of the Y1 receptor in melanotropes of animals adapted to a white background). For this purpose quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the level of Y1 receptor mRNA in melanotropes of animals undergoing the process of background adaptation. The results showed that there is a higher Y1 receptor mRNA expression in melanotropes of white-adapted animals. We conclude that the inhibitory neuroendocrine interface in the Xenopus pars intermedia displays postsynaptic plasticity in response to changes of background colour. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a physiological environmental change leading to changes in postsynaptic receptor expression in a fully identified vertebrate neuroendocrine reflex. [source] Cannabinoid receptor 1 signalling dampens activity and mitochondrial transport in networks of enteric neuronesNEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 9 2009W. Boesmans Abstract, Cannabinoid (CB) receptors are expressed in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and CB1 receptor activity slows down motility and delays gastric emptying. This receptor system has become an important target for GI-related drug development such as in obesity treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate how CB1 ligands and antagonists affect ongoing activity in enteric neurone networks, modulate synaptic vesicle cycling and influence mitochondrial transport in nerve processes. Primary cultures of guinea-pig myenteric neurones were loaded with different fluorescent markers: Fluo-4 to measure network activity, FM1-43 to image synaptic vesicles and Mitotracker green to label mitochondria. Synaptic vesicle cluster density was assessed by immunohistochemistry and expression of CB1 receptors was confirmed by RT-PCR. Spontaneous network activity, displayed by both excitatory and inhibitory neurones, was significantly increased by CB1 receptor antagonists (AM-251 and SR141716), abolished by CB1 activation (methanandamide, mAEA) and reduced by two different inhibitors (arachidonylamide serotonin, AA-5HT and URB597) of fatty acid amide hydrolase. Antagonists reduced the number of synaptic vesicles that were recycled during an electrical stimulus. CB1 agonists (mAEA and WIN55,212) reduced and antagonists enhanced the fraction of transported mitochondria in enteric nerve fibres. We found immunohistochemical evidence for an enhancement of synaptophysin-positive release sites with SR141716, while WIN55,212 caused a reduction. The opposite effects of agonists and antagonists suggest that enteric nerve signalling is under the permanent control of CB1 receptor activity. Using inhibitors of the endocannabinoid degrading enzyme, we were able to show there is endogenous production of a CB ligand in the ENS. [source] The role of carbon monoxide in the gastrointestinal tractTHE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Simon J. Gibbons Carbon monoxide (CO) is a biologically active product of haem metabolism that contributes to the normal physiology of the gastrointestinal tract. In this article, we review recent data showing that CO is an integral regulator of gastrointestinal motility and an important factor in the response to gastrointestinal injury. CO is generated by haem oxygenase-2 (HO-2), which is constitutively expressed in many inhibitory neurones of the vertebrate enteric nervous system. The membrane potential gradients along and across the muscle layers of the gastrointestinal tract require the generation of CO by haem oxygenase-2. The presence of CO is also necessary for normal inhibitory neurotransmission in circular smooth muscle and appears to permit nitric oxide-mediated inhibitory neurotransmission. Genetic deletion of the haem oxygenase-2 gene in mice slows gut transit. The other major CO synthetic enzyme, haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is induced under conditions of stress or injury. Recent studies have demonstrated that up-regulation of haem oxygenase-1 protects the gut from several types of gastrointestinal injury, suggesting that CO or induction of HO-1 may find therapeutic use in gastrointestinal diseases and injuries. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the understanding of CO-mediated signalling in the gastrointestinal tract will inform studies in other tissues that express haem oxygenases. [source] Non-prostanoid prostacyclin mimetics as neuronal stimulants in the rat: comparison of vagus nerve and NANC innervation of the colonBRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 4 2000John A Rudd The spontaneous activity of the rat isolated colon is suppressed by prostacyclin analogues such as cicaprost (IC50=4.0 nM). Activation of prostanoid IP1 -receptors located on NANC inhibitory neurones is involved. However, several non-prostanoids, which show medium to high IP1 agonist potency on platelet and vascular preparations, exhibit very weak inhibitory activity on the colon. The aim of the study was to investigate this discrepancy. Firstly, we have demonstrated the very high depolarizing potency of cicaprost on the rat isolated vagus nerve (EC50=0.23 nM). Iloprost, taprostene and carbacyclin were 7.9, 66, and 81 fold less potent than cicaprost, indicating the presence of IP1 as opposed to IP2 -receptors. Three non-prostanoid prostacyclin mimetics, BMY 45778, BMY 42393 and ONO-1301, although much less potent than cicaprost (195, 990 and 1660 fold respectively), behaved as full agonists on the vagus nerve. On re-investigating the rat colon, we found that BMY 45778 (0.1,3 ,M), BMY 42393 (3 ,M) and ONO-1301 (3 ,M) behaved as specific IP1 partial agonists, but their actions required 30,60 min to reach steady-state and only slowly reversed on washing. This profile contrasted sharply with the rapid and readily reversible contractions elicited by a related non-prostanoid ONO-AP-324, which is an EP3 -receptor agonist. The full versus partial agonism of the non-prostanoid prostacyclin mimetics may be explained by the markedly different IP1 agonist sensitivities of the two rat neuronal preparations. However, the slow kinetics of the non-prostanoids on the NANC system of the colon remain unexplained, and must be taken into account when characterizing neuronal IP-receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 129, 782,790; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0703090 [source] | ||||||||||