Enteric Neuronal Substrates Underlying Spontaneous and Evoked Neurogenic Contractions in Mouse Colon.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Gastrointestinal motility persists when peripheral cholinergic signaling is blocked genetically or pharmacologically, and a recent study suggests nitric oxide drives propagating neurogenic contractions.

Methods

To determine the neuronal substrates that underlie these contractions, we measured contractile-associated movements together with calcium responses of cholinergic or nitrergic myenteric neurons in unparalyzed ex vivo preparations of whole mouse colon. We chose to look at these 2 subpopulations because they encompass nearly all myenteric neurons.

Results

Many, but not all, cholinergic neurons of the middle colon exhibited contractile-associated calcium responses with distinct features. By contrast, a large population of nitrergic neurons of the

SUBMITTER: Debnath S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11937701 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature