Activating Muscarinic Receptor Signaling in Intrapancreatic Neurons Is Required for Parasympathetic Cholinergic Control of Pancreatic Cell Function.

ABSTRACT: The parasympathetic nervous system modulates hormone and digestive enzyme secretion from the pancreas. However, the mechanisms of neuroeffector transmission within the final parasympathetic pathway in the pancreas have not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that intrapancreatic cholinergic neurons are bona fide postganglionic neurons that functionally couple vagal input to target cells in the pancreas. In living pancreatic slices from various mice expressing genetically encoded sensors and actuators, we found that intrapancreatic neurons responded to cholinergic input via nicotinic and muscarinic M1 acetylcholine receptors. However, only muscarinic receptor signaling was necessary and sufficient to elicit responses in exocrine and endocrine target cells. We established that muscarinic r

SUBMITTER: Levi NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12928746 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature