Excitatory Neuronal Responses of Ca²⁺ Transients in Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Small Intestine.

ABSTRACT: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) regulate smooth muscle excitability and motility in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. ICC in the deep muscular plexus (ICC-DMP) of the small intestine are aligned closely with varicosities of enteric motor neurons and thought to transduce neural responses. ICC-DMP generate Ca²⁺ transients that activate Ca²⁺ activated Cl^- channels and generate electrophysiological responses. We tested the hypothesis that excitatory neurotransmitters regulate Ca²⁺ transients in ICC-DMP as a means of regulating intestinal muscles. High-resolution confocal microscopy was used to image Ca²⁺ transients in ICC-DMP within murine small intestinal muscles with cell-specific expression of GCaMP3. Intrinsic nerves were stimulated b

SUBMITTER: Baker SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5889480 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature