Evidence for an intramural nervous control of epithelial cell migration in the small intestine of the rat.
The migration of epithelial cells along the crypt-villus axis in the small intestine of the rat was followed by labelling epithelial cells during mitosis with [3H]thymidine given i.v. Using two different techniques (autoradiography and determination of tissue radioactivity) it was demonstrated that 6-9 h after giving the tracer the labelled cells had migrated longer in intestinal segments exposed to cholera toxin than in control segments. This effect of cholera toxin was abolished by giving hexamethonium. We have earlier shown that cholera toxin induces fluid secretion to a large extent by activating the enteric nervous system and we conclude from the present observations that cholera toxin in a similar fashion exerts a trophic effect on the intestinal epithelium via intramural nervous reflexes. The importance of co-release of several neurotransmitters in explaining the trophic effect is tentatively discussed.
Bustamante
S A
SA
Department of Physiology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Forshult
M
M
Lundgren
O
O
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000294:innervation; D007583:Jejunum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000294:innervation; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D002772:Cholera Toxin