title: Sensitivity to 5-hydroxytryptamine in different afferent subpopulations within mesenteric nerves supplying the rat jejunum.
abstract: 1. This study was performed to elucidate the type of afferents that mediate the multiple actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on mesenteric nerve discharge. Electrophysiological recordings were made from mesenteric afferents innervating the mid-jejunum of the urethane-anaesthetized rat. The discharge of single nerves within the whole nerve recording was monitored using waveform discrimination software. 2. Afferents responded to 5-HT in one of two ways: a short latency, transient excitation mediated by 5-HT3 receptors, or a delayed onset, more prolonged effect that was 5-HT2A receptor mediated. Afferents showing the 5-HT3-mediated response did not respond to luminal distension but were sensitive to intraluminal hydrochloric acid (150 mM) in twenty-eight of twenty-nine experiments. In eight experiments, the 5-HT3-mediated response was reversibly abolished by a 2 min exposure to intraluminal application of local anaesthetic (2 % Xylocaine). 3. Mechanosensitive afferents which responded to distension (< 10 cmH2O) did not show a 5-HT3-mediated response (P = 0.92, n = 14), and maintained this mechanosensitivity after luminal anaesthesia. Mechanosensitive afferents did show a secondary response to 5-HT that was significantly attenuated by atropine (100-200 microg kg-1), whereas hexamethonium (8 mg kg-1) had no effect. 4. In animals whose vagal afferent contribution to their mesenteric nerves had been eliminated by chronic truncal vagotomy, the 5-HT3-mediated response was absent in thirty-six of thirty-six nerve bundles. In contrast, mechanosensitivity to distension and the secondary response to 5-HT could still be evoked. 5. These results suggest that 5-HT stimulates mesenteric afferents by a direct action on 5-HT3 receptors that are present on vagal mucosal afferent terminals. The mucosal afferent response to luminal acid, however, was unaffected by treatment with granisetron (0.5 mg kg-1) indicating that endogenous 5-HT from enterochromaffin cells is not essential for transduction of this luminal signal. In contrast, mechanosensitivity in non-vagal afferents was modulated by 5-HT following an intestinal motor response which was influenced by cholinergic tone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hillsley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grundy
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D018738:Hexamethonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000294:innervation*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014628:Vagotomy
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D012701:Serotonin; D018738:Hexamethonium; D008012:Lidocaine; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid