Mesenteric afferent nerves are sensitive to vascular perfusion in a novel preparation of rat ileum in vitro.
Using novel in vitro preparations of vascularly perfused rat ileum, we investigated mesenteric afferent sensitivity to vascular perfusion. Gut (GPP) and vascular (VPP) perfusion pressures were recorded simultaneously with afferent discharge (AD). After preconstriction (L-phenylephrine), capsaicin (100 microM, gut lumen) caused a transient increase in AD and a sustained fall in VPP, supporting afferent modulation of vascular tone. In turn, AD was affected by vascular perfusion rate (VPR). Increasing VPR step-wise (0.6 to 1.0, 1.4 and 1.8 ml/min) caused concomitant falls in AD, returning at 0.6 ml/min. Terminating flow (5 min) increased AD. Afferent responses were independent of changes in GPP, vascular O2, or the gut "tube" ("gut-off"). In gut-off studies, where capsaicin (100 nM ia) still reduced VPP, flow-associated falls in AD were abolished by the enzyme neuraminidase (0.2 U/ml ia or extravascularly over 20 min). In contrast, increased AD after stopped flow was unaffected. We propose that mesenteric afferents "sense" changes in vascular perfusion. The precise stimuli (pressure and/or flow) and the physiological relevance to control of local circulation remain to be determined.
Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom. A.Brunsden@sheffield.ac.uk
A M
AM
Brunsden
S
S
Jacob
K D
KD
Bardhan
D
D
Grundy
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D007082:Ileum / Q000098:blood supply*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000294:innervation*; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology
D009439:Neuraminidase; D002211:Capsaicin; D010100:Oxygen