Nerve growth factor sensitivity is broadly distributed among myenteric neurons of the rat colon.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) acts on the two-receptor system of trkA and p75 to mediate neuroprotection and influence phenotype and function in the peripheral nervous system, but the effects of NGF on the enteric nervous system (ENS) are virtually unknown. To establish a basis for enteric responsiveness to NGF, we studied the presence and distribution of NGF-sensitive receptors in the myenteric neurons of the normal rat colon and examined their activation via trkA phosphorylation. Fluorescent immunocytochemistry on wholemounts showed that the two NGF receptors were abundantly present in the ENS, with 71% of all neurons positive for trkA and 78% for p75. More thanr 60% of the myenteric neurons expressed both receptors, and exogenous application of NGF resulted in trkA phosphorylation, evidence for high NGF sensitivity within the ENS. trkA was co-expressed with choline acetyltransferase (61% of trkA-positive neurons), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (22%), or calbindin (10%), suggesting widespread potential for NGF action. We conclude that functional receptors for NGF are widely distributed among the diverse enteric phenotypes and argue for a novel NGF-mediated regulatory system within the ENS.
Lin
Agueda
A
Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Queen's University, Hotel Dieu Hospital, 166 Brock Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 5G2, Canada.
Lourenssen
Sandra
S
Stanzel
Roger D P
RD
Blennerhassett
Michael G
MG
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D064026:Calbindins; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism
D064026:Calbindins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D020917:Receptor, trkA