title: Mechanisms underlying mechanosensitivity of mesenteric afferent fibers to vascular flow.
abstract: Spinal afferent neurons, with endings in the intestinal mesenteries, have been shown to respond to changes in vascular perfusion rates. The mechanisms underlying this sensitivity were investigated in an in vitro preparation of the mesenteric fan devoid of connections with the gut wall. Afferent discharge increased when vascular perfusion was stopped ("flow off"), a response localized to the terminal vessels just prior to where they entered the gut wall. The flow-off response was compared following pharmacological manipulations designed to determine direct mechanical activation from indirect mechanisms via the vascular endothelium or muscle. Under Ca(2+)-free conditions, responses to flow off were significantly augmented. In contrast, the myosin light chain kinase inhibitor wortmannin (1 microM, 20 min) did not affect the flow-off response despite blocking the vasoconstriction evoked by 10 microM l-phenylephrine. This ruled out active tension, generated by vascular smooth muscle, in the response to flow off. Passive changes caused by vessel collapse during flow off were speculated to affect sensory nerve terminals directly. The flow-off response was not affected by the N-, P-, and Q-type Ca(2+) channel blocker omega-conotoxin MVIIC (1 muM intra-arterially) or the P2X receptor/ion channel blocker PPADS (50 microM). However, ruthenium red (50 microM), a blocker of nonselective cation channels, greatly reduced the flow-off response and also abolished the vasodilator response to capsaicin. Our data support the concept that mesenteric afferents sense changes in vascular flow during flow off through direct mechanisms, possibly involving nonselective cation channels. Passive distortion in the fan, caused by changes in blood flow, may represent a natural stimulus for these afferents in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brunsden
authors.forename: S J H
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brookes
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bardhan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grundy
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008643:Mesentery / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation*; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D058919:Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012430:Ruthenium Red / Q000494:pharmacology; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077191:Wortmannin; D020960:omega-Conotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D007473:Ion Channels; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D058919:Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; C491711:nonselective cation channel protein, rat; D020960:omega-Conotoxins; D012430:Ruthenium Red; C075851:omega-conotoxin-MVIIC; C077792:pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid; D010656:Phenylephrine; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase; D002118:Calcium; D000077191:Wortmannin