title: Effects of H2O2 at rat myenteric neurones in culture.
abstract: Oxidants, produced e.g. during inflammation, alter gastrointestinal functions finally leading to diarrhoea and/or tissue damage. There is only scarce information about the action of oxidants on enteric neurones, which play a central role in the regulation of many gastrointestinal processes. Therefore, the effect of an oxidant, H(2)O(2), on cultured rat myenteric neurones was studied with the whole-cell patch-clamp and imaging (fura-2) techniques. H(2)O(2) (5 mmol/l) induced an increase in the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration. Both an intracellular release via IP(3) and ryanodine receptors as well as a Gd(3+)-sensitive Ca(2+) influx contributed to this response. Measurement of the membrane potential revealed that the neuronal membrane hyperpolarized by 11.3+/-0.8 mV in the presence of H(2)O(2). Inhibition of Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels prevented this hyperpolarization. Voltage-clamp experiments revealed a second action of the oxidant, i.e. a strong inhibition of the fast Na(+) current responsible for the generation of action potentials. This effect seemed to be mediated by the hydroxyl radical (*OH), as Fe(2+) (100 micromol/l), which leads to the generation of this radical from H(2)O(2) via the Fenton reaction, strongly potentiated the action of an ineffective concentration (100 micromol/l) of the oxidant. Protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation seems to be involved in the mechanism of action of H(2)O(2), as the protein phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A (100 nmol/l) strongly reduced the inhibition of Na(+) current by H(2)O(2). This effect was mimicked by the protein phosphatase 2A specific inhibitor endothall (100 nmol/l), whereas the PP1 blocker tautomycin (3 nmol/l) was less effective. These results suggest that H(2)O(2) reduces the excitability of rat myenteric neurones by a change of basal membrane potential and an inhibition of Na(+) currents.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Physiology, University of Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ervice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pouokam
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rehn
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diener
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000294:innervation; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010766:Phosphorylation; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000502:physiology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016877:Oxidants; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D015222:Sodium Channels; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002118:Calcium