title: Neuromedin U is necessary for normal gastrointestinal motility and is regulated by serotonin.
abstract: Neuromedin U (NMU) was originally isolated from porcine spinal cord and shown to be distributed in numerous tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract. However, little is known about the role of NMU in the regulation of gastrointestinal functions. We established a radioimmunoassay system that is exceptionally specific for mouse NMU and found high NMU content in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in the Auerbach's and Meissner's plexi, suggesting a possible role of NMU in gastrointestinal motility. NMU promoted small intestinal transit, and NMU deficiency resulted in lowered intestinal motility rate and diminished the effect of serotonin-induced defecation and diarrhea. These results indicate that NMU promotes intestinal transit and maintains intestinal homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics, Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ida
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Mikiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazato
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kangawa
authors.forename: Jingo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kusukawa
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000503:physiopathology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; C056900:neuromedin U; D012701:Serotonin; D002217:Carbachol