title: The presence and role of interstitial cells of Cajal in the proximal intestine of shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius).
abstract: Rhythmic contractions of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract can occur in the absence of neuronal or hormonal stimulation owing to the generation of spontaneous electrical activity by interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) that are electrically coupled to smooth muscle cells. The myogenically driven component of gastrointestinal motility patterns in fish probably also involves ICC; however, little is known of their presence, distribution and function in any fish species. In the present study, we combined immunohistochemistry and in vivo recordings of intestinal motility to investigate the involvement of ICC in the motility of the proximal intestine in adult shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius). Antibodies against anoctamin 1 (Ano1, a Ca2+-activated Cl-channel), revealed a dense network of multipolar, repeatedly branching cells in the myenteric region of the proximal intestine, similar in many regards to the mammalian ICC-MY network. The addition of benzbromarone, a potent blocker of Ano1, altered the motility patterns seen in vivo after neural blockade with TTX. The results indicate that ICC are integral for the generation and propagation of the majority of rhythmic contractile patterns in fish, although their frequency and amplitude can be modulated via neural activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden jeroen.brijs@bioenv.gu.se.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3671-5038
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brijs
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Reno, Nevada, NV 89557, USA.
authors.forename: Grant W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Hennig
authors.affiliation: Department of Nature and Engineering, Bremen University of Applied Sciences, Bremen 28199, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kellermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Axelsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Catharina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels; D029941:Fish Proteins
keywords: Anoctamin 1; Enteric nervous system; Fish; Gut; Motility; Myogenic