Movement of villi induces endocytosis of NK1 receptors in myenteric neurons from guinea-pig ileum

Abstract

Agitation of villi evokes reflexes that affect the motility of the guinea-pig small intestine. NK1 receptor endocytosis was used to investigate the possible involvement of tachykinins acting on neuronal NK1 receptors in these reflexes. Segments of guinea-pig ileum were incubated at 37 degrees C in Krebs physiological saline containing 3x10(-6) M nicardipine, with or without agitation of the villi by gas bubbles. Gut segments were fixed after 0-75 min and processed for immunohistochemistry to reveal the NK1 receptors, following which cells were imaged by confocal microscopy. Initially, receptors were located on the surface and in the cytoplasm of myenteric neurons. In gut incubated without movement of the villi, NK1 receptors returned to the cell surface. After 45 and 60 min, NK1 receptors were detected almost exclusively at the cell surface of 83% and 97% (respectively) of nerve cells that were immunoreactive for NK1 receptors and only 12%-13% of the NK1 receptor fluorescence was located in the cytoplasm. Following the return of receptor to the cell surface, agitation of the villi caused a new wave of endocytosis of the NK1 receptors in 70%-80% of the NK1 receptor-immunoreactive neurons. The percentage of the NK1 receptor fluorescence that was in the cytoplasm increased more than 2-fold to 27+/-2% after 15 min villous agitation. Action potential blockade by tetrodotoxin (3x10(-7) M) prevented the internalisation of the NK1 receptor in response to villous agitation. The degree of internalisation caused by bubbling was similar to that caused by 2x10(-9) M substance P. These results indicate that, when enteric reflex circuits are activated by villous movement, tachykinins are released and cause endocytosis of the NK1 receptor in a subpopulation of myenteric neurons.

Relationships between neurokinin receptor‐expressing interstitial cells of Cajal and tachykininergic nerves in the gut

“…These cells represent a well-known cell type frequently encountered within the villi of mammalian small intestine and called myoid cells [81]. Numerous SP-IR varicose fibers are present in the villous and it has been proposed they might regulate the excitability of these NK1r-IR cells keeping them able to respond to the mechanical or locally generated chemical stimuli [82]. Since this cell type, as well as a rich SP inner- …”

Relationship between postsynaptic NK1 receptor distribution and nerve terminals innervating myenteric neurons in the guinea‐pig ileum

“…1). Although the NK 1 receptor on myenteric neurons will undergo internalization following exposure to agonists or mechanical stimulation (Grady et al, 1996;Southwell et al, 1996Southwell et al, , 1998, the conditions under which the tissue was prepared for this study resulted in the majority of immunoreactivity being present on the cell surface. The immunoreaction products formed a discontinuous, but even, layer around the circumference of the cell bodies, with no obvious clustering.…”

Substance P and Neurokinin 1 receptor - expression is affected in the ileum of mice with mutation in the W locus

“…Indeed, Thuneberg (1999) reported information on these cells collected by old and recent literature and concluded that they form an intravillous network that, similar to the ICC networks in the muscularis, would be spontaneously and rhythmically contracting and, as sensors of stretch, responding to dilation by increased contraction [20]. Conversely, NK1r-IR is present in the neurons of the W e /+ mice, but its distribution is sign of receptor activation [21] since it is clustered on the plasma membrane and also internalized in the cytoplasm. This peculiar distribution can be related to the extremely high density of SP-IR nerve fibers.…”