In vitro electrical activity of the equine pelvic flexure.
Abstract: The generation and maintenance of intestinal motility patterns involve the complex interactions of several components including the gastrointestinal pacemaker cells (interstitial cells of Cajal, ICC). Central to ICC function is the generation of rhythmic pacemaker currents, namely slow waves, which represent the rate limiting step for intestinal smooth muscle contractions. Currently, intracellular slow wave activity has not been demonstrated in the equine colon. Objective: To characterise the in vitro myoelectrical activity of the equine pelvic flexure using intracellular recording techniques. Methods: Intestinal samples were collected immediately following euthanasia from 14 normal horses. One millimetre thick tissue sections were pinned and superfused with warmed, oxygenated Krebs solution. Intracellular recordings were made from smooth muscle cells close to the submucosal border of the circular muscle layer. The L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker nifedipine was added to the superfusion fluid in 9 experiments while the Na(+) channel blocker tetrodotoxin was added to the superfusion fluid in 4 experiments. The data were recorded and stored using an acquisition system and a software package used to analyse the recordings. Results: In 10 of the 14 horses, electrical events consistent with slow wave patterns were recorded from individual smooth muscle cells. Surprisingly, adding nifedipine to the superfusion fluid abolished all electrical activity. In contrast, tetrodotoxin had no apparent effect on the electrical activity. Conclusions: Assuming that the electrical events were slow waves, the blockade by nifedipine suggests significant and potentially important differences in the ionic mechanisms responsible for slow waves in the different regions of the equine intestinal tract, which deserve further evaluation.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-08-04 PubMed ID: 21790770DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00396.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the generation and maintenance of equine pelvic flexure’s in vitro electrical activity using intracellular recording techniques. It revealed a possible difference in the ionic mechanisms responsible for slow waves in different regions of the equine intestinal tract.
Introduction and Objectives
- The research’s primary objective was to analyze the in vitro myoelectrical activity of the equine pelvic flexure. This activity is often maintained by gastrointestinal pacemaker cells, also known as interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC).
- The ICC generates rhythmic pacemaker currents or slow waves, which play a crucial role in intestinal smooth muscle contractions. However, these slow-wave activities had not been previously proven to exist in the equine colon.
Methodology
- Horse intestinal samples from 14 normal horses were collected post-euthanasia.
- These samples were then cut into one-millimeter-thick sections, pinned, and superfused with a warm, oxygenated Krebs solution.
- Intracellular recordings were made from smooth muscle cells close to the circular muscle layer’s submucosal border.
- Experiments were conducted using the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker nifedipine and the Na(+) channel blocker tetrodotoxin, added to the superfusion fluid in 9 and 4 experiments, respectively.
- The data was then recorded and analyzed using a software package.
Results
- In 10 out of the 14 horse samples, the researchers recorded electrical events that were consistent with slow wave patterns from individual smooth muscle cells.
- Nifedipine presence in the superfusion fluid abolished the entire detected electrical activity, whereas tetrodotoxin didn’t impact the electrical activity observed.
Conclusions
- The research findings may be interpreted as slow waves, suggesting a substantial difference in the ionic mechanisms governing slow waves in different areas of the equine intestinal tract. These variations are significant and need further evaluation.
Cite This Article
APA
Fintl C, Pearson GT, Mayhew IG, Hudson NP.
(2011).
In vitro electrical activity of the equine pelvic flexure.
Equine Vet J Suppl(39), 145-148.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00396.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norway Gastrointestinal Motility and Disease Laboratory, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK. constanze.fintl@nvh.no
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Electrophysiological Phenomena / physiology
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Motility / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Intestines / physiology
- Male
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