Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2004 Mar;17(1):45-53.

Vanilloid Receptor Type-1 Immunoreactivities in the Mouse Myenteric Plexus: Immunohistochemical and Electrophysiological Study

• Jun JY
• Yang ES
• Kim KH
• Chang IY

Abstract

The vanilloid receptor type-1 (VR1) is a nonselective cation channel activated by capsaicin and can be act as mediator of chemical and physical stimuli that elicit pain. The presence of VR1 in the dorsal root, trigeminal and nodose ganglia has been firmly established, but it unclear in the mouse intestinal wall. The distribution of VR1 receptors in mouse afferent neurons innervating the intestinal tract was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Also small and large intestines were dual-labelled with antibody for VR1 and marker for interstitial cells of Cajal (c-kit). VR1-immunopositive cells were localized on fine fibers in myenteric plexus and expressed weakly myenteric ganglia. The majority of VR1-immunopositive fibers are not colocalized with or apposed to c-kit positive interstitial cells of Cajal. Also electrophysiologically capsaicin had no effect on cultured interstitial cells of Cajal. It is concluded that VR1-immunoreactive intestinal nerves are mainly distributed in myenteric plexus of murine intestinal wall, and vanillod may be not directly related to interstitial cells of Cajal in regulation of intestinal motility.

Keyword

Vanilloid receptor type1 (VR1) ; c-kit; Myenteric plexus; Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) ; Intestinal motility

MeSH Terms

Animals
Capsaicin
Ganglia
Gastrointestinal Motility
Immunohistochemistry
Interstitial Cells of Cajal
Intestines
Mice*
Myenteric Plexus*
Neurons, Afferent
Nodose Ganglion
Spinal Nerve Roots
Capsaicin