Korean J Med.  2011 Sep;81(3):315-321.

Smooth Muscles Contraction in Gastrointestinal Tract and New Concept of Enteric Neurotransmission: Fibroblast-like Cells

• Kim HJ

Abstract

This review provides information regarding an enteric neurotransmission from enteric nerve terminals to smooth muscles. In the gastrointestinal tract, phasic contractions are caused by electrical activity termed slow waves. Slow waves are generated and actively propagated by interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). The initiation of pacemaker activity in the ICC is caused by release of Ca2+ from inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor-operated stores, and the development of unitary currents. Summation of unitary currents causes depolarization and activation of a dihydropyridine-resistant Ca2+ conductance that entrains pacemaker activity in a network of ICC, resulting in the active propagation of slow waves. Slow wave frequency is regulated by a variety of physiological agonists and conditions, and shifts in pacemaker dominance can occur in response to both neural and non-neural inputs. Fibroblast-like cells (FLCs) are also closely associated with nerve varicosities and are labelled robustly with antibodies for platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRalpha), and expression of this receptor may be a powerful new means of isolating and evaluating the function of FLCs and the possible contribution of these cells in disease. PDGFRalpha+ cells share similar anatomical distributions, and FLCs in colonic smooth muscle functionally express small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (SK3). These findings are important to understand purinergic post-junctional responses.

Keyword

Smooth muscle; Muscle contraction; Interstitial cell of Cajal; Platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptors (PDGFRalpha); Fibroblast-like cells

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Colon
Contracts
Gastrointestinal Tract
Inositol
Interstitial Cells of Cajal
Muscle Contraction
Muscle, Smooth
Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
Synaptic Transmission
Antibodies
Inositol
Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor