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  • Inhibitory motor innervation of the gall bladder musculature by intrinsic neurones containing nitric oxide in the Australian Brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

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Motility and visceral sensation
Inhibitory motor innervation of the gall bladder musculature by intrinsic neurones containing nitric oxide in the Australian Brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
  1. A C B Meedeniya,
  2. B O Al-Jiffry,
  3. H Konomi,
  4. A C Schloithe,
  5. J Toouli,
  6. G T P Saccone
  1. Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Centre for Digestive Health and Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University of South Australia, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
  1. A C B Meedeniya, Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Flinders University of South Australia, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia.adrian.meedeniya{at}flinders.edu.au

Abstract

BACKGROUND Gall bladder functions are modulated by neurones intrinsic to the organ. Data are available on the neurochemical composition of intrinsic and extrinsic nerves innervating the gall bladder but are lacking on specific functional classes of gall bladder neurones.

AIMS To characterise the intrinsic motor neurones of the gall bladder and identify their roles using pharmacological techniques.

METHODS Retrograde tracing from the possum gall bladder muscle in vitro allowed identification of intrinsic motor neurones. Subsequently, their content of choline acetyltransferase and nitric oxide synthase, markers of acetylcholine and nitric oxide containing neurones, was established using immunohistochemical techniques. Organ bath pharmacology was used to evaluate neurotransmission by acetylcholine and nitric oxide in gall bladder muscle strips.

RESULTS Innervation of the gall bladder musculature by neurones of both the muscular and serosal plexuses was demonstrated. A large proportion (62%) of these motor neurones were immunoreactive for nitric oxide synthase. All gall bladder neurones showed immunoreactivity for choline acetyltransferase. Organ bath pharmacology confirmed the neuroanatomical data, showing acetylcholine and nitric oxide mediating neurotransmission to the gall bladder musculature.

CONCLUSIONS Neurones containing acetylcholine and nitric oxide, located within the muscular and serosal plexuses, provide excitatory and inhibitory motor innervation of the gall bladder, respectively. The large inhibitory innervation suggests active relaxation of the gall bladder during filling, mediated by intrinsic nerves.

  • excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission
  • gall bladder
  • motility
  • nitric oxide
  • acetylcholine
  • possum

  • Abbreviations used in this paper

    ACh
    acetylcholine
    CCK-8
    cholecystokinin octapeptide
    ChAT
    choline acetyltransferase
    DiI
    1′-didodecyl-3,3,3′3′-tetra-methyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate
    EFS
    electrical field stimulation
    l-NAME
    N omega-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester
    NANC
    non-adrenergic non-cholinergic
    NO
    nitric oxide
    NOS
    nitric oxide synthase
    TTX
    tetrodotoxin
    VIP
    vasoactive intestinal polypeptide

    • https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.49.5.692

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    • Abbreviations used in this paper

      ACh
      acetylcholine
      CCK-8
      cholecystokinin octapeptide
      ChAT
      choline acetyltransferase
      DiI
      1′-didodecyl-3,3,3′3′-tetra-methyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate
      EFS
      electrical field stimulation
      l-NAME
      N omega-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester
      NANC
      non-adrenergic non-cholinergic
      NO
      nitric oxide
      NOS
      nitric oxide synthase
      TTX
      tetrodotoxin
      VIP
      vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
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