AJP - GI Fuel your research with LabChart
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 276: G393-G406, 1999;
0193-1857/99 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Jiménez, M.
Right arrow Articles by Daniel, E. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Jiménez, M.
Right arrow Articles by Daniel, E. E.
Vol. 276, Issue 2, G393-G406, February 1999

Slow waves in circular muscle of porcine ileum: structural and electrophysiological studies

M. Jiménez1, J. R. Borderies1, P. Vergara1, Y.-F. Wang2, and E. E. Daniel2

1 Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; and 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5

The structural and functional bases of pacemaking (slow waves) in porcine ileal circular muscle were studied. The myenteric plexus contained two, structurally distinct types of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) interconnected by gap junctions and connected by close contacts to muscle layers. At the deep muscular plexus, ICC were present, not regularly close to nerve axons or in gap junction contact with one another or outer circular muscle, which had many gap junctions. Slow waves (5.2 ± 2 mV amplitude and 4.6 ± 0.7 s duration) occurred at 9.9 ± 1.1 counts/min. Tissue length and time constants were 2.00 ± 0.3 mm and 111 ± 37 ms, respectively. Large electrical field-induced hyperpolarizations or depolarizations reduced amplitudes but not frequencies or durations of slow waves; hyperpolarizations progressively reduced inhibitory junction potentials as if the K+ channel opening mediated them. In conclusion, the myenteric plexus ICC of pig ileum, which appears to pace the muscle layers, appears insensitive to voltages applied to the syncytium of circular muscle cells. Limited coupling between ICC and circular muscle or voltage-insensitive pacemaking activity may explain these findings.

interstitial cells of Cajal; pacemaking; electrical coupling; cable properties


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol.Home page
S. K. Sarna
Are interstitial cells of Cajal plurifunction cells in the gut?
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, February 1, 2008; 294(2): G372 - G390.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol.Home page
A. Fujita, T. Takeuchi, N. Saitoh, J. Hanai, and F. Hata
Expression of Ca2+-activated K+ channels, SK3, in the interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, November 1, 2001; 281(5): C1727 - C1733.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online