The effect of Xenin25 on spontaneous circular muscle contractions of rat distal colon in vitro

Xenin25 has a variety of physiological functions in the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including ion transport and motility. However, the motility responses in the colon induced by Xenin25 remain poorly understood. Therefore, the effect of Xenin25 on the spontaneous circular muscle contractions of the rat distal colon was investigated using organ bath chambers and immunohistochemistry. Xenin25 induced the inhibition followed by postinhibitory spontaneous contractions with a higher frequency in the rat distal colon. This inhibitory effect of Xenin25 was significantly suppressed by TTX but not by atropine. The inhibitory time (the duration of inhibition) caused by Xenin25 was shortened by the NTSR1 antagonist SR48692, the NK1R antagonist CP96345, the VPAC2 receptor antagonist PG99‐465, the nitric oxide‐sensitive guanylate‐cyclase inhibitor ODQ, and the Ca(2+)‐dependent K(+) channel blocker apamin. The higher frequency of postinhibitory spontaneous contractions induced by Xenin25 was also attenuated by ODQ and apamin. SP‐, NOS‐, and VIP‐immunoreactive neurons were detected in the myenteric plexus (MP) of the rat distal colon. Small subsets of the SP‐positive neurons were also Calbindin positive. Most of the VIP‐positive neurons were also NOS positive, and small subsets of the NK1R‐positive neurons were also VIP positive. Based on the present results, we propose the following mechanism. Xenin25 activates neuronal NTSR1 on the SP neurons of IPANs, and transmitters from the VIP and apamin‐sensitive NO neurons synergistically inhibit the spontaneous circular muscle contractions via NK1R. Subsequently, the postinhibitory spontaneous contractions are induced by the offset of apamin‐sensitive NO neuron activation via the interstitial cells of Cajal. In addition, Xenin25 also activates the muscular NTSR1 to induce relaxation. Thus, Xenin25 is considered to be an important modulator of post prandial circular muscle contraction of distal colon since the release of Xenin25 from enteroendocrine cells is stimulated by food intake.