NMDA Receptor-Dependent Synaptic Activity in Dorsal Motor Nucleus of Vagus Mediates the Enhancement of Gastric Motility by Stimulating ST36

Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of electroacupuncture at ST36 for patients with gastrointestinal motility disorders. While several lines of evidence suggest that the effect may involve vagal reflex, the precise molecular mechanism underlying this process still remains unclear. Here we report that the intragastric pressure increase induced by low frequency electric stimulation at ST36 was blocked by AP-5, an antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Indeed, stimulating ST36 enhanced NMDAR-mediated, but not 2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-oxo-1,2-oxazol-4-yl)propanoic-acid-(AMPA-) receptor-(AMPAR-) mediated synaptic transmission in gastric-projecting neurons of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV). We also identified that suppression of presynaptic μ-opioid receptors may contribute to upregulation of NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission induced by electroacupuncture at ST36. Furthermore, we determined that the glutamate-receptor-2a-(NR2A-) containing NMDARs are essential for NMDAR-mediated enhancement of gastric motility caused by stimulating ST36. Taken together, our results reveal an important role of NMDA receptors in mediating enhancement of gastric motility induced by stimulating ST36..

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2012

Erschienen:

2012

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - year:2012

Enthalten in:

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine - (2012)

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Xinyan Gao [VerfasserIn]
Yongfa Qiao [VerfasserIn]
Baohui Jia [VerfasserIn]
Xianghong Jing [VerfasserIn]
Bin Cheng [VerfasserIn]
Lei Wen [VerfasserIn]
Qiwen Tan [VerfasserIn]
Yi Zhou [VerfasserIn]
Bing Zhu [VerfasserIn]
Haifa Qiao [VerfasserIn]

Links:

doi.org [kostenfrei]
doaj.org [kostenfrei]
dx.doi.org [kostenfrei]
Journal toc [kostenfrei]
Journal toc [kostenfrei]

Themen:

Other systems of medicine

doi:

10.1155/2012/438460

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

DOAJ002492946