CARBAMYLCHOLINE-INDUCED AND CATECHOLAMINE-INDUCED INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM DYNAMICS OF EPITHELIAL-CELLS IN MOUSE ILEAL CRYPTS

Background/Aims: The intestinal epithelium is composed of various cells, and the enteric nervous system, which controls the epithelial functions, has different neurotransmitters and/or modulators. The aim of this study was to show whether the responses of intestinal epithelial cells to different neurotransmitters are elicited throughout the entire epithelium or are restricted to a certain cell. Methods: The spatiotemporal dynamics of cytosolic calcium ion (Ca2+(c)) were measured by digital imaging analysis in isolated crypts of mouse ileum loaded with 1-2-(5'-carboxyoxazol-2'-yl)-6-aminobenzofuran-5-oxy-2-(2'-amino-5'-methylphenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid pentakis (acetoxylmethyl) ester. Thereafter, the crypt cells were identified morphologically. Results: Carbamylcholine elicited Ca2+(c) of some enterochromaffin cells. Increases in the Ca2+(c) of most crypt cells were elicited by thapsigargin. Propagation of Ca2+(c) wave in the crypts was not evident. Conclusions: Increases in Ca2+(c) can be induced by carbamylcholine in Paneth cells and catecholamines in some enterochromaffin cells. The digital imaging analysis showed the heterogeneity of the responses of intestinal crypt cells to different transmitters.