Effects of neurotransmitters, gut hormones, and inflammatory mediators on mucus discharge in rat colon

The effect of potential mediators of mucus secretion was investigated in the isolated vascularly perfused rat colon by using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for rat colonic mucin and by histochemical analysis. Bethanechol(100-200 mu M), bombesin (100 nM), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, 100 nM) provoked a dramatic mucin discharge (maximal response at 900, 900, and 600% of control loops, respectively). VIP-stimulated mucin secretion was abolished by tetrodotoxin, whereas atropine was without effect. In contrast, both tetrodotoxin and atropine significantly decreased mucin release induced by bombesin. Isoproterenol or calcitonin gene-related peptide was without effect. Serotonin (1-5 mu M) and peptide YY (10 nM) evoked mucin discharge, whereas glucagon-like peptide-1 did not release mucin. Finally, bromolasalocid (20 mu M), interleukin-1 beta (0.25 nM), sodium nitroprusside (1 mM), and dimethyl-PGE(2) (2.5 mu M) induced mucus discharge. The results demonstrated a good correlation between the immunological method and histological analysis. In conclusion, these findings suggest a role for the enteric nervous system, the enteroendocrine cells, and resident immune cells in mediation of colonic mucus release.