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Background and Purpose: Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) and tyrosine kinases play an important role in regulating smooth muscle contraction of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that regulate GI smooth muscle activity. Thus, the role of MAP and tyrosine kinases on the pacemaker potentials of colonic ICCs was investigated. Methods: Cultured ICCs were prepared from mice colons, and their pacemaker potentials were recorded using whole-cell patch clamping. Results: In current-clamping mode, colonic ICCs displayed spontaneous pacemaker potentials. SB203580 (a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor), SP600125 (a c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor), genistein and herbimycin A (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) blocked the generation of pacemaker potentials. However, PD98059 (a p42/44 MAP kinase inhibitor) had no effects on pacemaker potentials. LY-294002 (phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor) also reduced the pacemaker potential frequency but calphostin C and chelerythrine (protein kinase C inhibitors) had no effects. However, PD98059, SB203589, SP600125, genistein, herbimycin A, LY-294002, and calphostin C had no effect on normal pacemaker activity in small intestinal ICCs. Conclusions: Endogenous p38 MAP kinases, JNKs, tyrosine kinases, and PI3-kinases participate in the generation of pacemaker potentials in colonic ICCs but not in ICCs of the small intestine.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) on the pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in mouse colon and to identify the underlying mechanisms of PACAP action. Spontaneous pacemaker activity of colonic ICC and the effects of PACAP were studied using electrophysiological recordings. Exogenously applied PACAP induced hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and inhibited pacemaker frequency in a dose-dependent manner (from 0.1 nM to 100 nM). To investigate cyclic AMP (cAMP) involvement in the effects of PACAP on ICC, SQ-22536 (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase) and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP were used. SQ-22536 decreased the frequency of pacemaker potentials, and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP increased the frequency of pacemaker potentials. The effects of SQ-22536 on pacemaker potential frequency and membrane hyperpolarization were rescued by co-treatment with glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive K(+) channel blocker). However, neither N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase) nor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-α]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase) had any effect on PACAP-induced activity. In conclusion, this study describes the effects of PACAP on ICC in the mouse colon. PACAP inhibited the pacemaker activity of ICC by acting through ATP-sensitive K(+) channels. These results provide evidence of a physiological role for PACAP in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility through the modulation of ICC activity.