Biomaterial Database

An in vitro study of the properties of vagal afferent fibres innervating the ferret oesophagus and stomach. 1998

A J Page, and L A Blackshaw

Nerve-Gut Research Laboratory, Department of Gastrointestinal Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

1. A novel preparation of the oesophagus with attached vagus nerve from the ferret maintained in vitro was used to study the properties of single vagal afferent nerve fibres with identified receptive fields. 2. Recordings were made from three types of gastro-oesophageal vagal afferent fibres that were classified on the basis of their sensitivity to mechanical stimulation. There were those responding to mucosal stroking (mucosal receptors), to circular tension (tension receptors) and those responding to mucosal stroking and circular tension, which we have termed tension/mucosal (TM) receptors. 3. The conduction velocities for mucosal, TM and tension receptor fibres were 6.38 +/- 1.22 m s-1 (n = 22), 6.20 +/- 1.49 m s-1 (n = 13) and 5.33 +/- 0.86 m s-1 (n = 22), respectively. 4. Receptive fields of afferents showed random topographical distribution by fibre type and conduction velocity. They were found mainly distal but also occasionally proximal to the point of vagal dissection. 5. Twenty-eight per cent of mucosal, 63% of TM and 43% of tension receptors responded to one or more drugs or chemical stimuli applied to the receptive field. 6. In conclusion, this experimental preparation provides evidence for the existence of three types of oesophageal vagal afferent fibre, namely mucosal, tension and the newly identified tension/mucosal receptors.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007413	Intestinal Mucosa	Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI.	Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009130	Muscle, Smooth	Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D009412	Nerve Fibers	Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D009431	Neural Conduction	The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus.	Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
D009475	Neurons, Afferent	Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D010812	Physical Stimulation	Act of eliciting a response from a person or organism through physical contact.	Stimulation, Physical,Physical Stimulations,Stimulations, Physical
D011956	Receptors, Cell Surface	Cell surface proteins that bind signalling molecules external to the cell with high affinity and convert this extracellular event into one or more intracellular signals that alter the behavior of the target cell (From Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed, pp693-5). Cell surface receptors, unlike enzymes, do not chemically alter their ligands.	Cell Surface Receptor,Cell Surface Receptors,Hormone Receptors, Cell Surface,Receptors, Endogenous Substances,Cell Surface Hormone Receptors,Endogenous Substances Receptors,Receptor, Cell Surface,Surface Receptor, Cell
D004947	Esophagus	The muscular membranous segment between the PHARYNX and the STOMACH in the UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.
D005289	Ferrets	Semidomesticated variety of European polecat much used for hunting RODENTS and/or RABBITS and as a laboratory animal. It is in the subfamily Mustelinae, family MUSTELIDAE.	Domestic Polecat,Domestic Polecats,European Polecat,European Polecats,Ferret,Mustela putorius,Mustela putorius furo,Polecat, Domestic,Polecat, European,Polecats, Domestic,Polecats, European