Background: The cellular mechanisms involved in the mucin secretion of rat colon are unknown. The objective of the present study was thus to determine the role of extracellular calcium and of L-type calcium channels in rat intestinal mucin discharge.
Methods: The experiments were conducted using the isolated vascularly perfused rat colon. Mucin secretion was evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Intra-arterial bethanechol (200 microM) or luminal deoxycholate (5 mM) produced a significant mucin discharge (609% and 386% of controls, respectively). The colonic mucin output induced by these two secretagogues was significantly inhibited by arterial administration of EGTA (2 mM), verapamil (100 microM) or nifedipine (50 microM). In contrast, luminal EGTA (2 mM) had no inhibitory effect. Intra-arterial infusion of the calmodulin antagonist trifluoperazine (10 microM) also reduced mucin discharge induced by bethanechol or deoxycholate (304% and 223% of controls, respectively). Colonic mucin secretion was significantly stimulated after intra-arterial infusion of 3-isobutyl-methylxanthine (IBMX, 100 microM) or forskolin (2-20 microM). Stimulation by forskolin was unaffected by arterial EGTA, verapamil, nifedipine or trifluoperazine.
Conclusion: In the isolated vascularly perfused rat colon, mucin discharge induced by bethanechol or deoxycholate requires extracellular calcium and the activation of voltage-dependent calcium channels of L-type. In contrast, forskolin does not appear to stimulate mucin release by increasing calcium entry.