Properties of myenteric neurones and mucosal functions in the distal colon of diet-induced obese mice.

Colonic transit and mucosal integrity are believed to be impaired in obesity. However, a comprehensive assessment of altered colonic functions, inflammatory changes and neuronal signalling of obese animals is missing. In mice, we studied the impact of diet-induced obesity (DIO) on: (i) in vivo colonic transit; (ii) signalling in the myenteric plexus by recording responses to nicotine and 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (2-methyl-5-HT), together with the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) 1 and 2, serotonin reuptake transporter, choline acetyltransferase and the paired box gene 4; and (iii) expression of proinflammatory cytokines, epithelial permeability and density of macrophages, mast cells and enterochromaffin cells.

Activity of protease-activated receptors in primary cultured human myenteric neurons.

Activity of the four known protease-activated receptors (PARs) has been well studied in rodent enteric nervous system and results in animal models established an important role for neuronal PAR2. We recently demonstrated that, unlike in rodents, PAR1 is the dominant neuronal protease receptor in the human submucous plexus. With this study we investigated whether this also applies to the human myenteric plexus.

Mechanosensitive enteric neurons in the myenteric plexus of the mouse intestine.

Background: Within the gut the autonomous enteric nervous system (ENS) is able to sense mechanical stimuli and to trigger gut reflex behaviour. We previously proposed a novel sensory circuit in the ENS which consists of multifunctional rapidly adapting mechanosensitive enteric neurons (RAMEN) in the guinea pig. The aim of this study was to validate this concept by studying its applicability to other species or gut regions.

Fast calcium and voltage-sensitive dye imaging in enteric neurones reveal calcium peaks associated with single action potential discharge.

Slow changes in [Ca(2+)](i) reflect increased neuronal activity. Our study demonstrates that single-trial fast [Ca(2+)](i) imaging (≥200 Hz sampling rate) revealed peaks each of which are associated with single spike discharge recorded by consecutive voltage-sensitive dye (VSD) imaging in enteric neurones and nerve fibres. Fast [Ca(2+)](i) imaging also revealed subthreshold fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials.

A new predictive index for vertebral fractures: the sum of the anterior vertebral body heights.

Unlabelled: Evaluation of osteoporotic vertebral fracture risk is currently based on measurement of bone mineral density (BMD), but bone strength depends also on bone quality parameters. Aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a new vertebral morphometric index, the Anterior Vertebral Heights sum (AHs) in discriminating women at high risk of vertebral fracture, comparing its diagnostic accuracy with that of BMD measured at lumbar spine (LS-BMD) and femoral neck (FN-BMD).

Materials And Methods: A total of 163 Caucasian post-menopausal women (age range 46-74 years, mean age+/-SD=63.