Defining and modeling the cellular interactions for rhythmic colon motility

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ABSTRACT: Continuous colon motility is critical for the overall health and survival of an organism and results from activity in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) that are electrically-coupled to smooth muscle. Although these cellular components have been individually studied in detail, how they interact to coordinate motility across the length of colon is not well understood. Two motor patterns are measured experimentally: (1) ‘ripple’ contractions produced by ICC slow waves of depolarization, and (2) colon migrating motor complexes necessary for propulsion of fecal contents that require ENS activity. Existing models of colon motility are focused on distal regions where distension from a fecal pellet activates intrinsic sensory neurons (or IPANs) that excite ENS motor neurons for oral contraction and anal relaxation of smooth muscles; the forward movement of the pellet then distends the adjacent segment, activates another IPAN, and this ‘neuromechanical loop’ ensures propagation and propulsion of fecal contents. However, these models do not explain the regular rhythm of colon motor complexes, which occur every 2-5 min, or how they are first initiated in the proximal colon where fecal pellets have not yet formed. Unlike motor complexes that reach distal regions only when sensory input is applied, spontaneous, rhythmic motor complexes occur in proximal regions regardless of luminal content, stretch, or distension, indicating that the proximal colon has unique pacemaker capabilities that determine the rhythm of motor complexes. The objective for this project is to determine and model the cellular interactions unique to the proximal colon that are responsible for generating rhythmic motor complexes in normal and inflamed conditions. We hypothesize that rhythmic motor complexes are due to cyclical interactions among ICC, IPANs and motor neurons of the ENS, and that dysmotility during inflammation is due to dysregulation of these interactions. To test this and address knowledge gaps, we will use optogenetics, calcium imaging, in situ immunofluorescence, and computational modeling to define the cell-to-cell interactions responsible for spontaneous, rhythmic motor complexes produced in the proximal colon and determine the cellular components that contribute to dysrhythmic motility following inflammation. Aim 1 will determine the mechanical sensitivity of proximal colon IPANs to ICC-generated ripple contractions. Aim 2 will define the ‘ENS neural program’ activated by IPANs that produces motor complexes in proximal colon. Aim 3 will determine the effect of ENS activity on ICC slow waves and ripple contractions. Each Aim will collect data from normal and inflamed colons, and findings will be incorporated into our model to computationally test whether predictions can be made regarding motility behavior based on changes in cellular activity. Thus, these studies will yield a novel computational model that will help identify cellular mechanisms of dysfunction in colon diseases and guide optimization of therapeutic devices that employ pacemaker technology or nerve stimulation to normalize and restore colon function.