ARTICLES

Does 5-hydroxytryptamine influence "purinergic" inhibitory neurons in the intestine?

Intrinsic inhibitory neurons to guinea pig taenia coli and small bowel circular muscle were activated by transmural electrical stimulation, and the postinhibitory contractile response of the muscle was utilized to evaluate whether or not the neuronal action of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) was associated with the inhibitory neurons. The postinhibitory contractile responses of the small intestinal circular muscle were unaffected by 5HT. The 5HT antagonist methysergide also did not affect the poststimulus contractile response of the circular muscle. The amplitude and area under the contractile curve of the poststimulus contractile response of the taenia coli were reduced and the amplitude of the relaxation response to electrical stimulation was increased in one-half of the preparations after application of 5HT. Methysergide did not alter the poststimulus contractile response of the taenia coli. 5HT is implicated as a neurotransmitter substance for slow synaptic excitation within the enteric nervous system of the guinea pig small intestine; however, the 5HT synapses do not appear to be present on the "purinergic" inhibitory neurons nor on neurons that synaptically influence the inhibitory neurons.