FlCRhR/cyclic AMP signaling in myenteric ganglia and calbindin-D28 intrinsic primary afferent neurons involves adenylyl cyclases I, III and IV.

The aims of this study were to improve insight into cAMP signaling in myenteric neurons and glia and identify the adenylyl cyclase (AC) isoforms expressed in myenteric ganglia of the guinea-pig small intestine. An increase in the intracellular cAMP levels was measured indirectly by an increase in the 520 nm/580 nm fluorescence emission ratio of the protein kinase A fluorosensor FlCRhR. Forskolin or pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide caused an increase in cAMP levels in cell somas and neurites and elicited a slow EPSP-like response in myenteric AH/Type 2 neurons, whereas the inactive form of forskolin was without these effects. Glia displayed similar cAMP responses. Immunoblot analysis showed that AC I, III and IV were present in myenteric ganglia, with AC I being detected as two bands of 160 kDa and 185 kDa, AC III as two bands near 220 kDa, and AC IV as two bands of greater than 220 kDa. Pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide and N-glycosidase F revealed an AC IV band at 115 kDa. Preabsorption with specific blocking peptides prevented detection of AC I or AC IV immunoreactive proteins. In ganglia which expressed strong AC IV immunoreactivity, no immunoreactive bands were detected for AC II, AC V/VI, AC VII or AC VIII. The amount of AC isoforms expressed in myenteric ganglia followed the order of AC IV&z.Gt;III>I. Immunofluorescent labeling studies revealed that AC I, AC III and AC IV were variably expressed in myenteric neurons and glia of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. In the guinea-pig ileum, AC I, III and IV immunoreactivities were respectively present in 26%, 58% and 89% of calbindin-D28-colabeled myenteric neurons. These findings suggest that (1) AC I, AC III and AC IV variably contribute to cAMP signaling in myenteric ganglia, (2) AC I, AC III and AC IV may be differentially expressed in distinct subsets of calbindin-D28 neurons which may represent intrinsic primary afferent myenteric neurons. Our study also provides direct evidence for activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.