Deoxycholic Acid Activates and Sensitizes Vagal Nociceptive Afferent C-fibers in Guinea Pig Esophagus

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2021 Jun 23. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00187.2021. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBile acid reflux in the esophagus plays a role in the pathogenesis of certain esophageal disorders where it can induce esophageal pain and heartburn. The present study aimed to determine whether bile acid, deoxycholic acid (DCA), directly activates and sensitizes esophageal vagal nociceptive afferent C-fiber subtypes. DCA-elicited effects on vagal nodose and jugular neurons were studied by calcium imaging. Its effects on esophageal-labeled nodose and jugular neurons were then determined by patch-clamp recording. At nodose and jugular C-fiber nerve endings in the esophagus, DCA-evoked action potentials (APs) were compared by extra-cellular single-unit recordings in ex vivo esophageal-vagal preparations. DCA application induced calcium influxes in nodose and jugular neurons and elicited inward currents in esophageal-labeled nodose and jugular neurons. In the presence of DCA, the current densities elicited by capsaicin were enhanced in those labeled neurons. Consistently, DCA perfusion at nerve terminals in the esophagus evoked APs in about 50% of esophageal nodose and jugular C-fibers. In DCA-sensitive C-fibers, DCA perfusion also sensitized the fibers such that the subsequent response to capsaicin was amplified. Collectively, these results provide new evidence that DCA directly activates and sensitizes nociceptive nodose and jugular C-fibers in the esophagus. Such...
Source: Am J Physiol Gastroi... - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research