Actions of calcitonin gene-related peptide (cgrp) in guinea pig gallbladder ganglia. Gokin[acute]a, Alexander G., Lee J. Jennings, and Gary M. Mawe. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405; and Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine, 252024
APStracts 3:0125G, 1996.
The actions of CGRP have been determined from intracellular recordings obtained from gallbladder neurons in intact whole mount preparations. In most cells, pressure microejection of CGRP elicited a slow, monophasic depolarization, 4 mV in amplitude, that was associated with a decrease in input resistance and increased excitability. The CGRP-induced depolarization was attenuated in a low Na+ solution, and had a reversal potential of -8 mV. In 10% of the cells, microejection of CGRP elicited a biphasic response that comprised a rapid transient depolarization followed by a slow depolarization that was similar to the monophasic response. Addition of CGRP (1-10 nM) to the bathing solution elicited a monophasic depolarization and desensitized the cells to applications of CGRP by microejection. Forskolin, applied either by microejection or bath application, also depolarized gallbladder neurons, and produced cross-desensitization to CGRP. Responses to substance P were not enhanced by CGRP, and CGRP did not affect fast synaptic responses. It is concluded that CGRP may contribute to a local axon reflex response in gallbladder ganglia.

Received 5 April 1995; accepted in final form 5 June 1996.
APS Manuscript Number G139-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 4 July 96