No abstract available.
Interstitial Cells of Cajal*

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal*

The properties of voltage dependent Ca2+ current (VDCC) were investigated in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) distributed in the myenteric layer (ICC-MY) of guinea-pig antrum. In tissue, ICC-MY showed c-Kit positive reactions and produced driving potentials with the amplitude and frequency of about 62 mV and 2 times min(-1), respectively, in the presence of 1micrometer nifedipine. Single ICC-MY isolated by enzyme treatment also showed c-Kit immunohistochemical reactivity. These cells were also identified by generation of spontaneous inward current under K+-rich pipette solution. The voltage clamp experiments revealed the amplitude of - 329 pA inward current at irregular frequency. With Cs+-rich pipette solution at Vh=?80 mV, ICC-MY produced voltage-dependent inward currents (VDIC), and nifedipine (1micrometer) blocked VDIC. Therefore, we successfully isolated c-Kit positive single ICC from guinea-pig stomach, and found that ICC-MY potently produced dihydropiridine sensitive L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents (VDCCL).
Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Nifedipine ; Stomach

No abstract available.
Colon ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Receptors, Cholinergic

No abstract available.
Animals ; Calcium ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Jejunum ; Mice

No abstract available.
Aging ; Animals ; Colon ; Constipation ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Rats

PURPOSE: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) play a core function in colonic motility as a pacemaker by regulating the slow wave. We intended to investigate the electrophysiological characteristics of the circular smooth muscle in the human colon, especially in Koreans. METHODS: Colon tissues were obtained from patients undergoing an elective colectomy for non-obstructive lesions. Tissues were immediately stored in oxygenated Krebs-Ringer's bicarbonate solution, and conventional microelectrode recordings of the colonic circular muscle were done from muscle cells. RESULTS: The trans-membrane potentials from 100 tissues were recorded. Regular slow-wave patterns were observed in 36 patients, and 64 patients showed irregular wave patterns. In the tissues exhibiting regular slow-wave patterns, 20 tissues were recorded from the proximal colon and 16 from the distal colon. The frequency of the slow wave from the proximal part was significantly higher than that from the distal part. The resting membrane potential, the upstroke amplitude, the spike amplitude, and the maximal rate of rise showed no significant difference between the two parts, but the time to reach half amplitude did show a significant difference between the two parts. No significant differences in parameters were observed based on the patients' demographics such as sex and age (younger or older than 60). We were able to divide the irregular waves into 3 groups. Irregular slow waves were observed in 35 tissues, irregular slow waves mixed with spike waves were observed in 26 tissues, and spike waves alone were observed in 3 tissues. CONCLUSION: We analyzed the electrophysiological characteristics of the human colonic circular smooth muscle, especially those of the slow wave originating from ICC of patients who had not been pretreated with drugs.
Colectomy ; Colon ; Demography ; Humans ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Membrane Potentials ; Microelectrodes ; Muscle Cells ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscles ; Oxygen

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare clinical syndrome which is characterized by intestinal obstruction without occluding lesions in the intestinal lumen and pregnancy is one of the important aggravating factors. Here, we report a case of a woman with intractable intestinal pseudo-obstruction that was precipitated by pregnancy. She could not make any stool passage for more than 4 weeks until a fetal gestational age of 17 weeks was reached. However, the patient could be maintained by repetitive colonoscopic decompressions and finally total colectomy could be performed successfully at a fetal gestational age of 21 weeks.
Colectomy ; Decompression ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Pregnancy

Slow transit constipation(STC)is the common type of chronic idiopathic constipation. Due to failure of routine conservative treatment, laxatives abuse is the most choice for majority of the patients, which could damage the enteric nervous system and result in aggravation of constipation. Resection of the slow transit colon is the ultimate option for some patients. It is hard to prevent and treat STC clinically because of the unknown pathophysiologic mechanism. Abnormalities of enteric neurotransmitters such as VIP, SP, NOS and decreased number of interstitial cells of Cajal have been described in the colon of the patients with STC. However, long term application of stimulant laxatives can also result in the almost same changes in the colon. Exploration of the potential relationship among the above reported abnormalities is the direction of future study.
Constipation ; physiopathology ; Enteric Nervous System ; physiopathology ; Gastrointestinal Transit ; physiology ; Humans ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; cytology

Colonic pseudo-obstruction, which is characterized by repetitive episodes or continuous symptoms and signs of a bowel obstruction, is a rare disease that results in colorectal dilatation without any obstructing lesions. Cases with neuropathic chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction have rarely been reported in Korea. We report a case of neuropathic colonic pseudo-obstruction, which results in decreased number of interstitial cells of Cajal and hypoganglionosis, in a 50-year-old man with chronic constipation accompanied by megacolon.
Colon ; Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction ; Constipation ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Korea ; Megacolon ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases