American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology Podcast

"Got Guts" The Micro Version: The Effects of Simulated Gastroesophageal Reflux on Infant Pig Oropharyngeal Feeding Physiology

Join coauthor Chloe Edmonds in this insightful episode as she delves into her recently published paper, "The Effects of Simulated Gastroesophageal Reflux on Infant Pig Oropharyngeal Feeding Physiology." Chloe explores how simulating gastroesophageal reflux in an infant pig model reveals significant alterations in pharyngeal swallowing dynamics. Discover how the integration of esophageal afferents impacts motor outputs to the pharynx, leading to decreased swallow frequency and increased bolus sizes. This research not only sheds light on the mechanisms behind esophageal pathologies and oropharyngeal dysphagia but also highlights the potential for developing intervention strategies grounded in neurophysiology. Tune in for a deep dive into the implications of this work for both animal models and clinical practice!

 

Article Citation: 

The effects of simulated gastroesophageal reflux on infant pig oropharyngeal feeding physiology

Chloe E. Edmonds, Kaitlyn N. Robbins, Elizabeth G. Dvorak, Stephen P. Howe, Sarah A. Sheldon, Christopher J. Mayerl, Brianna A. Owairu, Brady M. Young, and Rebecca Z. German

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 327:1, G105-G116

"Got Guts" The Micro Version: Autoimmune liver disease and hormonal responses

In this episode, coauthors Anne-Sofie H. Jensen and Nicolai J. Wewer Albrechtsen discuss the recently published research titled "Patients with autoimmune liver disease have glucose disturbances that mechanistically differ from steatotic liver disease." The authors reveal that patients with autoimmune liver disease, even in the absence of overt diabetes, experience early glucose disturbances.

Jensen and Albrechtsen highlight key pathophysiological traits specific to these patients, including altered incretin responses. This distinction is crucial because it suggests that the mechanisms underlying glucose metabolism issues in autoimmune liver disease differ significantly from those seen in steatotic liver disease. The authors findings could have important implications for diagnosing and managing glucose dysregulation in patients with autoimmune liver conditions.

 

Article Citation

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Patients with autoimmune liver disease have glucose disturbances that mechanistically differ from steatotic liver disease

Anne-Sofie H. Jensen, Henriette Ytting, Mikkel P. Werge, Elias B. Rashu, Liv E. Hetland, Mira Thing, Puria Nabilou, Johan Burisch, Kirstine N. Bojsen-Møller, Anders E. Junker, Lise Hobolth, Christian Mortensen, Flemming Tofteng, Flemming Bendtsen, Søren Møller, Mogens Vyberg, Reza R. Serizawa, Lise L. Gluud, and Nicolai J. Wewer Albrechtsen

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 326:6, G736-G746

"Got Guts" The Micro Version: Inhibitory neurotransmission in the internal anal sphincter

Coauthor Caroline A. Cobine dives into the fascinating world of internal anal sphincter biology in the latest episode of "Gut Guts." The research uncovers direct and indirect neural pathways that modulate intracellular calcium activity in interstitial cells of Cajal, shedding light on their role in smooth muscle cell function.

 

Article Citation:

Modulation of intracellular calcium activity in interstitial cells of Cajal by inhibitory neural pathways within the internal anal sphincter

Karen I. Hannigan, Emer P. Ni Bhraonain, Thomas W. Gould, Kathleen D. Keef, and Caroline A. Cobine

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 327:3, G382-G404

"Got Guts" The Micro Version: Mechanical Stress-induced Connective Tissue Growth Factor and Intestinal Fibrosis

In this episode of "Gut Guts" coauthor Xuan-Zheng Shi discusses new research on intestinal fibrosis in Crohn’s-like colitis. The study found that mechanical stress causes a protein called CTGF to increase, leading to fibrosis. In a rat model, easing the mechanical stress reduced connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and lessened fibrosis. This suggests that mechanical stress may be important in causing fibrosis in Crohn’s disease.

 

Article Citation: 

Mechanical stress-induced connective tissue growth factor plays a critical role in intestinal fibrosis in Crohn’s-like colitis

You-Min Lin, Ke Zhang, Ramasatyaveni Geesala, Kenneth E. Lipson, Suimin Qiu, Don W. Powell, Steven Cohn, and Xuan-Zheng Shi

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 327:2, G295-G305

"Got Guts" The Micro Version: Characterization of Rat Gastric Slow Wave Activity

Tune in to our latest podcast episode where Peng Du, Omkar N. Athavale, and Madeleine R. Di Natale dive into the fascinating world of gastric slow-wave conduction. They discuss their recent article titled "Mapping the rat gastric slow-wave conduction pathway: bridging in vitro and in vivo methods, revealing a loosely coupled region in the distal stomach" revealing regional variations in the organization of rat gastric slow waves. Don't miss this intriguing discussion bridging in vitro and in vivo methods!

 

Mapping of rat gastric slow waves showed regional variations in their organization. In some subjects, separate wavefronts propagated near the lesser and greater curvatures with a loosely coupled region near the midline, between the wavefronts, having a varying slow-wave origin. Furthermore, simultaneous intracellular and extracellular recordings were concordant and independent of movement artifacts, indicating that extracellular recordings can be interpreted in terms of their intracellular counterparts when intracellular recording is not possible.

 

Article Citation:

Mapping the rat gastric slow-wave conduction pathway: bridging in vitro and in vivo methods, revealing a loosely coupled region in the distal stomach

Omkar N. Athavale, Madeleine R. Di Natale, Recep Avci, Alys R. Clark, John B. Furness, Leo K. Cheng, and Peng Du

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 327:2, G254-G266

"Got Guts" The Micro Version: Implicating the Cholecystokinin B Receptor in Liver Stem Cell Oncogenesis

In this episode of "Got Guts" The Micro Version, Jill P. Smith highlights the recently published research titled "Implicating the cholecystokinin B receptor in liver stem cell oncogenesis." This investigation identified a novel pathway involving the activation of hepatic stem cells and liver oncogenesis. Receptor blockade or genetic disruption of the cholecystokinin-B receptor (CCK-BR) signaling pathway decreased the activation and proliferation of hepatic stem cells after liver injury without eliminating the regenerative capacity of healthy hepatocytes.

 

Article Citation:

Implicating the cholecystokinin B receptor in liver stem cell oncogenesis

Martha D. Gay, Jack C. Drda, Wenqiang Chen, Yimeng Huang, Amal A. Yassin, Tetyana Duka, Hongbin Fang, Narayan Shivapurkar, and Jill P. Smith

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 326:3, G291-G309

"Got Guts" The Micro Version: Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Effects on Gastric Function

In this podcast, I-Hsuan Huang highlights the recently published paper titled "Effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone on gastric electrical activity and sensorimotor function in healthy volunteers: a double-blinded crossover study." The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of peripheral corticotropin-releasing hormone infusion on meal-related gastrointestinal symptoms, gastric electrical activity, and gastric sensorimotor function in healthy volunteers (HVs).

 

NEW & NOTEWORTHY In healthy volunteers, peripheral corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) infusion accelerates gastric-emptying rate and increases postprandial gastric response, accompanied by a rise in symptoms, but does not alter gastric sensitivity or meal-induced accommodation. These findings underscore a significant link between stress and dyspeptic symptoms, with CRH playing a pivotal role in mediating these effects.

 

Article Citation:

Effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone on gastric electrical activity and sensorimotor function in healthy volunteers: a double-blinded crossover study

I-Hsuan Huang, Jolien Schol, Stefan Calder, Armen A. Gharibans, Karen Van den Houte, Annelies Verheyden, Bert Broeders, Florencia Carbone, Greg O'Grady, and Jan Tack

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 326:5, G622-G630

"Got Guts" The Micro Version: Effects of L. Casei-Fermented Milk on Mice with DSS Colitis

Coauthors Mélanie G. Gareau and Maria L. Marco delve into the findings of their latest research titled "Milk and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei BL23 effects on intestinal responses in a murine model of colitis." This study marked the first exploration into sex-dependent responses to probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and milk, as well as the potential of the dairy matrix to enhance probiotic protection against colitis. Surprisingly, female mice exhibited greater sensitivity to colonic injury compared to their male counterparts, and neither treatment effectively mitigated inflammation in both sexes. These sex-specific reactions may be attributed to variances in the baseline proportions of Akkermansia in the gut microbiome of female mice, shedding light on the intricate interplay between sex, diet, probiotics, and colitis outcomes.

 

Article Citation: 

Milk and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei BL23 effects on intestinal responses in a murine model of colitis

Glory Bui, Cristina Torres-Fuentes, Matteo M. Pusceddu, Mélanie G. Gareau, and Maria L. Marco

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 326:6, G659-G675

"Got Guts" The Micro Version: Characterize Mouse Glutamatergic Myenteric Neurons

In this episode, Jia Liu and Bin Feng highlight the recently published research titled "Morphological, molecular, and functional characterization of mouse glutamatergic myenteric neurons." In this research, the authors reveal that VGLUT2-positive enteric neurons (EN), although constituting a small fraction of total EN, are homogeneously expressed in the myenteric ganglia, with a slight concentration at the intermediate region between the colon and rectum. Through anatomic, molecular, and functional analyses, we demonstrated that VGLUT2-ENs are activated indirectly by noxious circumferential colorectal stretch via nicotinic cholinergic transmission, suggesting their participation in mechanical visceral nociception.

Article Citation:

Morphological, molecular, and functional characterization of mouse glutamatergic myenteric neurons

Jia Liu, Shaopeng Zhang, Sharareh Emadi, Tiantian Guo, Longtu Chen, and Bin Feng

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 326:3, G279-G290

”Got Guts” The Micro Version: Gastric Neuromuscular Transmission

In this episode of the Got Guts podcast series Madeleine R. Di Natale of the University of Melbourne discusses the recently published manuscript titled "Characterization of neuromuscular transmission and projections of muscle motor neurons in the rat stomach."  This study provides a detailed mapping of nerve transmission to the circular muscle of the different anatomical regions of rat stomach. It shows that excitatory and inhibitory influences extend around the gastric circumference and that there is a summation of neural influence that allows for finely graded control of muscle tension and length. Nerve-mediated electrical events are qualitatively and quantitatively different between regions, for example, excitatory neurons have direct effects on fundus but not antral muscle.

 

Article Citation:

Characterization of neuromuscular transmission and projections of muscle motor neurons in the rat stomach

Madeleine R. Di Natale, Billie Hunne, Martin J. Stebbing, Xiaokai Wang, Zhongming Liu, and John B. Furness

American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2024 326:1, G78-G93