Study of the pannexin-1 channel in the myenteric plexus following ischemia and reperfusion

• Grant number: 15/22299-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal researcher: Patricia Castelucci
• Grantee: Thaira Thalita Alves Pereira
• Home Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) is constituted by myenteric and submucosal plexus, whose purpose is to maintain of gastrointestinal activities. It has been observed that there is a reduction of myenteric neurons following ischemia and reperfusion. ATP is considered a neurotransmitter, which P2X1 to P2X7 are receptors and have been described in the enteric neurons. The pannexins are a family of three membrane proteins existing in mammals designated pannexin-1, -2 and -3, the pannexin are structurally similar to connexins. It has been described the relationship between pannexin channel and purinergic receptors. It is also known that pannexin-1 mediates the release of ATP which stimulates autocrine and paracrine actions of P2X7 receptor, and promotes the neuronal death. This work aims to study the distribution of pannexin-1 channel in myenteric neurons and analyze the effects of antagonist of pannexin-1 channel, which is probenecid following ischemia/reperfusion. It will be used male Wistar rats subjected to ischemia of the ileal vessels for 45 minutes with periods of reperfusion of 24 hours and 14 days (Groups I / R). There will be the sham group that did not undergo ischemia. Animals of I/R group will be treated with probenicid. The immunohistochemistry experiments will be done of double colocalization of pannexin-1 with calretinin (marker of cholinergic neurons). For anlises will be used the fluorescence microscope and confocal Laser Scanning to be examined neuronal density and the profile area of the immunoreactive neurons for pannexin-1, and calretinin.