A pharmacological and immunohistochemical study of the splanchnic innervation of ileal longitudinal muscle in the toad Bufo marinus.

A study was made of the innervation of the longitudinal muscle of the toad ileum with particular emphasis on the splanchnic innervation by non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves. Nerve fibres containing substance P-like immunoreactivity (SP-LI) were observed in the gut wall and in the ileal wall after degenerative section of the splanchnic nerves. Incubation overnight in a high concentration of capsaicin (3 X 10(-4) M) caused degeneration of SP-LI fibres. No evidence was obtained for enteric neurons containing SP-LI. Substance P caused a contraction of the longitudinal muscle similar to that produced by nerve stimulation. The response to nerve stimulation was decreased by about 60% by treatment with alpha-chymotrypsin. Capsaicin normally evoked a contraction of the longitudinal muscle, but did not do so after degenerative section of the splanchnic nerves. Prolonged treatments with high concentrations of capsaicin (5 X 10(-5) M) abolished the excitatory response to nerve stimulation. The results suggest that substance P is the transmitter mediating the NANC contraction. The fibres releasing the transmitter are possibly antidromically activated, sensory afferents. Both transmural stimulation and capsaicin caused a NANC inhibition of longitudinal muscle. Stimulation of perivascular nerves after splanchnic nerve section caused a NANC excitation, as did transmural stimulation even after nerve section or capsaicin treatment.