Dorsal vagal preganglionic neurons: Differential responses to CCK1 and 5-HT3 receptor stimulation

The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) is the main source of the vagal innervation of the pancreas. Several studies in vitro have demonstrated that the DMV consists of a heterogeneous population of preganglionic neurons but little is known about their electrophysiological characteristics in vivo. The aims of this study were to (i) identify DMV preganglionic neurons in vivo with axons in the pancreatic vagus and (ii) characterize their responses to stimulation of cholecystokinin (CCK1) and serotonin (5-HT3) receptors which are major regulators of pancreatic secretion. Male Sprague Dawley rats anaesthetised with isoflurane (1.5%/100% O2) were used throughout. Dorsal vagal preganglionic neurons were identified by antidromic activation in response to stimulation of the pancreatic vagus. Dorsal vagal preganglionic neurons had axonal conduction velocities in the C-fibre range (0.7 ± 0.03 m/s). Forty-four neurons were identified within the rostral, intermediate and caudal DMV and thirty-eight were tested for responsiveness to CCK-8S (CCK1 agonist) and phenylbiguanide (PBG; 5-HT3 receptor agonist). CCK-8S and PBG (0.1–10 µg/kg, i.v.) produced three types of response: (i) preganglionic neurons in the intermediate DMV were inhibited by CCK-8S (n = 18) and PBG (n = 10), (ii) neurons in the caudal DMV were activated by CCK (n = 5) and PBG (n = 2) and (iii) CCK-8S (n = 9) and PBG (n = 7) had no effect on preganglionic neurons in the rostral DMV. CCK-8S and PBG have complex actions on preganglionic neurons in the DMV that may be related to their effects on pancreatic secretion.