Evidence for protein kinase involvement in long-term postsynaptic excitation of intrinsic primary afferent neurons in the intestine

Abstract

We have investigated the effects of protein kinase inhibitors on the sustained slow postsynaptic excitation (SSPE) that is evoked by prolonged stimulation of synaptic inputs to intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) in the small intestines of guinea pigs. Stimulation of synaptic inputs to the IPANs caused depolarisation, increased input resistance, and increased excitation that continued after the cessation of stimulation. The excitation was substantially reduced by the broad-spectrum kinase inhibitor staurosporine (1 μM), PKC inhibitors Ro 31-8220 (3.3 μM) and calphostin C (1 μM), but not by the PKA inhibitor H89 (1 μM). At a higher concentration, 10 μM Ro 31-8220 reduced the excitabili..