Alterations of intestinal motor responses to various stimuli after Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection in rats: role of mast cells

Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection induces jejunal mastocytosis associated with enteric nerve remodelling in rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intestinal motility responses to meals and to neurotransmitters involved in the control of gut motility (acetylcholine (carbachol), substance P and neurokinin A) in both control and N. brasiliensis‐infected rats 30 days post‐infection. All rats were equipped with NiCr electrodes in the jejunum to record myoelectrical activity. The duration of disruption of the jejunal migrating myoelectrical complexes (MMC) induced by the different stimuli was determined. Meal ingestion and substance P administration disrupted the MMC pattern for similar durations in the two groups. Carbachol and neurokinin A induced a significantly longer MMC disruption in post‐infected rats than in controls (125 ± 8.3 vs. 70 ± 6 min for carbachol 100 μg kg−1 and 51 ± 4 vs. 40 ± 2 for neurokinin A 50 μg kg−1). The enhanced motor response in postinfected rats was reduced by previous mast cell stabilization with ketotifen or mast cell degranulation with compound BrX 537 A. In conclusion, the increased intestinal motor reactivity to carbachol and neurokinin A in post‐N. brasiliensis‐infected rats depends upon intestinal mast cell hyperplasia and degranulation.