Resolution and concordance in dissecting the compound inhibitory junction potential

摘要

The current issue of The Journal of Physiology contains two outstanding papers describing the pharmacological dissection of the compound inhibitory junction potential (IJP) (Gallego et al. 2012; Hwang et al. 2012). Both papers show that the IJP can be broken down to an initial purinergic component, followed by a later nitrergic component, in the circular muscle of murine colon. Furthermore, they show that the metabotropic P2Y[ receptor is the sole purinoceptor subtype mediating the initial component of the compound IJP, based on the outcome of experiments using P2Y[-selective antagonists and P2Yl-deficient tissues. Additionally, they describe the consequence of P2Yj receptor deletion on patterns of motility at rest and during stimulation of motor nerves. It is rare that two papers submitted to The Journal should contain identical findings and reach identical conclusions. Thus, I speak of 'resolution and 'concordance in the title of this perspective, to signify the positive outcome of these studies and acknowledge a consensus on mechanistic detail.