Summary
The neural inhibition of the gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscle motility was studied by means of electrical transmural nerve stimulation (ETNS) in guinea-pigs.
In untreated muscle strips, ETNS induced four types of response, consisting of three basic components, i.e., contraction and relaxation during ETNS, and after-contraction. Following atropinization, all the responses changed to only one type, i.e., relaxation during ETNS followed by after-contraction. The relaxation of the muscle strips induced by ETNS after atropinization was not significantly reduced under superimposing guanethidine treatment in any site of the GI tract. The maximal relaxation of the muscle strips induced by ETNS after atropine and guanethidine treatments was not uniform throughout the GI tract. The relaxation of the gastric body and colon was greater than that of the jejunum and ileum. The extent of the relaxation was significantly different even in the colon. Theophylline and phentolamine did not reduce the ETNS-induced relaxation following atropine and guanethidine treatments in the distal colon and taenia coli.
The findings suggest the following: the non-adrenergic inhibitory (NAI) nerve is the main postganghlionic nerve to inhibit the GI smooth muscle motility; and the role of adrenergic nerve is of little importance in respect to postganghlionic inhibition. The innervation of the NAI nerve seems not to be uniform throughout the GI tract. Theophylline and phentolamine are not the specific antagonists of the NAI nerve.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ambache N: Unmasking, after cholinergic paralysis by botulinum toxin, of a reversed action of nicotine on the mammalian intestine, revealing the probable presence of local inhibitory ganglion cells in the enteric plexuses. Br J Pharmac 1951; 6: 51–67
Ambache N, Edwards J: Reversal of nicotine action on the intestine by atropine. Br J Pharmac 1951; 6: 311–317
Burnstock G, Campbell G, Bennett M, et al: Inhibition of the smooth muscle of the taenia coli. Nature 1963; 200: 581–582
Bülbring E, Tomita T: Properties of the inhibitory potential of smooth muscle as observed in the response to field stimulation of the guinea-pig taenia coli. J Physiol 1967; 189: 299–315
Burnstock G, Campbell G, Rand M: The inhibitory innervation of the taenia of the guinea-pig caecum. J Physiol 1966; 182: 504–526
Rikimaru A: Contractile properties of organ-cultured intestinal smooth muscle. Tohoku J exp Med 1971; 103: 317–329
Burnstock G, Campbell G, Satchell D, et al: Evidence that adenosine triphosphate or a related nucleotide is the transmitter substance released by non-adrenergic inhibitory nerves in the gut. Br J Pharmac 1970; 40: 668–688
Burnstock G, Cocks T, Kasakov L, et al: Direct evidence for ATP release from non-adrenergic, noncholinergic (“purinergic”) nerves in the guinea-pig taenia coli and bladder. Eur J Pharmacol 1978; 49: 145–149
Okwuasaba FK, Hamilton JT, Cook MA: Relaxations of guinea-pig fundic strip by adenosine, adenine nucleotides and electrical stimulation: Antagonism by theophylline and desensitization to adenosine and its derivatives. Eur J Pharmacol 1977; 46: 181–198
Satchell D, Burnstock G, Dann P: Antagonism of the effects of purinergic nerve stimulation and exogenv applied ATP on the guinea-pig taenia coli by 2-substituted imidazolines and related compounds. Eur J Pharmacol 1973; 23: 264–269
Munro AF: Effect of autonomic drugs on the responses of isolated preparations from the guinea-pig intestine to electrical stimulation. J Physiol 1953; 120: 41–52
Costa M, Gabella G: Adrenergic innervation of the alimentary canal. Z Zeilforsch 1971; 122: 357–377
Celander O: Are there any centrally controlled sympathetic inhibitory fibers to the musculature of the intestine? Acta Physiol Scand 1959; 47: 299–309
Folkow B: Nervous control of the blood vessels. Physiol Rev 1955; 35: 629–663
Norberg KA: Adrenergic innervation of the intestinal wall studied by fluorescence microscopy. Int J Neuropharmacol 1964; 3: 379–382
Jacobowitz D: Histochemical studies of the autonomic innervation of the gut. J Pharma exp Ther 1965; 149: 358–364
Paton WDM, Vizi ES: The inhibitory action of noradrenaline and adrenaline on acetylcholine output by guinea-pig ileum longitudinal muscle strip. Br J Pharmac 1969; 35: 10–28
Kosterlitz HW, Lydon RJ, Watt AJ: The effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline and isoprenaline on inhibitory α and β-adrenoceptors in the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum. Br J Pharmac 1970; 39: 398–413
Irwin DA: The anatomy of Auerbach’s plexus. Am J Anat 1931; 49: 141–166
Rikimaru A, Fukushi Y, Suzuki T: Effects of imidazole and phentolamine on the relaxant responses of guinea-pig taenia coli to transmural stimulation and to adenosine triphosphate. Tohoku J exp Med 1971; 105: 199–200
Baer HP, Frew R: Relaxation of guinea-pig fundic strip by adnosine, adenosine triphosphate and electrical stimulation: Lack of antagonism by theophylline or ATP treatment. Br J Pharmac 1979; 67: 293–299
Small RC, Weston AH: Theophylline antagonizes some effects of purines in the intestine but not those of intramural inhibitory nerve stimulation. Br J Pharmac 1979; 67: 301–308
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nawano, M., Kaneko, E. & Honda, N. Neural inhibition of gastrointestinal smooth muscle motility in guinea-pigs. Gastroenterol Jpn 22, 690–697 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02776740
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02776740