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Nitric oxide production is diminished in colonic circular muscle from acquired megacolon

  • Original Contributions
  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

PURPOSE: Nitric oxide modulates human colonic smooth muscle function. To determine whether nitric oxide production is altered in colon from acquired megacolon, we measured cholinergic nerve-mediated contractionsin vitro before and after inhibition of nitric oxide synthase. METHODS: Intramural nerves in circular smooth muscle from histologically normal colon (n=12) and acquired megacolon (n=3) were activated by electrical field stimulation. RESULTS: In controls blockade of nitric oxide synthase by NG-Nitro-L-Arginine induced increases (P<0.05) in amplitude of contractions; these increases in amplitudes were blocked by L-Arginine (analysis of variance;P<0.05). By contrast, blockade of nitric oxide synthase did not increase amplitudes of contractions with circular smooth muscle from acquired megacolon. An immediate phasic contraction was blocked by atropine sulfate. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the concept that nitric oxide production modulates cholinergic nerve-mediated contractions in normal colonic circular muscle, whereas acquired megacolon is associated with altered release of this inhibitory neurochemical. Potential explanations include depletion of tissue L-Arginine, decreased capacity to recycle citrulline to arginine, or decreased release of vasoactive intestinal peptide from circular smooth muscle in acquired megacolon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Section of Gastroenterology, L. A. Johnson VA Medical Center and West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia

    Timothy R. Koch M.D.

  2. the Department of Surgery, Zablocki VA Medical Center, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Mary F. Otterson M.D. & Gordon L. Telford M.D.

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  1. Timothy R. Koch M.D.
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  2. Mary F. Otterson M.D.
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  3. Gordon L. Telford M.D.
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Supported by Veterans Administration Medical Research Funds and by West Virginia University.

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Koch, T.R., Otterson, M.F. & Telford, G.L. Nitric oxide production is diminished in colonic circular muscle from acquired megacolon. Dis Colon Rectum 43, 821–828 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02238021

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