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Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 285: G747-G753, 2003. First published June 19, 2003; doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00273.2002
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NEUROREGULATION AND MOTILITY

Sources and implications of basal nitric oxide in spontaneous contractions of guinea pig taenia caeci

Catalina Caballero-Alomar,1 Carmen Santos,1 Diego Lopez,2 M. Teresa Mitjavila,2 and Pere Puig-Parellada1

1Unitat de Farmacologia, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona; and 2Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain

Submitted 8 July 2002 ; accepted in final form 9 June 2003

We examined in vitro the source and role of basal nitric oxide (NO) in proximal segments of guinea pig taenia caeci in nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) conditions. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), we measured the effect of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10–4 M), the neuronal blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX, 10–6 M), or both on spontaneous contractions and on the production of basal NO. Both L-NAME and TTX, when tested alone, increased the amplitude and frequency of contractions. NO production was abolished by L-NAME and was inhibited by 38% by TTX. When tested together, L-NAME in the presence of TTX or TTX in the presence of L-NAME had no further effect on the amplitude or frequency of spontaneous contractions, and the NO production was inhibited. These findings suggest that basal NO consists of TTX-sensitive and TTX-resistant components. The TTX-sensitive NO has an inhibitory effect on spontaneous contractions; the role of TTX-resistant NO is unknown.

longitudinal smooth muscle; cecum; nonadrenergic, noncholinergic innervation; tetrodotoxin; electron paramagnetic resonance


Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: C. Caballero-Alomar, Unitat de Farmacologia, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain (E-mail catalina{at}medicina.ub.es).






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