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Abstract
Knudsen MA, Frøbert O, Tøttrup A. The role of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway for peristalsis in the opossum oesophageal body. Scand J Gastroenterol 1994;29:1083-1087.
Background: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, on primary peristalsis in the oesophageal body.
Methods: Peristalsis was induced by pharyngeal stroking in 14 lightly anaesthetized opossums. Oesophageal pressures were monitored with a four-channel, perfused catheter assembly and registered with external transducers 1, 4, 7, and 10 cm proximal to the oesophagogastric junction. Propagation time was the time taken for a contraction to travel between two recording sites and was determined in the proximal, middle, and distal parts of the oesophagus (propagation time between 10 and 7 cm, 7 and 4 cm, and 4 and 1 cm recording sites, respectively).
Results: L-NNA (10-7-10-5mol/kg) dose-dependently reduced propagation time of the contraction in the distal oesophagus from 1.13 ± 0.24 sec to 0.27 ± 0.19 sec, whereas propagation in the proximal and middle parts of the oesophagus was unaffected. JVG-nitro-D-arginine (D-NNA; 10-5 mol/kg) had no influence on propagation time. In animals treated with L-NNA (10-5 mol/kg) atropine (50 μg/kg) had no influence on propagation time in any part of the oesophagus. L-Arginine (10-4 mol/kg) had no influence on the propagation time in animals treated with L-NNA (10-5 mol/kg) and atropine (50 μg/kg). Neither D-NNA (10-5 mol/kg) nor L-NNA (10-7-10-5 mol/kg) influenced the amplitude of the contractions at any of the recording sites. In animals given L-NNA (10-5 mol/kg) atropine (50 μg/kg) reduced the amplitude of the contraction significantly only at the distal recording site (1-cm recording site) from 62.0 ± 4.9 mmHg to 34.5 ± 5.3 mmHg. L-Arginine (10-4 mol/kg) had no effect on the amplitude of contractions.
Conclusion: The L-arginine-NO pathway plays a role in the control of primary peristalsic contractions of the oesophagus.