Biomaterial Database

NO mediates gastric relaxation after brief vagal stimulation in anesthetized dogs. 1995

A L Meulemans, and J G Eelen, and J A Schuurkes

Department of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology, Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse, Belgium.

In vitro studies showed that relaxations induced after vagal stimulation of the guinea pig stomach are mediated via nitric oxide (NO). The role of NO in canine gastric relaxation in response to vagal stimulation has as yet not been studied. The present study examined the influence of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) on gastric relaxations after vagal nerve stimulation in the anesthetized dog. In beagle dogs (n = 7), the ventral and dorsal abdominal vagal nerves were connected to a pair of platinum electrodes. Gastric tone was measured by means of a barostat. Changes in gastric motility were measured with force transducers sutured on the fundus and the antrum. The cervical vagi were sectioned, and dogs were given atropine (0.2 mg/kg i.v.) and guanethidine (5 mg/kg i.v.). Electrical stimulation of the vagal trunks (19 V, 1-ms duration, for 15 s every 2 min, 1-30 Hz) induced frequency-dependent increases in volume. On the fundus, frequency-dependent relaxations could be observed (maximal effect at 5 mmHg and at 10 Hz). During electrical stimulation, the spontaneous antral contractions were completely blocked. After cessation of the stimulus, "rebound" contractions could be observed. L-NNA (5 mg/kg i.v.) completely blocked the increases in gastric volume and the relaxations on the fundus. On the antrum, however, contractions were observed during the electrical stimulation. L-Arginine (250 mg/kg i.v.) gradually restored the relaxations on electrical stimulation. This study demonstrates that NO mediates short-lasting vagally induced gastric relaxations in the anesthetized dog.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009126	Muscle Relaxation	That phase of a muscle twitch during which a muscle returns to a resting position.	Muscle Relaxations,Relaxation, Muscle,Relaxations, Muscle
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D011312	Pressure	A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Pressures
D004285	Dogs	The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065)	Canis familiaris,Dog
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001120	Arginine	An essential amino acid that is physiologically active in the L-form.	Arginine Hydrochloride,Arginine, L-Isomer,DL-Arginine Acetate, Monohydrate,L-Arginine,Arginine, L Isomer,DL Arginine Acetate, Monohydrate,Hydrochloride, Arginine,L Arginine,L-Isomer Arginine,Monohydrate DL-Arginine Acetate
D013270	Stomach	An organ of digestion situated in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen between the termination of the ESOPHAGUS and the beginning of the DUODENUM.	Stomachs
D014630	Vagus Nerve	The 10th cranial nerve. The vagus is a mixed nerve which contains somatic afferents (from skin in back of the ear and the external auditory meatus), visceral afferents (from the pharynx, larynx, thorax, and abdomen), parasympathetic efferents (to the thorax and abdomen), and efferents to striated muscle (of the larynx and pharynx).	Cranial Nerve X,Pneumogastric Nerve,Tenth Cranial Nerve,Nerve X,Nervus Vagus,Cranial Nerve, Tenth,Cranial Nerves, Tenth,Nerve X, Cranial,Nerve Xs,Nerve, Pneumogastric,Nerve, Tenth Cranial,Nerve, Vagus,Nerves, Pneumogastric,Nerves, Tenth Cranial,Nerves, Vagus,Pneumogastric Nerves,Tenth Cranial Nerves,Vagus Nerves,Vagus, Nervus