title: Alpha 2-adrenergic modulation of colonic tone during hyperventilation.
abstract: Our aims were to assess the role of adrenergic modulation in the hyperventilation-induced increase in colonic tone. Of 40 healthy volunteers, 12 received placebo (saline) and the remaining 28 received either clonidine, yohimbine, phenylephrine, or ritodrine. Time-frequency mapping of heart rate based on Wigner distribution assessed variations in parasympathetic and sympathetic activity during hyperventilation. Tone in the descending colon was recorded by a barostat balloon before, during, and after 5 min of hyperventilation. Heart rate spectral analysis suggested diminished sympathetic and vagal activity during hyperventilation and increased sympathetic and vagal activity after hyperventilation. Adrenergic agents influenced (P = 0.01) the tonic response after, but not during, hyperventilation. Yohimbine reduced the increment in colonic tone after hyperventilation compared with saline (P < 0.05) and clonidine (P = 0.002); phenylephrine and ritodrine had no effects. Different mechanisms modulate the increase in colonic tone during and after hyperventilation. Yohimbine attenuates the increase in colonic tone after hyperventilation probably by enhancing inhibitory sympathetic input to the colon.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bharucha
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camilleri
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zinsmeister
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D012312:Ritodrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D010656:Phenylephrine; D015016:Yohimbine; D012312:Ritodrine; D003000:Clonidine