Influence of a selective guanylate cyclase inhibitor, and of the contraction level, on nitrergic relaxations in the gastric fundus.
1. The influence of the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) on non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxations and the possible role of a nerve-derived hyperpolarizing factor in NANC relaxation were investigated in the rat gastric fundus. 2. ODQ (10(-6) and 10(-5) M) concentration-dependently inhibited the short-lasting relaxations by NO (2 x 10(-6) M-10(-4) M) administered as a bolus without influencing the relaxation by 3 x 10(-8) M isoprenaline. The relaxation by an infusion of NO was reduced to the same extent by 10(-6) and 10(-5) M ODQ. 3. The electrically induced short-lasting and sustained relaxations (40 V, 1 ms, 0.5-16 Hz, 10 s trains at 2 min interval or cumulative increase in the frequency every 2 min) in NANC conditions were inhibited to a similar extent by 10(-6) and 10(-5) M ODQ, and by the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 3 x 10(-4) M). 4. ODQ (10(-6) M) and L-NAME (3 x 10(-4) M), administered after 5, 10 or 20 min of long-term stimulation, reversed the relaxation to a similar extent (approximately 50% at 2 Hz and 20% at 8 Hz). 5. When the tissues were contracted to 40% of maximum by adapting the concentration of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), the inhibitory effect of 3 x 10(-4) M L-NAME on relaxations induced by train and cumulative stimulation was the same as when tissues were contracted with 3 x 10(-7) M PGF2alpha. 6. The findings of this study illustrate that the relaxation by exogenous and endogenous NO in the rat gastric fundus is due to activation of soluble guanylate cyclase. During long-term electrical stimulation, the partial contribution of NO to NANC relaxation is maintained but it is small at higher frequencies of stimulation. Evidence for the contribution of a nerve-derived hyperpolarizing factor to NANC relaxation was not obtained.
Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, University of Gent Medical School, Belgium.
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Lefebvre
D000818:Animals; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005748:Gastric Fundus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D010069:Oxadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
C095284:1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D011810:Quinoxalines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester