Impaired contractile response of mesenteric arteries in Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND
Crohn's disease is associated with vascular injury and dysregulation of the intestinal immune system which together can provide disturbance of mesenteric circulation functional properties.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the vascular reactivity of mesenteric arteries from patients with Crohn's disease.


METHODS
Phenylephrine-induced contractions were assessed from 10 patients with Crohn's disease and 8 control organ donors. NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) was used to test the presence of inducible NO synthase. Endothelium dependent and independent relaxation was assessed using acetylcholine, bradykinin, calcium ionophore A23187 and sodium nitroprusside.


RESULTS
The contractile response to phenylephrine was significantly decreased in arteries without endothelium from patients with Crohn's disease. Exposure to the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME restored the contractile response to phenylephrine. Relaxation remained unaltered in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide direct evidence for fading of contraction caused by phenylephrine in Crohn's disease. The restored mesenteric artery tone by a specific NO synthase inhibitor suggests that an increased production for NO in vascular smooth muscle might be responsible of this altered vascular reactivity.
Lebuffe
G
G
Laboratoire de pharmacologie, Faculté de médecine, Lille, France.
Haddad
E
E
Desreumaux
P
P
Gambiez
L
L
Colombel
J F
JF
Vallet
B
B
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010656:Phenylephrine; D000001:Calcimycin; D000109:Acetylcholine; D001920:Bradykinin