Nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide pathway mediates intussusception pathogenesis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the role of nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide pathway in the pathophysiological process of intussusception (IN).


METHODS
The IN model of rat was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The content of NOx in plasma and the NOS activity in colic smooth muscle tissues were measured. The content of cGMP was determined by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
LPS (10 mg/kg, i.p.) induced IN in up to 40% of the rats 6 hours after treatment with LPS. The incidence of IN was significantly increased by 58.3% (P < 0.05) and by 66.8% (P < 0.01) in L-arginine (L-Arg)-treated rats (2% in drinking water) and in sodium nitroprusside (NSP)-treated rats (1 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively, but it is significantly decreased by 66.8% (P < 0.01) after administration of M-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 15 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. Furthermore, LPS increased total NOS activity, NOx production and cGMP levels in plasma or in colic smooth muscle tissues. These parameters in LPS-IN rats were significantly elevated by 38.8%, 50.7%, and 48.7% respectively (P < 0.01) compared with LPS-non-IN rats.


CONCLUSIONS
NOS/NO pathway plays an important role in the process of IN, and inhibition of NO production may serve as a possible approach to prevent IN.
Wang
P
P
Department of Pediatric Surgery and Central Laboratory, First Clinical Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100083, China.
Liu
B
B
Ou
H
H
Tong
L
L
Yang
J
J
Tang
C
C
D000818:Animals; D007443:Intussusception / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat