title: Nitric oxide is involved in the relaxant effect of capsaicin in the human sigmoid colon circular muscle.
abstract: The relaxant effect of capsaicin (300 nM) has been studied on mucosa-free circular strips of the human sigmoid colon in vitro. The response of precontracted preparations to capsaicin (sub-maximal relaxation) was reduced by over 50% by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro- L-arginine (L-NOARG; 20 microM or 100 microM) or by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1 H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 1 microM), but not by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) or the P(2) purinoceptor antagonist pyridoxal phosphate 6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS; 50 microM). L-NOARG or ODQ caused moderate contraction of the circular muscle, indicating a tonic "nitrergic" control. Anandamide (1-100 microM), an endogenous cannabinoid and capsaicin VR(1) receptor stimulant, failed to either mimic or modify the response to capsaicin (300 nM). It is proposed that capsaicin causes the release of smooth muscle relaxant substance(s) from afferent nerve endings in the gut wall, in a tetrodotoxin-resistant manner. Nitric oxide (possibly released from capsaicin-sensitive afferents) plays an important role in the capsaicin-evoked response. No evidence has been found for an involvement of PPADS-sensitive P(2) purinoceptors in the response to capsaicin or for a stimulation or inhibition of capsaicin-sensitive receptors by anandamide in the human sigmoid colon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University Medical School of Pécs, Szigeti u 12, 7643 Pécs, Hungary. lorand.bartho@aok.pte.hu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barthó
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benkó
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lázár
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Illényi
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Horváth
mesh_terms: D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002211:Capsaicin; C078814:anandamide