title: Evidence for a role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in gastric relaxation of mdx mice.
abstract: Alterations of gastric mechanical activity have been reported in mdx mouse, animal model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This study examined if alterations in the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) system are present in mdx stomach. Gastric mechanical activity was recorded in vitro as changes of endoluminal pressure and neurally or pharmacologically evoked relaxations were analysed in mdxvs normal stomach. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. Relaxations to sodium nitroprusside in mdx stomach showed no difference in comparison with normal preparations. In normal stomach, VIP produced relaxation, which was reduced by VIP6-28, antagonist of VIP receptors, but was not modified by Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), 1-H-oxodiazol-[1,2,4]-[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ) or by N-(3-(aminomethyl)-benzyl)acetamidine (1400W) and aminoguanidine, inhibitors of iNOS. In contrast, in mdx stomach VIP responses were antagonized not only by VIP6-28, but also by L-NAME, ODQ, 1400W or aminoguanidine. In normal stomach, the slow relaxation evoked by stimulation at high frequency was reduced by VIP6-28, but it was unaffected by 1400W or aminoguanidine. In mdx stomach, it was reduced by VIP6-28 or 1400W, which did not show additive effects. iNOS mRNA was expressed only in mdx stomach. The results suggest that in mdx gastric preparations, iNOS is functionally expressed, being involved in the slow relaxation induced by VIP.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Laboratorio di Fisiologia Generale, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy. fmule@unipa.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mulè
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Zizzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feo
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007097:Imines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000503:physiopathology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010069:Oxadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C095284:1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007097:Imines; C496401:N-((3-(aminomethyl)phenyl)methyl)ethanimidamide; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D011810:Quinoxalines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester