[Dual effects of nitric oxide in acute colon obstruction]

Nitric oxide (NO) plays central role in the pathophysiology of large bowel diseases. In the gastrointestinal tract the predominant form of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoenzymes is neuronal NOS (nNOS). The aims were to investigate the role of NO and the activation of NOS isoforms during acute colonic obstruction. Haemodynamic changes, large bowel motility and plasma levels of nitrate-nitrite (NOx) were observed for 7 hrs in anaesthetized dogs. Group 1 (n=6) served as sham-operated control. In groups 2 (n=8), 3 (n=6), and 4 (n=6) colon obstruction was initiated. Groups 3 and 4 were treated with non-selective NOS inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine (NNA, 4 mg/kg) or with the selective nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazol (7-NI, 5 mg/kg) 3 hr after the obstruction. At the end of the experiments, tissue biopsies were taken from the oral and aboral parts of the colon to determine the constitutive and inducible NOS (cNOS and iNOS, respectively) activities. The cNOS activity of the colon was significant...