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Influence of gastrointestinal neuropeptides on the anal canal
M Lorentzen1, C Thagaard, J Christiansen
1Department of Surgery D, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
|April 1, 1989
Abstract:
To evaluate the possible effect of gastrointestinal neuropeptides on anal function, the effect of somatostatin, enkephalin, VIP, and substance P on anal canal pressure and electromyographic response of the external anal sphincter was studied in healthy subjects. Enkephalin and somatostatin elicited a significant decrease in anal canal pressure after a bolus injection of 1 microgram/kg body weight whereas VIP and substance P had no effect. Future studies must show whether these effects are of pharmacologic importance and if these peptides participate in the physiologic regulation of anorectal function.