Nitric oxide and the interrelation between intestinal motility and pancreatic secretion in fasted and fed dogs

Intestinal motility and pancreatic secretion show synchronous cyclic changes (MMC) that are interrupted by feeding. The aim of this study was to determine the possible implication of nitric oxide (NO) (that was proposed as nonadrenergic noncholinergic neurotransmitter) in the motor and secretory components of MMC in 5 conscious dogs equipped with monopolar electrodes implanted along the small bowel and pancreatic fistulas. In fasted dogs with typical MMCs, L-NNA (an inhibitor of NO synthase) (5 mg/kg-h i.v.) decreased the MMC interval from control value of 80 +/- 7 to 60 +/- 4 min while increasing significantly the slow waves with spikes and suppressing the phase III-related increase in pancreatic secretion. Infusion of L-arginine (L-Arg) (a substrate of NO synthase) (10 mg/kg-h i.v.) increased the MMC interval from control 79 +/- 7 to 96 +/- 8 min and reduced the slow waves spikes by about 25%. Pancreatic secretion showed significant increase to about 20%. CCK maximum. Similar but transient effects were observed when glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) (a donor of NO) (1 mg/kg-h) was administered. After ingestion of meal, the MMC cycles were replaced by irregular spike activity with an average of about 35% slow waves with spikes and pancreatic secretion rose to about 70% of CCK maximum. Infusion of L-Arg (10 mg/kg-h) reduced by about 90% the postprandial spike activity but failed to affect significantly the pancreatic secretion. Also, injection of GTN (1 mg/kg-h) reduced the spike activity but did not influence pancreatic secretion. L-NNA in fed dogs caused an initial increase in spike activity followed by phase III and about 60% inhibition of pancreatic secretion. L-NNA added to L-Arg infusion reversed in part both intestinal motility and pancreatic secretory effects of L-Arg infusion. We conclude that NO system exerts a tonic inhibitory influence on intestinal myoelectric activity by reducing the frequency of MMC pacesetter and by suppressing the postprandial activity but stimulates pancreatic secretion.