Altered small intestinal smooth muscle function in Crohn's disease
D L Vermillion1, J D Huizinga, R H Riddell
1Intestinal Disease Research Unit, McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Inflammation in Crohn's disease alters intestinal muscle contractility. Specifically, carbachol and histamine receptor-mediated contractions are significantly changed in the small bowel muscle of patients with this condition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Inflammation is known to affect smooth muscle contractility in animal models.
- Crohn's disease is characterized by altered gastrointestinal motility.
- Investigating intestinal muscle contractility in Crohn's disease patients is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the contractility of intestinal muscle from patients with and without Crohn's disease.
- To determine if receptor-mediated contractions are altered in Crohn's disease.
Main Methods:
- Isometric contraction of small bowel muscle strips was measured.
- Muscle samples were obtained from 36 Crohn's disease patients and 24 controls.
- Contractile responses to carbachol, histamine, and KCl were assessed.
Main Results:
- Longitudinal muscle in Crohn's patients showed increased carbachol-induced contraction but unchanged ED50.
- Circular muscle in Crohn's patients exhibited a decreased carbachol ED50 but unchanged maximum contraction.
- Circular muscle also showed increased histamine response in Crohn's patients, with carbachol responses being atropine-sensitive and histamine responses H1-antagonist sensitive.
Conclusions:
- Small intestinal muscle in Crohn's disease patients displays altered receptor-mediated contraction.
- These findings highlight specific changes in smooth muscle function related to inflammation in Crohn's disease.
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