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Involvement of enteric neurones in the response of guinea‐pig ileum preparations to metoclopramide
Author(s) -
Bou J.,
Fernández A.G.,
Jauregui J.M.,
Massingham R.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1986.tb09475.x
Subject(s) - metoclopramide , ileum , guinea pig , pharmacology , enteric nervous system , medicine , neuroscience , biology , chemistry , vomiting
1 The role of myenteric neurones in mediating the stimulant effects of metoclopramide in vitro in the guinea‐pig ileum has been investigated using the non‐ionic surfactant Triton X‐100. 2 Histological examination of the ileum 30 days after application of Triton X‐100 to the serosal surface demonstrated a marked reduction in the number of ganglion cells and nerve elements in the myenteric plexus. 3 Longitudinal muscle‐myenteric plexus (LM‐MP) preparations from Triton X‐100‐treated animals were unresponsive to dimethylphenylpiperazinium and responded poorly or not at all to electrical field stimulation. 4 Metoclopramide (30 μM) elicited small contractions in LM‐MP preparations from control and sham‐operated animals but failed to contract Triton X‐100‐treated tissues. However, tissues responded in a similar manner to exogenous acetylcholine (ACh). 5 These results demonstrate the importance of a prejunctional site of action for metoclopramide in this tissue and suggest that contractile responses to the drug are mediated indirectly, probably by increased release of ACh from myenteric neurones.