Evidence for involvement of nitric oxide (NO) or a related nitroso-compound in NANC inhibitory neurotransmission in the pigeon oesophageal smooth muscle.

In the pigeon oesophageal smooth muscle electrical field stimulation (EFS), in the presence of atropine and guanethidine, evoked TTX-sensitive inhibitory effects on both the electrical and mechanical activity. N(omega)-Nitro L-arginine (L-NA) (0.1-100 microM), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, reduced the inhibitory EFS-evoked effects. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (10 microM), a NO-donor, mimicked the effects evoked by EFS. Apamin (1 microM) perfusion did not modify the inhibitory effects induced by SNP. Cystamine (10 microM), a guanylate-cyclase inhibitor, reduced the inhibitory effects elicited by EFS. This study shows a possible role for NO in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory responses induced by EFS in the pigeon oesophagus.