Journal of Regional Section of Serbian Medical Association in Zajecar

Year 2007     Volumen 32     Number 1
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UDK: 612.32/.33 ISSN 0350-2899, 32(2007) 1 p. 46-51
   
Review article

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in gastrointestinal tract (GIT)

Snežana N. Tepavčević (1), Slobodan R. Milovanović (2,3), Esma R. Isenović (1)
(1) Institut za nuklearne nauke "Vinča", Laboratorija za molekularnu biologiju i endokrinologiju, Laboratorija za radiobiologiju i molekularnu genetiku, Vinča (2) Institut za biološka istraživanja "Siniša Stanković", Beograd, (3) Medicinski fakultet, Foča, Istočno Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina

  
 

 

  
  Summary:
NO is a very important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the GIT, released from non-adrenergic non-cholinergic neurons. NO acts as an intra- and extracellular signalling molecule in vascular and smooth muscle GIT cells and it is an important mediator in numerous physiological and pathophysiological conditions. NO is synthesized from L-arginine by the action of NO synthase (NOS) that is present in nitrergic neurons of GIT. NO could be also synthesized in other cell types such as smooth muscle cells. The most widely reported action of NO in the gut is relaxation of smooth muscle through activation of the soluble guanylate cyclase and the accumulation of the cyclic guanosine 3’, 5’-monophosphate (cGMP). In GIT smooth muscle cells, NO and NO donors evoke different responses including contractile effects, relaxations followed by contractions or contractions followed by relaxations, which depends on the type of NO donor, tissue and species. The excitatory effect of NO involves cholinergic motor neurons. Multiple actions of NO suggest that manipulation of the NO system may influence enteric motor reflexes and peristalsis of small intestine. Large amounts of NO can damage the intestine epithelial cells, and cGMP is responsible for this damage. Deficiency of nitrergic innervations has been shown in gastrointestinal tissues of patients with various diseases such as are Achalasia and Hirschsprung’s disease.
Key words: nitric oxide, gastrointestinal tract, NO synthase, cyclic guanosine 3’, 5’-monophosphate

Napomena: kompletan tekst rada na srpskom jeziku
Note: full text in Serbian		  
     
  Corresponding Address:
Snežana Tepavčević,
Institut za nuklearne nauke "Vinča", p.o.box 522,
11001 Beograd, Srbija
tel: 011-244-2532; fax: 011-2455-561
e-mail: sradivojsa@rt270.vin.bg.ac.yu

Paper received: 12.2.2007.
Paper accepted: 25.3.2007.
Published online: 8.5.2007.		  
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