Esophageal dysmotility and the change of synthesis of nitric oxide in a feline esophagitis model.

Abstract

The present study explores the changes of nitric oxide synthesis and esophageal dysmotility in a feline model of esophagitis. Perfusion of the esophagus with acid produced inflammatory changes of esophageal mucosa. The esophageal motility was measured before and after the perfusion. The nitric oxide synthase activity, the l-arginine uptake, and the content of cyclic guanine monophosphate of the muscle and the mucous membrane were determined and the NADPH-diaphorase was stained. Esophagitis impairs the motility of the esophagus. The nitric oxide synthase activity, the content of cyclic guanine monophosphate, the NADPH-diaphorase stain and the maximum velocity of l-arginine uptake of lower esophageal sphincter of the cats in the acid perfusion group were higher than those of the control group. The maximum velocity of l-arginine transport and the content of cyclic guanine monophosphate of the mucosa in the acid perfusion group were lower than those of the control group. The results suggested that during esophagitis there is an alteration of the l-arginine/nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide pathway in the esophagus, which may be one of the important mechanisms of esophageal motility dysfunction.