The NANC relaxation of the human ileal longitudinal and circular muscles is inhibited by MRS 2179, a P2 purinoceptor antagonist

AimsFunctional innervation of the human small intestine may be different from that of experimental animals. These experiments set out to assess the mediating roles of P2 purinoceptors in the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxation of the human ileum longitudinal and circular muscles.Main methodsIn organ bath experiments NANC relaxations were evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS). The relaxant effects of ATP and sodium nitroprusside were also examined.Key findingsIn the longitudinal muscle, relaxation in response to EFS (2 or 10 Hz for 30 s) or the relaxant effect of exogenous ATP were strongly inhibited or abolished, respectively, by the P2 purinoceptor antagonist MRS 2179 (10 μM). MRS 2179 had a smaller effect at 3 μM. The NANC relaxation was also inhibited by apamin (3 μM), but not by NG-nitro-L-arginine (100 μM), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis. Both apamin (3 μM) and MRS 2179 (3 μM, a concentration below the effective range if administered alone) strongly inhibited the NANC response in preparations pretreated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. NANC relaxations of the circular muscle were also inhibited by MRS 2179 (3−10 μM).SignificanceMRS 2179-sensitive P2 purinoceptors play a mediating role the NANC relaxation in the ileal longitudinal and circular muscle. There seems to be a supra-additive relationship between the purinergic and nitrergic mechanisms in the longitudinal muscle.