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NG-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester reduces senna- and cascara-induced diarrhoea and fluid secretion in the rat

1996; Elsevier BV; Volume: 301; Issue: 1-3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0014-2999(96)00023-4

1879-0712

Angelo A. Izzo, Timothy S. Gaginella, Nicola Mascolo, Francesca Borrelli, Francesco Capasso,

Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects

Senna (60 mg/kg orally) and cascara (800 mg/kg orally)-induced diarrhoea and net fluid secretion were studied in rats for a time period of 1–8 h. NG-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (2.5–25 mg/kg i.p. twice, 15 min before and 4 h after laxative administration), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, reduced the diarrhoeal response. This effect was counteracted by l-arginine (600 and 1500 mg/kg i.p. 15 min before laxative administration), the precursor of nitric oxide (NO). The senna- and cascara-stimulated fluid secretion was reduced by NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester 25 mg/kg i.p. (twice, 15 min before and 4 h after laxative administration), while the stereoisomer NG-nitro-d-arginine metyl ester (D-NAME) 25 mg/kg i.p. was without effect. These results suggest a possible involvement of NO in senna- and cascara-induced diarrhoea and fluid secretion.