The effects of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced experimental diabetes on nitrergic-mediated responses to GABA and electrical field stimulation (EFS) have been evaluated in rat isolated duodenum. 2. In the presence of noradrenergic and cholinergic blockade, EFS (60 V, 1 ms, 0.1-32 Hz) induced frequency dependent relaxations of the preparation. GABA also caused submaximal relaxation of the rat duodenum. The relaxations induced by GABA and EFS were reduced in duodenal tissues from diabetic rats compared with control rats. 3. Neither ATP- nor sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxations were altered in diabetic duodenal tissues. GABA- and EFS-induced relaxations were inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 300 mmol/L) in both diabetic and control rats. Although the inhibition caused by L-NAME of GABA- and EFS-induced relaxation was partially reversed by L-arginine (1 mmol/L), L-arginine alone had no effect on GABA- and EFS-induced relaxation in diabetic rats. 4. These results suggest that STZ-induced diabetes impairs non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic relaxation induced by EFS and GABA. Impairment of nitrergic innervation of the rat duodenum may contribute to the abnormalities of intestinal motility abnormalities associated with diabetes.
