Evidence for a direct and indirect action of leucine enkephalin at the feline ileocecal sphincter.

An in vitro whole organ bath preparation was used to examine the effects of leucine enkephalin on the cat ileocecal sphincter (ICS) intraluminal pressure and myoelectric activity. The bath allowed separation of the bathing media surrounding the ICS and the ileum. Leucine enkephalin (2 x 10(-7) M) when added to the ileal bathing medium caused a delayed increase in ICS spike activity and pressure which was blocked by tetrodotoxin (10(-5)M). In contrast, leucine enkephalin (2 x 10(-7)M) added directly to the ICS bathing medium caused an immediate spike-associated contractile response which was tetrodotoxin-resistant. Thus both an indirect and direct opiate action at the ICS was demonstrated.