Nitric oxide is involved in the inhibitory action of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP) on proximal colonic motility.

To determine whether nitric oxide (NO) is a possible mediator in the inhibitory action of CCK-octapeptide (CCK-OP) on circular muscle contractions of the rat proximal colon, contractile activities of the circular muscle were recorded in the proximal colon of unrestrained conscious rats in the fasting state using a miniature strain gauge force transducer and an implantable telemetry system. Regular and rhythmic phasic contractions were observed during the fasted condition, similar to the myoelectric migrating complex seen in intestinal contractions of the fasting dog. These phasic contractions were almost completely inhibited after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of CCK-OP at a dose of 15 microg/kg body weight. N(omega)-nitro-arginine, methyl ester (L-NAME), at doses of 20 and 200 mg/kg i.p. administered prior to i.p. injection of CCK-OP, prevented the inhibitory action on the fasting phasic contractions. The degree of prevention was dose-dependent. 100 mg/kg body weight i.p. injection of L-arginine inhibited the circular muscle contractions. The same dose of D-arginine had no action on contractions of the circular muscle of the proximal colon in the fasted rat. From these data, we conclude that NO is one possible mediator in the inhibitory mechanism of CCK-OP on smooth muscle motor activity of the rat proximal colon in vivo.