Abstract
Preparations of the circular muscle layer from the sigmoid colon resected from patients with idiopathic chronic constipation were compared, at an electrophysiological level using the sucrose-gap technique, with preparations of the same region of the intestine resected from patients with rectal carcinoma. Non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory neuromuscular transmission, represented by inhibitory junction potentials, was present in preparations from both groups. However, the inhibitory response in preparations from constipated patients had a slower or longer time-course than in those from cancer patients. Also, rebound activity following inhibitory transmission was observed in 34% of preparations from constipated patients but was observed in 67% of preparations from cancer patients. Preparations from both groups displayed the same patterns of spontaneous activity and the same proportion of each group was quiescent. The threshold for generation of action potentials and the passive resistance of the smooth muscle membrane were the same in both groups. However, quiescent preparations from constipated patients were less likely to discharge trains of action potentials when the smooth muscle membrane was depolarized than were preparations from cancer patients. These changes in transmission processes and excitability in tissue from constipated patients are discussed in relation to altered states of colonic motility found in people with idiopathic chronic constipation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kamm MA. The surgical treatment of severe idiopathic constipation.Int J Colorectal Dis 1987;2: 229–235.
Kamm MA, Hawley PR, Lennard-Jones JE. Outcome of colectomy for severe idiopathic chronic constipation.Gut 1988;29: 969–973.
Preston DM, Butler MG, Smith B, Lennard-Jones JE. Neuropathology of slow transit constipation.Gut 1983;24: A997.
Krishnamurty S, Schuffler MD, Rohrmann CA, Pope CE. Severe idiopathic constipation is associated with a distinctive abnormality of the colonic myenteric plexus.Gastroenterology 1985;88: 26–34.
Krishnamurty S, Schuffler MD. Pathology of neuromuscular disorders of the small intestine and colon.Gastroenterology 1987;93: 610–639.
Burleigh DE. Evidence for a functional cholinergic deficit in human colonic tissue resected for constipation.J Pharm Pharmacol 1988;40: 55–57.
Koch TR, Carney JA, Go L, Go VWL. Idiopathic chronic constipation is associated with decreased colonic vasoactive intestinal peptide.Gastroenterology 1988;94: 300–310.
Lincoln J, Crowe R, Kamm MA, Burnstock G, Lennard-Jones JE. Serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid are increased in the sigmoid colon in severe idiopathic constipation.Gastroenterology 1990;98: 1219–1225.
Milner P, Crowe R, Kamm MA, Lennard-Jones JE, Burnstock G. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide levels in sigmoid colon are reduced in idiopathic constipation and increased in diverticular disease.Gastroenterology 1990;99: 666–675.
Crema A, Del Tacca M, Frigo GM, Lecchini S. Presence of a non-adrenergic inhibitory system in the human colon.Gut 1968;9: 633–637.
Hoyle CHV, Burnstock G. Neuromuscular transmission in the gastrointestinal tract. In: Wood JD, ed.Handbook of physiology section 6: The Gastrointestinal System, Vol. I: Motility and Circulation. Bethesda, MD: American Physiological Society, 1989; 435–464.
Nozdrachev AD. Structural and functional organisation of the autonomic nervous system.Sechenov J Physiol 1980;66: 937–961.
Hoyle CHV, Burnstock G, Jass J, Lennard-Jones JE. Enkephalins inhibit non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic neuromuscular transmission in the human colon.Eur J Pharmacol 1986;131: 159–160.
Hoyle CHV. A modified single sucrose-gap: junction potentials and electrotonic potentials in gastrointestinal smooth muscle.J Pharmacol Methods 1987;18: 219–226.
Healy MJR.Glim: an introduction. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1983: 80–105.
Bywater RAR, Taylor GS. Non-cholinergic fast and slow poststimulus depolarisation in the guinea-pig ileum.J Physiol 1983;340: 47–56.
Niel JP, Bywater RAR, Taylor GS. Effect of substance P on non-cholinergic fast and slow post-stimulus depolarization in the guinea-pig ileum.J Auton Nerv Syst 1983;9: 573–584.
Frieri G, Parisi F, Corazziari E, Caprilli R. Colonic electromyography in chronic constipation.Gastroenterology 1983;84: 737–740.
Meunier P. Physiologic study of the terminal digestive tract in chronic painful constipation.Gut 1986;27: 1018–1024.
Bassotti G, Gaburri M, Imbimbo BP, Rossi L, Farroni F, Pelli MA, Morelli A. Colonic mass movements in idiopathic chronic constipation.Gut 1988;29: 1173–1179.
Burnstock G, Campbell G, Bennett M, Holman ME. Inhibition of the smooth muscle of the taenia coli.Nature 1963;200: 581–582.
Burnstock G, Campbell G, Bennett M, Holman ME. Innervation of the guinea-pig taenia coli: are there intrinsic inhibitory nerves which are distinct from sympathetic nerves?Int J Neuropharmacol 1964;3: 163–166.
Bennett MR. Rebound excitation of the smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig taenia coli after stimulation of intramural inhibitory nerves.J Physiol 1966;185: 124–131.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hoyle, C.H.V., Kamm, M.A., Lennard-Jones, J.E. et al. Anin vitro electrophysiological study of the colon from patients with idiopathic chronic constipation. Clinical Autonomic Research 2, 327–333 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01824303
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01824303