Ileal distention relaxes the canine colon: a model of megacolon?
The barostat was able to monitor resting tone of the canine colon, which was shown to be under inhibitory control by adrenergic, cholinergic-nicotinic, and nitric oxide-like transmitters. Inhibition of colonic tone by ileal distention was not mediated solely by adrenergic, cholinergic-nicotinic, or nitric oxide mechanisms. Reflex relaxation, possibly predisposing to acute colonic dilatation, may be activated by multiple mechanisms that may differ from those controlling resting tone.
Our study has identified polymorphisms which may influence the FAP-TTR Val30Met phenotype. Identifying modifier genes and their protein products may contribute to therapeutic advances.