REGULATION OF THE ENTERIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM AND INNERVATION OF THE PEPTIDERGIC NERVE IN THE COLONIC SEGMENT OF ELONGATED SIGMOID COLON

To demonstrate the clinical significance of peptidergic nerves in such digestive tract diseases as elongated sigmoid colon, we investigated the mechanical responses in colonic tissues taken from patients Suffer ing from this aliment. We obtained colonic tissues from six patients h aving elongated sigmoid colon. Tissues from thirteen patients without constipation were used as controls. Longitudinal muscle reactions were recorded to evaluate in vitro colonic responses to electrical field s timulation (EFS) evoking adrenergic and cholinergic nerves prior to an d following treatment with various autonomic nerve blockers and gastro intestinal hormones (VIP, substance P), The following results were obt ained: (1) Non-adrenergic inhibitory nerves were found to act on norma l sigmoid colons and to a lesser degree in elongated sigmoid colons. ( 2) Peptidergic nerve compounds such as VIP, also substance P evidently act in the normal sigmoid colon and, to a lesser extent, in elongated sigmoid colons. (3) VIP acts via neutral mechanisms, while substance P may function through nerves and directly on the smooth muscle of the bowel.