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Decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide levels and glutathione depletion in acquired megacolon

  • Intestinal Disorders, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Immunology, And Microbiology
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Abstract

We reported decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide levels in acquired megacolon. The origin of altered neuropeptide levels is unknown, but recent work suggested that tissue antioxidants may function as neuroprotectants. Our hypothesis was that altered levels of inhibitory neurotransmitters in human colon are associated with depletion of the tripeptide thiol, glutathione. Normal colon samples (N=10; from patients 41–80 years old) and acquired megacolon samples (N=10; from patients 31–98 years old) were obtained at surgery. Vasoactive intestinal peptide levels were decreased in muscularis externa from acquired megacolon (P=0.01), while there was a modest increase in NADPH diaphorase activity in muscularis externa from megacolon (P=0.10). Glutathione in acquired megacolon was detectable in muscularis externa from only five specimens (P<0.05), but was not significantly different (P>0.05) in the mucosal-submucosal layer. The results supported the presence of vasoactive intestinal peptide and NADPH diaphorase in distinct subpopulations of nerves in human colon. The results also supported the hypothesis that glutathione functions as a neuroprotectant in a subset of patients with acquired megacolon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Department of Medicine, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Timothy R. Koch MD, Arnd Schulte-Bockholt MD, Mary F. Otterson MD, Gordon L. Telford MD, Steven J. Stryker MD, T. Ballard MD & Emmanuel C. Opara PhD

  2. the Department Physiology, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Timothy R. Koch MD, Arnd Schulte-Bockholt MD, Mary F. Otterson MD, Gordon L. Telford MD, Steven J. Stryker MD, T. Ballard MD & Emmanuel C. Opara PhD

  3. Department of Surgery, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Timothy R. Koch MD, Arnd Schulte-Bockholt MD, Mary F. Otterson MD, Gordon L. Telford MD, Steven J. Stryker MD, T. Ballard MD & Emmanuel C. Opara PhD

  4. the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Timothy R. Koch MD, Arnd Schulte-Bockholt MD, Mary F. Otterson MD, Gordon L. Telford MD, Steven J. Stryker MD, T. Ballard MD & Emmanuel C. Opara PhD

  5. Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

    Timothy R. Koch MD, Arnd Schulte-Bockholt MD, Mary F. Otterson MD, Gordon L. Telford MD, Steven J. Stryker MD, T. Ballard MD & Emmanuel C. Opara PhD

  6. Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

    Timothy R. Koch MD, Arnd Schulte-Bockholt MD, Mary F. Otterson MD, Gordon L. Telford MD, Steven J. Stryker MD, T. Ballard MD & Emmanuel C. Opara PhD

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  1. Timothy R. Koch MD
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  2. Arnd Schulte-Bockholt MD
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  7. Emmanuel C. Opara PhD
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Supported by VA Medical Research Funds.

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Koch, T.R., Schulte-Bockholt, A., Otterson, M.F. et al. Decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide levels and glutathione depletion in acquired megacolon. Digest Dis Sci 41, 1409–1416 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088566

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088566

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