Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits release of acetylcholine from nerves of isolated circular muscle of the canine ileum: relationship to motility and release of nitric oxide.

A method was developed to study simultaneously 1) release of ACh from nerve varicosities and terminals in and 2) motility of the myenteric plexus-free circular muscle of the canine ileum. Tissues were incubated with 3H-choline. Release of 3H was analyzed before and during electrical field stimulation of nerves in the presence and absence of choline oxidase. The major components released into the superfusate during field stimulation were (in the …