2008
document
Intra-luminal nicotine reduces smooth muscle tone and contractile activity in the distal large bowel . BACKGROUND Nicotine may be of therapeutic value in ulcerative colitis ( UC ) , although its mechanism of action has not been established . OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of a solution of nicotine on sustained resting pressure ( tone ) and contractile activity in the human colon . METHODS Ten healthy volunteers , and seven with UC in symptomatic remission took part ; all were non-smokers . All 17 subjects were given nicotine or placebo solution on two separate occasions in a randomized sequence . A water-perfused manometry catheter , with openings at 5 , 10 and 15 cm from the tip , was placed by rigid sigmoidoscopy in the recto-sigmoid region . Baseline tone and activity were measured for 15 min prior to instillation of 20 ml of saline alone or with nicotine , 1.2 mg , at pH 4.5 . Observations were made over the subsequent 15-20 min . RESULTS Baseline spontaneous activity in all subjects showed both high- and low-frequency components ; in three patients with UC , the low-frequency activity was of high amplitude . The nicotine reduced both tone and activity in all subjects , with reduction or abolition of the large contractions in UC . Tone in all 17 subjects was reduced significantly at 3 min after nicotine ( P = 0.000015 , sign test ) ; the rate of recovery varied in individuals . Results from normals and UC did not differ significantly from each other . No significant change in tone or activity was observed with the saline solution . CONCLUSION Intra-luminal nicotine significantly reduces both smooth muscle tone and contractile activity in the recto-sigmoid colon in both normal subjects and patients with UC .
2009
Intervention_Pharmacological
nicotine
2010
Intervention_Control
placebo
2011
Intervention_Physical
water-perfused manometry catheter
2012
Intervention_Physical
sigmoidoscopy
2013
Outcome_Physical
sustained resting pressure ( tone )
2014
Outcome_Physical
contractile activity
2015
Outcome_Physical
Baseline tone
2016
Outcome_Physical
activity
2017
Outcome_Physical
tone
2018
Outcome_Physical
activity
2019
Outcome_Physical
Tone
2020
Outcome_Physical
rate of recovery
2021
Outcome_Physical
tone
2022
Outcome_Physical
activity
2023
Participant_Condition
ulcerative colitis ( UC )