Antagonist of nitric oxide synthesis inhibits nerve-mediated relaxation of isolated strips of rumen and reticulum.

The present study investigated the possibility that nitric oxide is a nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmitter of nerves that are intrinsic to the forestomach. Tunica muscularis, myenteric plexus preparations of bovine reticulum and rumen were maintained in vitro in a physiological solution of buffer that contained scopolamine. Trains of electric field stimulation transiently reduced (relaxed) the tone induced by BaCl2. NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase competitive antagonist, inhibited relaxation of the rumen and reticulum preparations that had been induced by the electrical field. The actions of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester were partially reversed by L-arginine. These data suggest that nitric oxide, or a related substance, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter of nerves that are intrinsic to tunica muscularis, myenteric plexus preparations of the bovine forestomach.