Acetylcholine Content in the Stretched Wall of Intestine

¹ From the Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, Tokyo and Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Chiba, Chiba, Japan

Acetylcholine content of the guinea pig ileum and the effect on it of the circumferential stretching of the intestinal wall were studied. The total acetylcholine content decreased immediately after stretching, which effect was inhibited by eserine. Release of acetylcholine and its enzymatic destruction may be responsible for the decrease of acetylcholine. Changes in potassium content of the environmental fluid of the intestine were also studied. The results suggest that the circumferential stretching augments the loss of potassium from the tissue, and this effect of stretching was enhanced by eserine.