The effect of boric acid on acethylcholine, bethanechol and potasssium-evoked responses on ileum of rat

1 The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of boric acid on contractions of rat isolated ileum.

2 Contractile responses expressed as E_max and pD₂ for acetylcholine (10⁻³–10⁻⁸ m, Ach), bethanechol (10⁻³–10⁻⁸ m) and potassium (10–80 × 10⁻³ m, KCl) were determined in the absence and presence of boric acid (10⁻³; 5 × 10⁻⁴; 10⁻⁴ m).

3 The contractile response to Ach in the presence of verapamil (10⁻⁶ or 10⁻⁸ m) or in calcium-free Tyrode’s solution was also determined in the absence and presence of boric acid.

4 Boric acid did not affect the contractile response to Ach, bethanechol or KCl. Single or cumulative treatment of boric acid did not affect ileum muscle contraction evoked by KCl. The atropine-resistant component of Ach-induced contraction and 4-diphenyl-acetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methiodide-resistant component of bethanechol-induced contraction were not inhibited by boric acid (10⁻³ m). The contractile response to Ach was reduced in calcium-free Tyrode’s solution, and the contractile response was not affected by (10⁻⁸ m). The addition of boric acid (10⁻³ m) in combination with verapamil (10⁻⁸ m) did not significantly affect the contractile response to Ach.

5 In conclusion, boric acid does not affect contractions induced by Ach, bethanechol or potassium in rat isolated ileum.