Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by HERMAN, J. R.
Right arrow Articles by BASS, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by HERMAN, J. R.
Right arrow Articles by BASS, P.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1989 Oxford University Press

research-article

Enteric Neuronal Ablation: Structure–Activity Relationship in a Series of Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium Chlorides1

J. R. HERMAN*,2 and P. BASS{dagger}

*Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin 53706 {dagger}School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin 53706

Received December 16, 1988; accepted May 5, 1989

Serosal application of a commercial solution of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) has been shown to selectively ablate myenteric neurons in the rat jejunum. This experimental model has proven useful in the study of the role of the myenteric plexus in intestinal function. The commercial BAC is a mixture of at least three homologous N-alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chlorides (ADBAC). The purpose of this study was to determine neuronal ablative activity in a series ofADBAC homologs when applied on the serosa of rat jejunum. Homologs not commercially available were synthesized and purified. Seven ADBAC homologs with alkyl chain lengths ranging from C6 to C18 were tested. A solution of each homolog (2 mM in saline) was applied directly on the serosa of an exteriorized portion of jejunum from anesthetized rats. Fifteen days after treatment, animals were sacrificed and treated tissues were processed for neuronal cell counts and muscle thickness determinations. All ADBAC homologs, except C18, ablated neurons of the myenteric plexus and produced thickening of intestinal smooth muscle. The number of submucosal neurons was not affected by any of the homologs. The structure-activity relationship observed in this study paralleled that of the reported antimicrobial activity of the ADBAC homologs, and is related to the aqueous solubility and relative surface activities of the homologs. The C14 homolog was found to be the most effective ablative agent, and reduced the number of myenteric neurons in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, the C14 homolog can be used to produce a selectively denervated jejunal model for use in acute or chronic in vitro or in vivo studies of intestinal function.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.