New insights into the characterization of the mechanism of action of hyoscine butylbromide in the human colon ex vivo

Traserra, Sara; Alcalá-González, Luis Gerardo; Barber, Claudia; Landolfi, Stefania; Malagelada, Carolina; Lange, Robert; Forestier, Sylvie; Corsetti, Maura; Jimenez, Marcel

Abstract

Introduction: Hyoscine butylbromide (HBB) is one of the most used antispasmodics in clinical practice. Recent translational consensus has demonstrated a similarity between human colonic motor patterns studied ex vivo and in vivo, suggesting ex vivo can predict in vivo results. It is unclear whether the mechanism of action of antispasmodics can predict different use in clinical practice. The aim of the present study is to bridge this gap dissecting HBB's role in excitatory and inhibitory neural pathways. Methods: 309 colon samples from 48 patients were studied in muscle bath experiments. HBB was tested on: 1-spontaneous phasic contractions (SPCs); 2-carbachol-induced contractility; electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced selective stimulation of 3-excitatory and 4-inhibitory pathways and 5- SPCs and EFS-induced contractions enhanced by neostigmine. Atropine, AF-DX116 (M2 blocker) and DAU-5884 (M3 blocker) were used as comparators.
Results: In the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), HBB and atropine 1µM reduced SPCs. HBB and atropine concentration-dependently reduced carbachol- and EFS-induced contractions. Inhibitory effects of DAU-5884 on EFS-induced contractions were more potent than of AF-DX116. HBB did not affect the off-response associated to neural inhibitory responses. Neostigmine enhanced both SPCs and EFS-induced contractions. In the presence of TTX and ω-conotoxin (GVIA), neostigmine still enhanced SPCs. Addition of HBB and atropine reduced these responses.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that HBB inhibits neural cholinergic contractions associated to muscarinic (mainly M3) receptors. HBB has a potential role in reducing colonic spasm induced by the release of acetylcholine from enteric motor neurons and from an atypical source including a potential non-neuronal origin.

Citation

Traserra, S., Alcalá-González, L. G., Barber, C., Landolfi, S., Malagelada, C., Lange, R., Forestier, S., Corsetti, M., & Jimenez, M. (2024). New insights into the characterization of the mechanism of action of hyoscine butylbromide in the human colon ex vivo. European Journal of Pharmacology, 972, Article 176550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176550

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 28, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Apr 12, 2024
• Publication Date: Jun 5, 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 4, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 13, 2025
• Journal: European Journal of Pharmacology
• Print ISSN: 0014-2999
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 972
• Article Number: 176550
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176550
• Keywords: Hyoscine butylbromide; Scopolamine butylbromide; Antispasmodic; Abdominal cramping; Pain
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/33290069
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299924002383?via%3Dihub