Localization and function of NO-GC in the murine gastrointestinal and lower urinary tract

Background Nitric oxide (NO) is well known to stimulate NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NO-GC) followed by production of cGMP and, eventually, to cause smooth muscle relaxation. Recent studies have shown that NO-mediated relaxation of gastrointestinal tissue is dependent on NO-GC in at least two cell types: smooth muscle cells (SMC) and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). In addition, the role of NO-GC in a novel interstitial cell type called fibroblast-like cells (FLC) in enteric neurotransmission is debated. In contrast, information about distribution and function of NO-GC in the lower urinary (LU) tract which comprises bladder and urethra is sparse. Here, we examined the function of NOGC in smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal (GI) and the LU tract.