Sodium Succinate Decahydrate Potentiates the Contractile Function of Duodenal Visceral Smooth Muscle in Male Albino Rat

Sodium Succinate Decahydrate (SSD), a common food additive and acidulant, is recognized for its flavour enhancing property, buffering capacity and role in maintaining acid-base balance in processed and manufactured food stuffs. Despite its widespread use, its influence on the contractile function of the small intestinal visceral smooth muscle (SiVSM) has not been studied. This study investigates the effects of SSD on the contractile function of the SiVSM by examining its effect on the movement of isolated duodenal segments, the representative and crucial part of the small intestine in male albino rats. The isolated duodenal segments were exposed to graded concentrations of SSD in an organ bath, and changes in amplitude and frequency of contractions were recorded using an isotonic transducer IT- 2245 connected to RMS Polyrite-D. Our results showed that SSD significantly increases both the amplitude and frequency of duodenal contractions in a dose-dependent manner, indicating a stimulatory effect on the contractile function of the dVSM. The findings suggest that SSD may enhance the contractile functions of the dVSM through potential modulation of the enteric nervous system probably by facilitating the activity of intrinsic cholinergic myenteric efferents and/or suppressing the activity of intrinsic adrenergic and/or nitrergic intrinsic myenteric efferents. Keywords: Sodium succinate decahydrate, duodenal visceral smooth muscle, contractile function, enteric nervous system, intrinsic myenteric efferents.