Changes in the expression and distribution of the inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in mucosal biopsy specimens of inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and localization of nitric oxide synthase isoforms (iNOS, eNOS) in IBD colonic mucosa.

Material And Methods: Forty-four patients with IBD (24 ulcerative colitis (UC), 20 Crohn's disease (CD) and 16 controls) were investigated by colonoscopy.