Although a contractile role for the AT1 receptors has already been described in the healthy colon [15,36] and in experimental colitis [17], Zizzo and co-workers reported decreased Ang-II mediated contraction (% carbachol, an ACh mimetic) in the distal colon of DNBS-induced rats, associated with increased expression of both AT1 and AT2 receptors [17]. The gene discussed is AGT; the disease is colitis.