Library

Notes: Abstract  We have determined the ability of the novel nonpeptide tachykinin (TK) NK3 receptor antagonist, SR 142801, [(S)−(N)-(1-(3-(1-benzoyl-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) piperidin-3-yl) propyl)-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-methylacetamide] in inhibiting the nitric oxide (NO)-independent prejunctional inhibition of cholinergic twitches and the NO-dependent relaxation produced by the NK3 receptor selective agonist, senktide, in the circular muscle of the guinea-pig proximal colon. Under moderate load (10 mN) and isometric recording of mechanical activity, single pulse electrical field stimulation (EFS) produced atropine- and tetrodotoxin- sensitive twitch contractions of mucosa-free circular muscle strips from the guinea-pig proximal colon. In the presence of NK1 and NK2 receptor antagonists (SR 140333 0.01 μM and GR 94800 0.1 μM, respectively) the NK3 receptor selective agonist, senktide (EC50 33 pM) and the NK3 receptor preferring natural TK, neurokinin B (NKB, EC50 13 pM) produced a concentration-dependent slowly developing inhibition of cholinergic twitches. Senktide (1 nM) did not affect the contractile response to acetylcholine (1 μM) indicating that depression of evoked twitches occurs prejunctionally. The inhibitory effect of senktide was unaffected when evoked in the presence of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor (S)-ketoprofen (10 μM), guanethidine (10 μM), naloxone (0.3 μM), the GABAB receptor antagonist 2-hydroxysaclofen (10 μM) or the combined application of the adenosine A1 and A2 receptor antagonists, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (10 μM) and 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (30 μM) respectively. In the presence of NK1 and NK2 receptor antagonists, the NO-synthase inhibitor L-nitroarginine (L-NOARG 30-100 μM) did not affect twitch inhibition induced by senktide (EC50 33 pM). The response to NKB (EC50 95 pM) was slightly reduced by L-NOARG, yet the bulk of the inhibitory effect of both agonists on cholinergic twitches was substantially independent of NO generation. SR 142801 (0.1–0.3 μM) produced a moderate rightward shift of the concentration-response curve to senktide without depression of the Emax to the agonist, yielding an apparent pKB value of 7.65. Under low resting tone (3 mN) and isotonic recording of mechanical activity, mucosa-free circular muscle strips from the guinea-pig proximal colon gained a high intrinsic tone suitable for testing the response to relaxant agents. In the presence of atropine (1 μM), guanethidine (3 μM), SR 140333 (0.01 μM) and GR 94800 (0.1 μM), senktide (EC50 50 pM) produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of the strips, which was blocked by L-NOARG. SR 142801 (0.01–0.1 μM) produced a large rightward shift of the L-NOARG-sensitive concentration-response curve to senktide yielding an apparent pKB value of 8.62. Under isometric recording condition, SR 142801 (0.1 μM) did not affect twitch inhibition produced by 3 nM clonidine. Under isotonic recording condition, SR 142801 did not affect the L-NOARG-sensitive relaxation produced by EFS. The present results indicate that NK3 receptor stimulation produces a NO-dependent relaxation of the guinea-pig colon and a substantially NO-independent prejunctional inhibition of cholinergic twitches. The variable affinities of SR 142801 in antagonizing various senktide-induced neuromodulatory effects in the guinea-pig intestine suggest a possible intraspecies heterogeneity of NK3 receptors in the enteric nervous system.

Notes: Summary 1. Capsaicin produces a concentration-related relaxation of the longitudinal muscle of the rat isolated duodenum in the presence of atropine (3 μM) plus guanethidine (3 μM). This effect of capsaicin is partly (about 40%) antagonized by tetrodotoxin (1.0 μM) suggesting the involvement of intramural non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurons. 2. The capsaicin-induced relaxations are unaffected by previous bilateral vagotomy or removal of the inferior mesenteric ganglion but are completely prevented by removal of the coeliac ganglia plus the superior mesenteric ganglion (72 h before). Acute duodenal denervation did not modify the response to capsaicin. 3. Unlike various neuropeptides (substance P, kassinin, neurokinin A, cholecystokinin octapeptide, somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) only the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) closely mimicked, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the capsaicin-induced relaxations. The CGRP-induced relaxations were unaffected by hexamethonium and partly reduced (about 40%) by tetrodotoxin. 4. In preparations desensitized to adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) a putative NANC inhibitory neurotransmitter of the rat duodenum, the effects of CGRP were reduced (about 30%) as compared to controls. After ATP-desensitization tetrodotoxin did not produce any further reduction of the CGRP-induced relaxations suggesting the involvement of endogenous ATP in the neuronal (tetrodotoxin-sensitive) component of the CGRP-induced relaxations. 5. Either ATP-or CGRP-desensitization reduced (about 50 and 65% respectively) the amplitude of the capsaicin-induced relaxations. In the presence of both ATP and CGRP capsaicin did not affect motor activity of the rat isolated duodenum indicating a complete desensitization of the effect of endogenously released substance(s). 6. These findings indicate that the capsaicin-induced relaxations of the rat isolated duodenum are due to activation of a neural mechanism of extrinsic origin, presumably primary afferent fibers. CGRP is a likely candidate for the role of neuropeptide released by capsaicin in this preparation. Endogenous CGRP may produce NANC relaxation both directly and by releasing the endogenous NANC neurotransmitter(s).

Notes: Summary 1. The effect of capsaicin on bladder motility in vivo (urethane anaesthesia) and in vitro, plasma extravasation (Evans blue leakage technique) and content of substance P-like immunoreactivity (SP-LI) of the urinary bladder was investigated in various mammalian species. 2. Systemic capsaicin desensitization (rat and hamster, 50 mg/kg s.c. 4 days before; guinea-pig 55 mg/kg s. c. 4–7 days before) increased bladder capacity in rats and guinea-pigs and reduced voiding efficiency in guinea-pigs. All other urodynamic parameters were unaffected in both rats, guinea-pigs and hamsters. 3. Reflex bladder voiding was abolished by spinal cord transection in anaesthetized rats and hamsters. On the other hand, hexamethonium-(20 mg/kg i.v.)sensitive voiding contractions were obtained in response to saline filling 45 min from cord transection in guinea-pigs, indicating a profound interspecies variation in the basic organization of micturition. 4. Exposure to capsaicin (1 μM) produced a contraction of the isolated bladder from rats, guinea-pigs (dome) and mice. Capsaicin produced only a slight contractile response in the guinea-pig bladder base. The motor response to capsaicin of the rat, guinea-pig and mouse bladder exhibited marked desensitization, suggesting a specific effect on sensory nerves. On the other hand, capsaicin (1 μM) produced a slight relaxation of the hamster isolated bladder but this effect was reproducible at 1–2 h intervals, suggesting an unspecific effect. Capsaicin (1–10 μM) did not affect motility of strips from the dome or the base of the rabbit bladder. 5. Intravenously administered capsaicin produced a marked plasma extravasation (Evans blue leakage) in the lower urinary tract of rats, mice and guinea pigs. In rats but not guinea-pigs the reaction in the bladder base was greater than in the dome. In hamsters intravenous capsaicin failed to induce any significant Evans blue leakage in the lower urinary tract. 6. SP-LI was detected in the lower urinary tract of rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits and mice but not hamsters. Bladder SP-LI was depleted by systemic capsaicin desensitization in rats, guinea-pigs and mice. Reverse phase HPLC indicated that all the immunoreactive material co-eluted with authentic substance P or its oxidized form. 7. These findings indicate that noticeable species-related differences exist with regard to the functions mediated by the Capsaicin-sensitive neurons in the urinary bladder.

Notes: Summary 1. Intravesical instillation of xylene (10–100%, dissolved in silicone oil) through a catheter implanted into the bladder of conscious, freely-moving rats produced behavioural effects (licking of lower abdomen or perineal region) suggestive of intense visceral pain, not mimicked by topical application of the irritant on the urethral outlet. 2. The xylene-induced visceral pain was prevented, to the same extent, by systemic desensitization to capsaicin (50 mg/kg s.c.) performed in either adult or newborn rats, as well as by extrinsic bladder denervation (pelvic ganglionectomy), thus indicating the involvement of primary afferents in the bladder wall. 3. Other behavioural responses induced by xylene instillation into the bladder (hind limb hyperextension, grooming) were not affected by systemic capsaicin desensitization in either adult or newborn rats, but were abolished by bladder denervation. 4. Systemic capsaicin desensitization produced an almost complete depletion of substance P-, neurokinin A-like and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in the rat urinary bladder. 5. These findings indicate that, in addition to their role in activating reflex micturition, the neuropeptides-containing capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves of the rat bladder are involved in chemogenic visceral pain.

Notes: Summary In the superfused isolated rat urinary bladder, capsaicin as well as electrical field stimulation evoked the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-IR). Carbonyl cyanide p-trichloromethoxyphenylhydrazone (CCCP, threshold 2 μM) reduced both, the capsaicin- and the electrical field stimulation-evoked release of CGRP-IR while a low concentration of Ruthenium Red (RR, 0.6 μM and 2 μM) selectively attenuated the capsaicin-evoked release of CGRP-IR but did not influence the effect of electrical field stimulation. 20 μM RR nearly abolished the capsaicin-evoked release, but also attenuated the effect of electrical field stimulation. In the isolated guinea-pig bronchus, electrical field stimulation and capsaicin induced non-cholinergic contractions which are known to be caused by tachykinin release from afferent nerve terminals. CCCP (0.6 μM) only reduced the response to field stimulation; a ten-fold higher concentration of CCCP attenuated field stimulation as well as capsaicin-induced contractions. This is in contrast to the reported selective inhibition of capsaic-ininduced contractions by RR. The present data demonstrate that CCCP generally inhibits evoked neuropeptide release, regardless of the kind of stimulation used while low concentrations of RR preferentially inhibit capsaicin-evoked neuropeptide release.

Notes: Summary The mechanisms responsible for nerve-mediated, non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxation in mucosa-free circular muscle strips from the proximal colon of the guinea-pig were investigated. Electrical field stimulation (EFS, 1–20 Hz, trains of 5 s duration, 100 V, 0.25 ms pulse width) in the presence of atropine (1 μmol/l) and guanethidine (3 μmol/l) evoked a triphasic motor response consisting of. (a) a primary relaxation, (b) a rebound contraction and (c) a secondary relaxation. These three responses were abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 μmol/l). Both apamin (0.01–0.3 μmol/l), a known blocker of low conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels in smooth muscles, and L-nitroarginine (L-NOARG) (1–100 μmol/l), a known blocker of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, increased the tone of the strips. Maximum effects on tone were observed with 0.1 μmol/l apamin (21 ± 3% of KCl-induced contraction) and 30 μmol/l L-NOARG (26 ± 4% of KCl response). The combined administration of 0.1 μmol/l apamin and 30 μmol/l L-NOARG produced an increase in tone (47 ± 5% of KCl response) that was larger than that produced by either compound alone. Neither apamin (0.1 μmol/l) nor L-NOARG (30 μmol/l) affected the isoprenaline-induced relaxation. Apamin (0.1 μmol/l) depressed, but did not abolish, the primary relaxation to EFS at all frequencies without affecting the secondary relaxation. Apamin also enhanced the rebound contraction at a frequency of 1 Hz. L-NOARG (30 μmol/l) depressed, but did not abolish, the primary relaxation to EFS at all frequencies, had no effect on the rebound contraction and inhibited the secondary relaxation evoked at frequencies of 1–5 Hz, but not 10–20 Hz. L-arginine (300 μmol/l) reversed the effect of L-NOARG on tone and the inhibitory effect on the EFS-evoked relaxation. In the presence of apamin and L-NOARG, the primary relaxation was suppressed at all frequencies; the secondary relaxation was inhibited at 1–5 Hz and unchanged at 10–20 Hz, as observed with L-NOARG alone. We conclude that three distinct mechanisms mediate the NANC relaxation of the circular muscle of the proximal colon of the guinea-pig in response to EFS. One mechanism can be operationally defined as apamin-sensitive and a second as L-NOARG-sensitive, the latter implying a possible role of NO as an inhibitory transmitter. A third NANC inhibitory mechanism, which is apamin- and L-NOARG-resistant, is also suggested.