Substance P stimulates and inhibits intestinal peristalsis via distinct receptors.

The tachykinins substance P (SP) and neurokinin A participate in the neural control of intestinal peristalsis. This study aimed at elucidating the types of tachykinin receptors involved in SP's ability first to stimulate and then to inhibit propulsive activity. Peristalsis in the guinea pig isolated ileum was triggered by fluid-induced distension of the intestinal wall. Unlike SP, the neurokinin (NK)-1 receptor-selective agonist SP methyl ester (1-100 nM) failed to facilitate peristalsis but caused a delayed inhibition of peristaltic activity. In contrast, the NK-2 receptor-selective agonist [beta-Ala8]-NKA-(4-10) (BANKA, 1-100 nM) stimulated, but did not inhibit, peristalsis. The NK-3 receptor-selective agonist succinyl-[Asp6,N-MePhe8]-substance P-(6-11) (SENKTIDE, 0.1-10 nM) was most potent in facilitating propulsive activity, and only with 10 nM SENKTIDE was a delayed inhibition of peristalsis seen. The receptors responsible for the tachykinin-evoked stimulation and inhibition of peristaltic activity were further characterized by use of the NK-1 receptor-selective antagonist (+)-(2S,3S)-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine (CP-99,994, 300 nM) and the NK-2 selective antagonist (-)-N-methyl-N[4-acetylamino-4-phenyl-piperidino-2 (3,4 dichlorophenyl)butyl]-benzamide (SR-48,968, 100 nM). CP-99,994 antagonized the inhibitory effects of SP (100 nM) and SP methyl ester (100 nM) on peristalsis but did not alter the facilitation of propulsive motility brought about by SP or BANKA (100 nM). Conversely, SR-48,968 (100 nM) suppressed the ability of SP and BANKA to stimulate persitaltic activity but did not attenuate the inhibitory motor effects of SP and SP methyl ester.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ascending enteric reflex contraction: roles of acetylcholine and tachykinins in relation to distension and propagation of excitation.

The ascending reflex contraction of intestinal circular muscle involves both cholinergic and tachykininergic transmission, which are thought to be activated by different degrees of distension. Substance P, however, is colocalized with acetylcholine in myenteric neurons, and the present study examined the role of these transmitter substances in relation to low- and high-degree distension and with regard to ascending propagation of excitation. Reflex contractions in segments of the guinea pig isolated small intestine were evoked by inflation of an intraluminal balloon and recorded orally to the site of distension. Atropine (12.5 nM), hexamethonium (3 microM) and the neurokinin (NK)2-selective tachykinin antagonist MEN 10,376 (10 microM) inhibited contractions induced by low-degree distension to a larger extent than contractions induced by high-degree distension, whereas the receptor-nonselective tachykinin antagonist spantide (30 microM) did not differentiate in this way. Atropine, hexamethonium and spantide also depressed the propagation of excitation, i.e., the response recorded 2 cm away from the distension site was inhibited to a larger degree than the response recorded 1 cm away from the distension site. In contrast, MEN 10,376 did not interfere with the ascending propagation of excitation, and the NK1-selective tachykinin antagonist GR 82,334 (10 microM) was without effect on the ascending reflex contraction. These observations show that tachykinins and acetylcholine comediate ascending reflex contractions triggered by both low- and high-degree distension. When seen in context with the known projection of myenteric neurons, the findings relating to the ascending propagation of excitation indicate that NK2 receptors participate in neuromuscular transmission only, whereas neuroneuronal transmission involves both nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

Involvement of capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons in gastrointestinal function.

There is both morphological and functional evidence that capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons innervate the digestive tract. The possible function of these neurons in gastric ulceration and gastrointestinal motility was investigated in rats which had been systemically pretreated with capsaicin (50-125 mg/kg). It was found that capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons do not participate in the physiologic control of gastrointestinal propulsion. However, the inhibition of gastrointestinal transit due to surgical trauma or peritoneal irritation with iodine was reduced in capsaicin-treated rats. It was concluded that capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons may be involved in sympathetic reflex inhibition of gastrointestinal propulsion. Gastric ulceration induced by the intraperitoneal injection of indomethacin or intragastric administration of ethanol was greatly aggravated in capsaicin-treated rats. Since an involvement of the autonomic nervous system as well as of histamine and prostaglandins in this effect of capsaicin treatment could be ruled out, further support was lent to the previously proposed hypothesis that sensory nerve endings can protect the gastric mucosa against ulceration by the local release of vasodilator substances.

Immunoreactive substance P in the tubero-hypophyseal system of the rat: selective decrease in the neural lobe after dehydration and sodium loading.

In the tubero-hypophyseal system of the rat the approximate concentrations of immunoreactive substance P (I-SP), expressed as fmol/mg tissue, were 100 in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), 20 in the anterior lobe (AL), 20 in the neural lobe (NL) and 4 in the intermediate lobe of the hypophysis. These values were not altered by treatment with capsaicin on day 2 after birth. In rats in which the secretion of neurohormones from the NL was increased by dehydration followed by sodium loading there was a fall by 70% in the I-SP concentration of the NL; no change occurred in the AL or the MBH.