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E S JOHNSON

Publications and source records attributed to E S JOHNSON.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1963

THE SITE OF THE 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE RECEPTOR ON THE INTRAMURAL NERVOUS PLEXUS OF THE GUINEA-PIG ISOLATED ILEUM.

Dose/response measurements were made on the guinea-pig isolated ileum with six agonists, acetylcholine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, nicotine, dimethylphenylpiperazinium, choline phenyl ether and histamine. The dose effects were repeated in the presence of each of twelve antagonists and one anticholinesterase. Acetylcholine and histamine were chosen because of their direct mode of action on smooth muscle, nicotine, dimethylphenylpiperazinium and choline phenyl ether were used as examples of drugs that act at the ganglionic acetylcholine receptor. 5-Hydroxytryptamine was the drug investigated. Hyoscine blocked the contractions caused by acetylcholine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and the ganglion-stimulants but left the responses to histamine unchanged. The anticholinesterase N,N'-diisopropylphosphorodiamidic fluoride (mipafox) potentiated all the agonists except histamine. The strength of potentiation decreased in the order 5-hydroxytryptamine, nicotine, dimethylphenylpiperazinium and choline phenyl ether, and acetylcholine. The local anaesthetic procaine inhibited to the same extent contractions elicited by 5-hydroxytryptamine, nicotine, dimethylphenylpiperazinium and choline phenyl ether. These results showed that 5-hydroxytryptamine, like nicotine, choline phenyl ether and dimethylphenylpiperazinium, mediated its response through the nervous plexus. Of those tested 5-hydroxytryptamine was the only specific antagonist to 5-hydroxytryptamine; lysergic acid derivatives produced spasm and prolonged changes in tone; phenoxybenzamine caused non-specific block. The diverse modes of action of a number of ganglion-blocking agents were selectively used. Thus hexamethonium, pentolinium, and nicotine in its competitive phase, blocked contractions due to nicotine, dimethylphenylpiperazinium and choline phenyl ether and left those due to 5-hydroxytryptamine, acetylcholine and histamine unchanged. The depolarizing ganglion-blocking agents, dimethylphenylpiperazinium and nicotine, inhibited the responses to all the indirectly acting drugs. Furthermore, mecamylamine, a drug with a less well-defined mode of action, partially inhibited contractions due to 5-hydroxytryptamine in a concentration that blocked those due to nicotine, dimethylphenylpiperazinium and choline phenyl ether. Pempidine, known to act like mecamylamine, did not antagonize 5-hydroxytryptamine. It is concluded that 5-hydroxytryptamine activates specific receptors sited at the intramural parasympathetic ganglion cells.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1963

THE ORIGIN OF THE ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASED SPONTANEOUSLY FROM THE GUINEA-PIG ISOLATED ILEUM.

When the guinea-pig isolated ileum had been previously treated with the anticholinesterase, NN-diisopropylphosphodiamidic fluoride (mipafox), and attached to an isotonic lever loaded with 0.5 g, it released acetylcholine into Krebs solution gassed with a mixture of 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide. The amount of acetylcholine spontaneously released depended on the duration of the rest period. Cocaine, procaine or cooling the preparation to 25 degrees C greatly reduced this spontaneous output of acetylcholine, thus providing evidence in support of nervous origin of the ester. Reduction of the calcium ion content of the Krebs solution to one-twentieth of its usual value or increase in the magnesium ion content four-fold, changes which inhibit the release of acetylcholine from somatic motor nerve-endings, inhibited the output of acetylcholine from the ileum. When all the calcium of Krebs solution had been replaced by strontium one-third of the control output of acetylcholine was obtained, but the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig ileum would not respond to drugs under these conditions. Strontium could thus partially substitute for calcium in nerves but not in muscle. Hemicholinium-3 (100 mug/ml.) inhibited the spontaneous release of acetylcholine and 400 mug/ml. of choline was required to reverse the inhibition. It is concluded that cocaine, procaine, cooling, reduction of calcium ion and increase of magnesium ion concentrations all reduce the spontaneous output of acetylcholine, which has its origin in the parasympathetic nerve-endings of the intramural nerve plexuses. Further, the hemicholinium experiments seem to justify the conclusion that the release of acetylcholine is reduced because synthesis is reduced.

Acetylcholine↗