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Biomedical subjects

J Tamaoki

Publications and source records attributed to J Tamaoki.

198 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Cholinergic neuromodulation by prostaglandin D2 in canine airway smooth muscle.

To determine whether prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) modulates cholinergic neurotransmission in airway smooth muscle and, if so, what the mechanism of action is, we studied bronchial segments from dogs under isometric conditions in vitro. PGD2 (10(-8)-10(-5) M) elicited dose-dependent muscle contraction, which was reduced after blockade of muscarinic receptors, so that 50% effective dose (ED50) increased from 1.3 +/- 0.3 X 10(-6) to 3.9 +/- 1.0 X 10(-6) M by atropine (10(-6) M) (mean +/- SE, P less than 0.05). Physostigmine, at a concentration insufficient to alter base-line tension (10(-8) M), enhanced the PGD2-induced contraction and decreased ED50 to 6.4 +/- 0.5 X 10(-7) M (P less than 0.05). When added at the highest doses that did not cause spontaneous contraction (1.9 +/- 0.5 X 10(-7) M), PGD2 increased the contractile response to electrical field stimulation (1-50 Hz) by 21.9 +/- 6.6% (P less than 0.001). In contrast to this effect, the response to administered acetylcholine was not affected by PGD2. On the other hand, PGD2-induced augmentation of the response to electrical field stimulation (5 Hz) was further increased from 23.6 +/- 3.0 to 70.4 +/- 8.8% in the presence of physostigmine (10(-8) M) and was abolished by atropine but not affected by the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine or the histamine H1-blocker pyrilamine. These results suggest that the contraction of airway smooth muscle induced by PGD2 is in in part mediated by a cholinergic action and that PGD2 prejunctionally augments the parasympathetic contractile response, likely involving the accelerated release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.

Animals↗

Enkephalinase inhibitor potentiates substance P- and electrically induced contraction in ferret trachea.

To determine the role of endogenous enkephalinase (EC 3.4.24.11) in regulating peptide-induced contraction of airway smooth muscle, we studied the effect of the enkephalinase inhibitor, leucine-thiorphan (Leu-thiorphan), on responses of isolated ferret tracheal smooth muscle segments to substance P (SP) and to electrical field stimulation (EFS). Leu-thiorphan shifted the dose-response curve to SP to lower concentrations. Atropine or the SP antagonist [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]SP significantly inhibited SP-induced contractions in the presence of Leu-thiorphan. Leu-thiorphan increased the contractile responses to EFS dose dependently, an effect that was significantly inhibited by the SP antagonist [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]SP. SP, in a concentration that did not cause contraction, increased the contractile responses to EFS. This effect was augmented by Leu-thiorphan dose dependently and was not inhibited by hexamethonium or by phentolamine but was inhibited by atropine. Because contractile responses to acetylcholine were not significantly affected by SP or by Leu-thiorphan, the potentiating effects of SP were probably on presynaptic-postganglionic cholinergic neurotransmission. Captopril, bestatin, or leupeptin did not augment contractions, suggesting that enkephalinase was responsible for the effects. These results suggest that endogenous tachykinins modulate smooth muscle contraction and endogenous enkephalinase modulates contractions produced by endogenous or exogenous tachykinins and tachykinin-induced facilitation of cholinergic neurotransmission.

Airway Resistance↗

Enkephalinase inhibitor potentiates mammalian tachykinin-induced contraction in ferret trachea.

To determine the roles of endogenous enkephalinase (EC.3.4.24.11) in regulating tachykinin-induced contraction of airway smooth muscle, the authors studied the effects of the enkephalinase inhibitor leucine-thiorphan on the contractile responses to substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) in isolated ferret tracheal smooth muscle segments. Leucine-thiorphan shifted, in concentration-dependent fashions, the dose-response curves to all tachykinins to lower concentrations. Leucine-thiorphan changed the rank order of tachykinin potency from NKA greater than SP greater than NKB to NKA = NKB greater than SP. Removal of the epithelium slightly enhanced the contractile responses to SP and NKA but not to NKB. Atropine shifted the dose-response curves of all tachykinins to higher concentrations. Each tachykinin increased the contractile response to electrical field stimulation (5 Hz, 20 sec of duration, 20 V) in a dose-dependent fashion. This effect was not altered by hexamethonium, indomethacin, BW755C or naloxone but was potentiated by leucine-thiorphan and inhibited by the tachykinin receptor antagonist (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP and by atropine. Because tachykinins did not affect contractile responses to acetylcholine significantly, their effects were probably on presynaptic postganglionic nerves. Captopril, bestatin and leupeptin did not alter contractile responses, suggesting that angiotensin converting enzyme, aminopeptidases and serine proteinases did not modulate tachykinin-induced effects. Enkephalinase immunofluorescence was found in the smooth muscle and epithelium and confirmed the authors' finding of enkephalinase-like activity in the muscle. The results suggest that tracheal enkephalinase is an important modulator of tachykinin-induced effects.

Animals↗

Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid on neurally mediated contraction of guinea pig trachealis smooth muscle.

To determine whether gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) affects the contractile properties of airway smooth muscle and, if so, what the mechanism of action is, the authors studied guinea pig tracheal rings under isometric conditions in vitro. GABA and related substances, baclofen and muscimol, had no effect on the resting tension but reversibly depressed contractions induced by electrical field stimulation in a dose-dependent fashion, IC50 values (mean +/- S.E.) being 5.6 +/- 1.4 X 10(-6) M, 6.8 +/- 0.9 X 10(-6) M and 8.5 +/- 1.5 X 10(-5) M, respectively. In contrast, GABA did not alter the response to exogenous acetylcholine or the nonadrenergic noncholinergic inhibitory component. Pretreatment of tissues with bicuculline antagonized the inhibitory effect of GABA as well as that of baclofen. This inhibitory effect was not modified by propranolol, phentolamine, hemicholinium-3 or naloxone, but it was blocked by the Cl channel blocker furosemide and by the substitution of external Cl. These results suggest that GABA decreases the contractile response of airway smooth muscle to cholinergic nerve stimulation by inhibiting the evoked release of acetylcholine and that this effect is exerted by activating Cl-dependent, bicuculline-sensitive GABA receptors.

Acetylcholine↗

The effect of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine on cholinergic neurotransmission and its modulation by enkephalinase in rabbit airway smooth muscle.

N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), a synthetic analogue of bacterial chemotactic peptide, may play a role in airway hyperresponsiveness, and is cleaved by neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (enkephalinase). To determine the effect of FMLP on parasympathetic contraction of airway smooth muscle and its modulation by endogenous enkephalinase, we studied isolated rabbit tracheal ring segments under isometric conditions in vitro. FMLP did not cause muscle contraction, but it potentiated the contractile response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) in a dose-dependent fashion, with the maximal increase from the baseline response being 59.8 +/- 6.2% (mean +/- S.E.M., P less than 0.001), an effect that was abolished by t-Boc-Phe-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe, partially inhibited by pyrilamine, but not by phentolamine or [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]substance P. In contrast, the contractile response to administered acetylcholine was not affected by FMLP. Pretreatment of tissues with thiorphan, an enkephalinase inhibitor, further potentiated the effect of FMLP on the EFS-induced contraction. These results suggest that FMLP facilitates cholinergic neurotransmission in rabbit airway smooth muscle probably by increasing acetylcholine release, and that this effect may be modulated by enkephalinase in the airway.

Acetylcholine↗

Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on airway epithelial functions in dogs.

We studied the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and electrical properties of canine tracheal epithelium by a photoelectric method and Ussing's short-circuit technique, respectively. CGRP dose dependently increased CBF, an effect that was accompanied by elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP but not affected by blockade of either Ca2+-influx or arachidonic acid metabolism. In contrast, CGRP elicited only a small and transient increase in short-circuit current without significant alterations in transepithelial potential difference or tissue conductance. These results suggest that CGRP may play a role in regulating airway mucociliary transport function.

Animals↗

Effects of reactive oxygen species on intracellular calcium in bovine tracheal epithelium: modulation by nitric oxide.

We studied the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and their possible modulation by nitric oxide (NO) in fura-2-loaded cultured bovine tracheal epithelium. Hypoxanthine (HX) and xanthine oxidase (XO), which generate superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), dose dependently increased [Ca2+]i. The increase in [Ca2+]i was reduced in the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD, 200 U/mL) and catalase (200 U/mL) by 29% and 43%, respectively. The iron chelator o-phenanthroline and the hydroxyl radical (.OH) scavenger dimethylthiourea (DMTU) more potently inhibited the response of [Ca2+]i. H2O2-derived .OH generated by the Fenton reaction caused a marked [Ca2+]i elevation, but exogenous H2O2 did not. Sodium nitroprusside (100 microM), an NO donor, potentiated HX-XO-induced [Ca2+]i rise by 50%, an effect that was abolished in the presence of SOD or DMTU. These results suggest that .OH formed by interaction of O2- and H2O2 in the presence of iron may play a major role in the HX-XO-induced disruption of airway epithelial Ca2+ homeostasis, and that NO potentiates ROS-induced [Ca2+]i response, presumably by reacting with O2- and producing .OH.

Animals↗

Regulation of airway cholinergic neurotransmission by Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel and Na(+)-K+ adenosinetriphosphatase.

Stimulation of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase may play an important role in the relaxant responses of airway smooth muscle to certain bronchodilators. To test whether cholinergic neuroeffector transmission can be modulated by Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, canine airway smooth muscle was studied under isometric conditions in vitro. Addition of charybdotoxin (10(-7) M) did not alter the contractile responses to acetylcholine but augmented electrical field stimulation-induced contractions at 1-10 Hz (p < .01), whereas apamin and glibenclamide were without effect. This effect of charybdotoxin was dose dependent, with the maximal increase being 36.8 +/- 5.3% (p < .001). Ouabain (10(-7) M) increased contractions induced by both electrical field stimulation and acetylcholine. The magnitude of the increase in contractile responses to electrical field stimulation was similar to that of acetylcholine at an ouabain concentration of up to 3 x 10(-7) M, but the former was significantly greater at 10(-6) M ouabain (p < .05). These results suggest that both Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase may be operative in the regulation of cholinergic neurotransmission by inhibiting the exocytotic release of acetylcholine from the vagal nerve terminals.

Acetylcholine↗

Zizyphi fructus, a constituent of antiasthmatic herbal medicine, stimulates airway epithelial ciliary motility through nitric oxide generation.

The effects of Zizyphi fructus, a major constituent of Chinese anti-asthmatic herbal medicine, on ciliary motility and nitric oxide (NO) generation in canine cultured tracheal epithelium were studied by the microphoto-oscillation method and the specific amperometric method, respectively. Addition of Zizyphi fructus at 100 micrograms/mL rapidly increased ciliary beat frequency (CBF), an effect that was inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) but not by NG-nitro-D-arginine methylester (D-NAME), and this inhibition was reversed by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. Immersion of the NO-selective electrode in the medium bathing tracheal epithelial cells showed a baseline current of 21.3-60.4 pA, which corresponded to NO concentration ([NO]) at 34.4 +/- 7.8 nM. Zizyphi fructus caused a concentration-dependent increase in [NO], the maximal increase from the baseline [NO] level and the concentration of Zizyphi fructus required to produce a half-maximal effect (EC50) being 107 +/- 14 nM (p < .001) and 7.2 +/- 2.9 micrograms/mL, respectively. These results suggest that Zizyphi fructus enhances airway ciliary motility and that this effect is exerted through the stimulation of epithelial NO generation.

Animals↗

Adenosine A3 receptor-mediated airway microvascular leakage: role of mast cells and tachykinins.

To determine whether adenosine A3 receptor stimulation produces airway inflammation and, if so, what the mechanism of action is, we studied microvascular permeability in the rat trachea. After intravenous injection of Evans blue dye, adenosine and various adenosine analogues were given by inhalation, and the tracheal microvascular permeability was determined by a photometric measurement of extravasated dye. N6-2-(4-aminophenyl)-ethyladenosine (APNEA), an adenosine A3 receptor agonist, dose dependently increased plasma protein extravasation, whereas adenosine, the A1-receptor agonist N6-(R-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine, or the A2-receptor agonist 5'-N-ethyl-carboxamidoadenosine had no effect. The effect of APNEA was not altered by the adenosine A1/A2 receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulphophenyl)-theophylline, but was reduced by depletion of mast cell-derived mediators with compound 48/80 or pretreatment with the tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist CP99,994. These results suggest that activation of A3 receptor specifically increase airway microvascular permeability probably via mast cell-derived mediators and tachykinins.

Adenosine↗