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Biomedical subjects

R Quirion

Publications and source records attributed to R Quirion.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources

Selective blockade of neurotensin-induced coronary vessel constriction in perfused rat hearts by a neurotensin analogue.

[D-Trp11]-NT, an analogue of neurotensin (NT) in which Tyr11 was replaced with D-Trp, was found to antagonize selectively NT-induced coronary vessel constriction in perfused rat hearts, in concentrations varying between 1.3 x 10(-7) and 1.1 x 10(-6) M. Higher concentrations of [D-Trp11]-NT displayed NT-like activity. In rat stomach strips and guinea pig atria, [D-Trp11]-NT exhibits full intrinsic activity, markedly reduced affinity for NT receptors, but no inhibitory effect against NT. These results suggest that the receptors mediating the constrictor action of NT in the coronary vessels of rat hearts are pharmacologically distinct from those subserving the stimulant effects of NT in rat stomach strips and guinea pig atria.

Animals↗

Intravesical prostaglandin: release and effect of bladder instillation on some micturition parameters.

Bladder washout effluent fluid was examined for prostaglandin-like activity following acidic lipid extraction and bioassay using the rat-stomach strips technique. A low basal level of prostaglandin-like material was detected in washouts collected when the bladder was empty in 4 out of 7 dogs. Increased levels were detected following micturition in 5 of these 7 dogs. A significantly high level of prostaglandin-like material was recovered after pelvic nerve stimulation. The prostaglandin-like material was tentatively identified as PGE based on the bioassay with the addition of specific antibody. Intravesically administered PGE2 or PFG2 alpha significantly reduced, in a dose-dependent response, the threshold micturition volume. All of these findings suggested that prostaglandins may play a role in the micturition process.

Animals↗

Structure-activity studies with neurotensin: analysis of positions 9, 10 and 11.

1 The stimulant effects of neurotensin (NT) and NT analogues modified in positions 9, 10 or 11 were evaluated and compared in two pharmacological preparations: the rat stomach strip and the isolated spontaneously beating atria of guinea-pig. 2 The data derived from our structure-activity study suggest that Arg9 and Pro10 mainly contribute to the affinity of neurotensin for its cardiac and smooth muscle receptors. Tyr11 seems to be more closely involved in the process of receptor activation by NT. 3 The order of potency of some NT analogues modified in position 11 (e.g. [D-Phe11]-NT, [D-Tyr11]-NT) was strikingly different from that described in other systems (e.g. hypothermia test and specific mast cell binding). The importance of this observation is discussed.

Animals↗

The stimulatory effects of neurotensin and related peptides in rat stomach strips and guinea-pig atria.

1 The stimulatory effects of neurotensin (NT) and several NT fragments were evaluated in two pharmacological preparations: rat stomach strips and isolated spontaneously beating atria of guinea-pigs.2 In rat stomach strips, NT elicited a dose-dependent contractile effect in concentrations varying between 1.3 x 10(-9) and 5.4 x 10(-7) M.3 The contractile effect of NT (1.3 and 5.4 x 10(-8) M) in this tissue was not modified by atropine (3.4 x 10(-7) M), methysergide (2.0 x 10(-6) M), a mixture of cimetidine (8.0 x 10(-6) M) and diphenhydramine (7.8 x 10(-6) M), indomethacin (1.4 x 10(-5) M), 8-Leu-angiotensin II (1.0 x 10(-6) M), glucagon (2.0 x 10(-6) M) or somatostatin (3.0 x 10(-7) M).4 Rat stomach strips desensitized by bradykinin (6.1 x 10(-6) M) or substance P (7.4 x 10(-6) M) maintained their sensitivities to NT (1.3 and 5.4 x 10(-8) M).5 In guinea-pig atria, NT produced a dose-dependent positive inotropic action in concentrations varying between 5.4 x 10(-10) and 2.7 x 10(-7) M.6 The inotropic effect of NT (2.7 x 10(-9) M) was not influenced by methysergide (2.8 x 10(-6) M), atropine (3.4 x 10(-7) M), practolol (1.5 x 10(-5) M), 8-Leu-angiotensin II (1.0 x 10(-6) M), or indomethacin (1.4 x 10(-5) M), but it was reduced by 37% by cimetidine (4.0 x 10(-5) and 2.0 x 10(-4) M). A combination of cimetidine (4.0 x 10(-5) M) and diphenhydramine (3.9 x 10(-6) M) did not produce a greater inhibition of NT than cimetidine alone.7 Atria desensitized by bradykinin (6.1 x 10(-6) M) or glucagon (2.0 x 10(-6) M) maintained their sensitivities to NT (2.7 x 10(-9) M). Substance P was inactive both as an agonist or antagonist of NT.8 These results suggest the existence of specific NT receptors in rat stomach strips and guinea-pig atria.9 The data derived from our structure-activity study suggest that the minimum structure required for the full stimulation of NT receptors in these two preparations is H-Arg(9)-Pro(10)-Tyr(11)-Ile(12)-Leu(13)-OH. The sequence PyroGlu(1)-Leu(2)-Tyr(3)-Glu(4)-Asn(5)-Lys(6)-Pro(7)-Arg(8)- and the amino acids Ile(12) and Leu(13) appear to contribute mainly to the affinity or binding of NT to its receptor. The chemical groups responsible for the full activation (intrinsic activity) of NT receptors seem to be located in the sequence -Arg(9)-Pro(10)-Tyr(11).

Animals↗

Studies on the inhibitory action of somatostatin in the electrically stimulated rat vas deferens.

Somatostatin (SS) inhibits in a dose-dependent manner electrically evoked contractions in the rat vas deferens. This action was not modified by yohimbine, naloxone or a mixture of antagonists containing atropine, phentolamine, methysergide, burimamide, propranolol and indomethacin, but was markedly potentiated by reducing the Ca2+ concentration of the medium from 2.5 to 1.25 mM and greatly inhibited when increasing the Ca2+ concentration of the medium from 2.5 to 5.0 mM. Clonidine (CLO), but not beta-endorphin (ENDO) was affected similarly to SS by changing the Ca2+ concentration of the medium. The contractile effect of norepinephrine in unstimulated rat vas deferens was not altered by SS. These results were taken as an indication that SS produces its inhibitory action in the rat vas deferens by interacting with specific SS and its receptors presumably located in the cell membranes of adrenergic nerve terminals. The interaction between SS and its receptors may provoke a decreased diffusion of Ca2+ ions into the nerve terminals and/or a decreased mobilisation of Ca2+ ions from intraneuronal stores thus leading to a reduction in electrically evoked release of norepinephrine.

Animals↗

An analysis of the negative inotropic action of somatostatin.

1 Somatostatin (SS) was evaluated as a chronotropic and inotropic agent in isolated spontaneously beating auricles of rats, rabbits and guinea-pigs.2 SS was completely inactive in rat and rabbit auricles but exerted a dose-dependent, negative inotropic effect in guinea-pig auricles in concentrations between 1.5 x 10(-8) to 1.2 x 10(-6) M.3 The negative inotropic effect of SS (6.0 x 10(-8) and 3.0 x 10(-7) M) was not inhibited by a mixture of antagonists containing practolol (7.9 x 10(-6) M), phentolamine (3.5 x 10(-7) M), methysergide (2.8 x 10(-7) M), diphenhydramine (3.9 x 10(-5) M), cimetidine (4.0 x 10(-5) M) atropine (3.4 x 10(-7) M) and indomethacin (1.4 x 10(-5) M).4 The negative inotropic effect of SS was greatly potentiated by reduction in the Ca(2+) concentration of the medium from 5.0 to 1.25 mM.5 On a molar basis, SS was equipotent with acetylcholine (ACh) as a negative inotropic agent in the guinea-pig auricles.6 SS (6.0 x 10(-8) and 6.0 x 10(-7) M) was found to inhibit selectively the positive inotropic action of neurotensin (NT) in guinea-pig but not in rat auricles.7 The inhibitory action of SS against NT was independent of its negative inotropic action.8 These results suggest that SS produces its negative inotropic action by interacting with specific receptors presumably located in the cell membrane of guinea-pig atria. The interaction between SS and its receptor may cause a decreased Ca(2+) diffusion and/or transport into the atrial cells. The physiological and pharmacological significance of these results is discussed.

Acetylcholine↗

Effects of arachidonic acid and indomethacin on the in vitro release of prostaglandins by aortic strips of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Aortic strips removed from spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats and preincubated with arachidonic acid (1.0 X 10(-5) g/ml) for 15 min produced two times more prostaglandin (PG) like material than aortae unexposed to the precursor of PG biosynthesis. The stimulating effect of arachidonic acid was largely inhibited by indomethacin (1.0 X 10(-5) g/ml). Also, the release of PG-like material by aortic strips derived from SH rats treated with an intravenous injection of indomethacin (10 mg/kg) was inhibited by 74% compared with the control tissues. These results raised the possibility that the in vivo conversion of arachidonic acid by large arteries of SH rats may contribute to the hypotensive effect of this PG precursor in SH rats.

Animals↗

Chronotropic and inotropic effects of neurotensin on spontaneously beating auricles.

Synthetic neurotensin (NT) was shown to exert a potent positive inotropic and chronotropic action in spontaneoulsy beating guinea pig and rat auricles and to be inactive in the rabbit auricles. The positive inotropic effects of NT in guinea pig and rat auricles were detected at concentrations as low as 3.0--6.0 x 10-10 M. Maximal concentrations of NT (3.1 X 10-7 M) increased the amplitude of contractions by 135 and 55% in guinea pig and rat auricles, respectively. On the basis of ED50 values, NT was found to be 20--30 times more potent than epinephrine in increasing the force of contraction in guinea pig and rat auricles. The results suggested that the positive inotropic and chronotropic actions of NT are species dependent. The potential usefulness of NT in the treatment of experimentally induced heart failure is underlined.

Animals↗

The effect of an acute or chronic treatment with indomethacin on the blood pressure of DOCA/salt and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The intravenous infusion of indomethacin (5 mg/kg/min) for 10 min did not modify the systolic blood pressure of conscious, unrestrained doca/salt hypertensive, spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and normotensive Wistar (NW) rats. However, this dose of indomethacin was sufficient to prevent completely the hypotensive action of arachidonic acid in these animals. The chronic administration of indomethacin to doca/salt treated- and young SH rats was without any effect on the development of hypertension in these animals. These results suggest a limited role for endogenous PGs during the development of these two types of hypertension.

Animals↗

The role of prostaglandins in hypertension. I. The release of prostaglandins by aorta strips of renal, DOCA-salt, and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The release of prostaglandin-like (PG-like) material by aorta strips of normotensive and hypertensive rats has been studied in vitro. When incubated in an oxygenated Krebs solution kept at 37 degrees C, aorta strips removed from 8- and 12-week-old spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats generate 1.2-2.5 times more PG-like material than aorta strips from age-matched normotensive Wistar (NW) rats. The overproduction of PG-like material by aorta strips of SH rats did not precede the development of hypertension in SH rats. Aorta strips derived from renal and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats produced 1.5-3 times more PG-like material than aorta strips from NW rats. The production of PG-like material by aorta strips of renal and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats was largely reduced when hypertension was interrupted in these animals, thus suggesting that the alteration taking place in the arteries of hypertensive rats (namely increased production of PGs) during the development of hypertension was reversible. The production of PG-like material by aorta strips of hypertensive rats was inhibited by indomethacin. Analysis of the PG-like material by bioassays and thin-layer chromatography suggests the presence of PGE2 and PGE1. The possible involvement of these PGs in the pathogenesis of hypertension in rats is discussed.

Animals↗

Characterization of type 2 opiate receptors.

Recent evidence suggests that the Type 1 opiate receptor (in rat striatal patches) is a mobile receptor which is able to adopt a mu, delta, or kappa opiate receptor ligand selectivity pattern under appropriate conditions. In this paper, we have investigated such a possibility for Type 2 opiate receptors which are visualized diffusely over rat striatum. Ligand selectivity analysis suggested that the Type 2 opiate binding site is equivalent to a delta opiate receptor. The auto-radiographic distribution of Type 2 opiate binding sites is diffuse over most areas of rat brain. Thus, Type 2 opiate binding sites are different from Type 1 opiate receptors which are very discretely distributed in rat brain. Our results suggest that Type 2 opiate receptors, unlike Type 1 opiate receptors, are receptors locked in a delta-like ligand selectivity conformation.

Animals↗

Localization of cholecystokinin receptors in relation to the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways.

The anatomical distribution of cholecystokinin (CCK)-dopamine (DA) neurons suggests that CCK could modulate dopaminergic activity. To further investigate that hypothesis, the cellular localization of CCK receptors was ascertained in relation to mesolimbic and nigrostriatal DA pathways after a series of chemical lesions induced with ibotenic acid and 6-hydroxydopamine. The results suggest that CCK receptors are not localized on dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic pathways.

Animals↗

Autoradiographic distribution of [3H]neurotensin receptors in rat brain: visualization by tritium-sensitive film.

[3H]Neurotensin ([3H]NT) binds specifically to a single class of binding sites on slides-mounted sections of rat brain 1Kp = 5.1 nM; Bmax = 16.2 fmol/mg tissue). Bound [3H]NT can be displaced by nonradioactive NT and a series of its fragments and analogues with relative potencies that correlate closely (r = 0.89; p less than 0.01) to their potencies in the rat stomach strip bioassay. These results suggest that NT receptors are similar in both systems. [3H]NT binding sites were visualized by using tritium-sensitive LKB film analysed by computerized densitometry. [3H]NT receptors are highly concentrated in the external layer of the olfactory bulb, in the rhinal sulcus, in certain nuclei of the amygdala, in the substantia nigra, zona compacta and in the ventral tegmental area. The high density of [3H]NT receptors in the last two areas suggest an interaction between NT and brain dopaminergic systems such as the nigrostriatal and the mesolimbic pathways.

Animals↗

Localization of neurotensin binding sites in rat kidney.

[3H]Neurotensin ([3H]NT) appears to bind specifically to a single class of sites in slide-mounted rat kidney sections (KD = 8.3 nM; Bmax = 31.6 fmol/mg tissue). Bound [3H]NT can be displaced by nonradioactive NT and a series of its fragments and analogues with relative potencies that correlate well (r = 0.91; p less than 0.005) to their potencies in the rat stomach strip bioassay. These results suggest that NT receptors are similar in both systems. However, they are probably slightly different from those present in the guinea pig atria (r = 0.78; p less than 0.1). We visualized these sites by using the tritium-sensitive LKB film technique analysed by computerized densitometry. [3H]NT binding sites are highly concentrated in the renal cortex while low levels are observed in the renal medulla. The possible physiological and/or pathophysiological significances of the presence of [3H]NT binding sites in the kidney are discussed.

Animals↗