Nicotinic agonist modulation of feline bronchomotor tone

1. The bronchomotor actions of three nicotinic cholinoceptor agonists were investigated in anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated cats. The agonists were administered intravenously after increasing baseline airways smooth muscle tone with an infusion of 5-hydroxytryptamine. 2. Acetylcholine induced a biphasic change in lung resistance, characterized by initial bronchoconstriction followed by bronchodilation. The specific nicotinic cholinoceptor agonists, nicotine and dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), principally induced bronchodilator responses, although initial bronchoconstrictor phases were observed occasionally. 3. All bronchoconstrictor phases were sensitive to muscarinic cholinoceptor blockage with atropine. DMPP-induced bronchodilator responses were adrenergic in nature, whereas those induced by either nicotine or acetylcholine resulted from a combination of adrenergic and non-adrenergic influences. 4. It is concluded that intravenously administered nicotinic cholinoceptor agonists exert varying actions on feline bronchomotor tone and that these actions result from activation of different autonomic inputs.

Cardioacceleration provoked by intrathecal administration of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP): mediation by a non-central nervous system mechanism

Intrathecal administration of VIP to the thoracic spinal cord in the urethane anaesthetized rat provoked a dose-dependent increase in heart rate without any change in arterial pressure. The cardioacceleration observed following administration of 6.5 nmol of VIP at the T9 level (n = 8) occurred within 1-2 min of administration, with a peak effect of 70-85 bpm, 10-30 min after administration. The magnitude of the maximum change when this dose was given at the T2 level (n = 8) was approximately 100 beats per min, 7-8 min after administration. However, the differences between T2 and T9 administration were not statistically significant. Intravenous administration of 6.5 nmol of VIP (n = 6) mimicked the cardioacceleratory effect of intrathecal administration, and also decreased systolic and diastolic arterial pressure by 9-13 mmHg 6-13 min after administration. The cardioacceleration observed following intrathecal administration at T9 was not blocked by prior systemic administration of the autonomic ganglion blocker hexamethonium (5 mg/kg) or by bilateral vagotomy. Nor was the effect blocked by prior intrathecal administration of the local anaesthetic lidocaine (250 micrograms), although lidocaine did block the tachycardia and hypertension resulting from intrathecal administration of substance P. Considered collectively, the findings that the cardioacceleration observed following intrathecal VIP injection is mimicked by i.v. administration, is not reversed by blockade of nicotinic transmission of autonomic ganglia or by bilateral vagotomy, and is not blocked by lidocaine suggest that VIP's tachycardic effect does not result from a direct action on spinal mechanisms mediating autonomic control of the cardiovascular system, but occurs via diffusion to a site of action outside the central nervous system.

Capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents are involved in the hypotensive effect of neurotensin in ganglion-blocked guinea pigs

The mechanism of the blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect of neurotensin (NT) in the anesthetized, ganglion-blocked guinea pigs was further examined using animals in which the basal BP was artificially raised by an IV infusion of noradrenaline (NA) to overcome the BP-lowering effect of the anesthesia as well as of the ganglion blocker. The animals were also vagotomized and given atropine at the beginning of the experiments to prevent potential baroreceptor-mediated vagal reflexes and/or activation of muscarinic receptors by endogenous acetylcholine. Under these experimental conditions, the IV bolus injections of NT as well as of capsaicin (a reference drug) produced dose-dependent hypotensive effects and variable levels of tachycardia. Omitting the ganglion blocker from the animal drug regimen attenuated but did not abolish the BP-lowering effect of NT and of capsaicin. Neither the hypotensive nor the tachycardic effects of NT and of capsaicin in ganglion-blocked guinea pigs were affected by prior animal treatment with propranolol (a beta adrenoceptor blocker), antihistaminics (mepyramine, cimetidine) or indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor). Morphine was found to slightly reduced the hypotensive effect of NT without altering its slight tachycardic effect. Both the hypotensive and tachycardic effects of NT and of capsaicin, in contrast to those elicited by substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), were inhibited in ganglion-blocked guinea pigs pretreated four days previously with capsaicin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Somatostatin release from isolated ganglia of the myenteric plexus

Somatostatin neurons of the myenteric plexus project caudad exclusively within the plexus synapsing with neurons in the same or other ganglia. Isolated ganglia offer a unique opportunity to examine peptide transmitter release from these interneurons. Ganglia were isolated from the myenteric plexus by sequential enzymatic digestion, centrifugation, and filtration. Single ganglia were harvested by suction and dispersed in polyacrylamide gel. The ganglia were placed in chambers (200 ganglia/chamber) and perfused with Krebs medium at the rate of 1 ml/min. Addition of the nicotinic agonist, dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), caused a concomitant increase in somatostatin (152%; P less than 0.001) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (79%; P less than 0.05) release above basal level that was abolished by hexamethonium. Addition of the VIP antagonist, VIP-(10-28), (5 microM), to the perfusate augmented significantly DMPP-induced somatostatin release (440%; P less than 0.05), implying that the concomitant release of VIP attenuates somatostatin release. Addition of VIP (1 microM) to the perfusate abolished somatostatin release, confirming the ability of VIP to inhibit somatostatin release. The study shows that VIP interneurons exert a regulatory feedback control over somatostatin interneurons in the myenteric plexus.

Effects of SK&F 85174, a DA-1/DA-2 receptor agonist, on pre- and postganglionic sympathetic neurotransmission to the heart

We have performed experiments to determine the effects of SK&F 85174, a mixed DA-1/DA-2 receptor agonist, on the tachycardia elicited during pre- and postganglionic stellate stimulation in anesthetized dogs in order to identify a possible action of this compound on the stellate ganglia. SK&F 85174 produced hypotension and caused significant impairment of positive chronotropic responses elicited during pre- and postganglionic stellate stimulation. Pharmacological analysis of SK&F 85174-induced inhibition of cardiac sympathetic function with selective DA-1 and DA-2 receptor antagonists revealed that prior treatment with either S-sulpiride or domperidone (DA-2 receptor antagonists) significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of SK&F 85174 on responses to pre- and postganglionic stellate stimulation. R-sulpiride (DA-1 receptor antagonist) failed to antagonize SK&F 85174-induced inhibition of tachycardia elicited during preganglionic stellate stimulation. Pretreatment with SCH 23390 (DA-1 receptor antagonist) did not modify the inhibitory effect of SK&F 85174 on responses to postganglionic nerve stimulation. However, SCH 23390 was most effective in antagonizing the hypotensive effect of SK&F 85174. These results show that SK&F 85174 inhibits sympathetic neurotransmission to the heart by activating presynaptic and possibly ganglionic DA-2 receptors, whereas the hypotension produced by SK&F 85174 results predominantly from the activation of the vascular DA-1 receptors. SK&F 85174 does not seem to exert any effect on the ganglionic DA receptors which are reported to be activated by the selective DA-1 receptor agonist, fenoldopam.

Modulation of the sensitivity of nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia

This article reviews some of the evidence suggesting that a variety of endogenous substances either facilitates or inhibits the sensitivity of nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors at the subsynaptic membrane of cholinergic synapses. It is noteworthy that 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine act as competitive antagonists, like curare, presumably changing the affinity of ACh for the specific binding site on the nicotinic receptor. Catecholamine, neuropeptides, prostaglandin and glucocorticoids act as non-competitive antagonists on an allosteric site on the receptor-ionic channel complex. ATP and LH-RH (in a subpopulation of sympathetic neurons) caused a facilitation of the sensitivity of nicotinic receptors. The mode of actions of endogenous substances which modulate the nicotinic receptor-sensitivity is similar to those of pharmacological agents. Therefore, these neurotransmitters and neurohormones have been termed endogenous 'antagonists' or 'sensitizers'.

Hemodynamic actions of endothelin in conscious and anesthetized dogs

The newly described endogenous peptide, endothelin, was administered to five chronically instrumented conditioned dogs. Endothelin produced significant and simultaneous increases in both heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in conscious dogs. Endothelin also produced significant increases in MAP in anesthetized animals. Ganglionic suppression induced by hexamethonium (10 mg/kg) and atropine (0.1 mg/kg) blocked HR responses and markedly inhibited the pressor responses to endothelin in conscious animals. These results suggest that endothelin in part acts to elevate blood pressure and heart rate through modification of autonomic nervous system tone. When endothelin and angiotensin II were administered in mole equivalent doses, angiotensin II produced a pressor response of greater magnitude than did endothelin in conscious animals.

[Age-related changes in the amount and intensity of the fluorescence of small, intensely fluorescing cells in the autonomic ganglia of rats]

The number and intensity of fluorescence of small, intensely fluorescent cells were measured on serial slices of main pelvic (MPG) ganglion and lumbar ganglia of sympathetic trunk (LG), treated by modified Falck method, on days 1, 7, 14, 28, and 26-30 months of age. The content of paraform-induced fluorescence increased with age of two weeks and later in SIF cells of MPG and LG. The number of SIF cells in LG decreased with age, while that of MPG increased. The growth of a number of SIF cells in MPG was detected in large clusters.

Studies on the specificity of the inhibitory action of N,N-diisopropyl-N'-isoamyl-N'-diethylaminoethylurea (P-286) on adrenal catecholamine release in the anaesthetized rat

1. The ability of P-286 (N,N-diisopropyl-N'-isoamyl-N'-diethylaminoethylurea) to reduce selectively the release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla has been studied in urethane-anaesthetized rats. 2. Pressor responses to acetylcholine (Ach) and the nicotinic receptor-agonist 1,4-dimethylphenylpiperazine (DMPP) in rats treated with atropine, (+/-)-propranolol and guanethidine were used as the index of adrenal catecholamine release. 3. The injection of P-286 (1-10 mg/kg, i.v.) elicited a dose-dependent bradycardia which was associated with hypotension. P-286 reduced pressor responses to Ach and DMPP in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 2.5 mg/kg and, following near complete blockade, pressor responses to DMPP returned to 50% of control after 90 min. 4. In non-atropinized rats, P-286 (30 mg/kg, i.v.) was without effect on the bradycardic responses elicited by stimulation of the right vagus nerve at frequencies of 5-40 Hz while pressor responses to DMPP in bilaterally adrenalectomized, non-guanethidine treated rats were reduced by approximately 50% after P-286 (10 mg/kg, i.v.). 5. The latter effect of P-286 on responses to DMPP in adrenalectomized rats cannot be attributed to ganglionic blockade since in rats with intact adrenals P-286 (10 mg/kg, i.v.) also reduced pressor responses to i.v. adrenaline and i.v. angiotensin II by approximately 50%. Thus the reduction in response to DMPP in adrenalectomized rats and to the non-nicotinic agonists may be a reflection of an action on the mechanism of contraction of vascular smooth muscle; that is, at a post-receptor event. 6. The results of the study show that P-286 selectively reduces adrenal catecholamine release at doses which do not affect autonomic ganglia. Its usefulness as a tool in cardiovascular research, however, may be limited by an action of vascular smooth muscle.

Support of arterial blood pressure by major pressor systems in conscious dogs

The roles of the autonomic nervous system, vasopressin, and angiotensin II in support of blood pressure were evaluated in seven conscious, resting dogs while hydrated or dehydrated. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was monitored, and the dogs were given hexamethonium to block autonomic ganglia. Thirty minutes later, they were given captopril, and after another 30 min, a vasopressin V1 antagonist, d(CH2)5TyrMeAVP, was given. The order okf administration of captopril and d(CH2)5TyrMeAVP was alternated in different experiments. Hexamethonium had no effect on steady-state MAP in either hydrated or dehydrated dogs. In hydrated dogs, the average MAP was 100 mmHg; d(CH2)5TyrMeAVP decreased MAP by approximately 12 mmHg, and captopril decreased MAP by 24 mmHg. The magnitude of the effect of these two inhibitors was independent of the order of their administration. Dehydration doubled the effect of d(CH2)5TyrMeAVP on MAP but had no effect on the response to captopril. The results suggest that 1) autonomic function is not essential for maintenance of arterial blood pressure in resting dogs; 2) during autonomic ganglionic blockade, arterial blood pressure is supported by both angiotensin II and vasopressin; and 3) dehydration increases the role of vasopressin in control of blood pressure.

Evidence that the novel antihypertensive agent, flesinoxan, causes differential sympathoinhibition and also increases vagal tone by a central action

The effects of flesinoxan were studied on thoracic preganglionic, splanchnic and renal sympathetic nerve activity, carotid sinus nerve activity, blood pressure and heart rate in anaesthetised cats. In some experiments femoral or renal arterial conductance was also recorded. Flesinoxan (3-300 micrograms kg-1) caused a dose-related fall in blood pressure and heart rate and also caused sympathoinhibition. This fall in blood pressure was not associated with changes in femoral arterial conductance but was with a large increase in renal arterial conductance. In this respect flesinoxan had a greater sympathoinhibitory action on the renal nerve compared with the other sympathetic outflows. The bradycardia was unaffected by the 5-HT3 antagonist, MDL 72222, but was reversed by atropine and was abolished in bi-vagotomised cats. Flesinoxan also caused sympathoinhibition in bi-vagotomised cats and decreased carotid sinus nerve activity and blood pressure. It is concluded that flesinoxan acts centrally to cause sympathoinhibition and an increase in vagal tone.

Flesinoxan lowers blood pressure and heart rate in cats via 5-HT1A receptors

Flesinoxan, a new phenylpiperazine derivative has been shown to lower blood pressure in different species after both oral and i.v. administration. The present study shows that the hypotensive potency of flesinoxan in anaesthetised cats increased 35 times after administration via the vertebral arteries compared to i.v. administration. These results, which were confirmed by intracisternal administration, point strongly to a central site of action. Haemodynamic studies indicated that the blood pressure reduction in anaesthetised cats was mainly due to a reduction in the total peripheral resistance and only to some extent to a reduced cardiac output. Flesinoxan seems not to affect sympathetic function by a peripheral mechanism. Its cardiovascular profile can be explained by a centrally mediated reduction of sympathetic tone and increase in vagal tone. Receptor binding studies indicated that flesinoxan is a very potent and selective 5-HT1A ligand. The decreases in blood pressure and heart rate induced by centrally administered flesinoxan and 8-OH-DPAT, could be antagonized effectively by the putative 5-HT1A antagonist pindolol. This suggests a relationship between blood pressure reduction and central 5-HT1A receptors.

Role of the sympathetic nervous system in blood pressure maintenance and in the antihypertensive effects of calcium antagonists in spontaneously hypertensive rats

In conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 16 months of age, the blockade of autonomic ganglia (with chlorisondamine) or postjunctional alpha 1-adrenergic receptors (with prazosin) or the depletion of peripheral norepinephrine stores (with syrosingopine), in contrast to the blockade of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors (with yohimbine, rauwolscine), produced a sustained decrease in the directly measured mean tail artery blood pressure. In 3- to 9-month-old SHR, the fall in blood pressure after prazosin pretreatment was significantly smaller than that after chlorisondamine or syrosingopine pretreatment. In ganglion-blocked SHR, prazosin decreased blood pressure only when this parameter had been elevated by an intra-arterial infusion of epinephrine or norepinephrine. In contrast, under the same experimental conditions, yohimbine or rauwolscine administration failed to modify the pressor effects of either phenylephrine or epinephrine but partially reduced those of norepinephrine and, unlike prazosin, strongly antagonized those of B-HT 920. In either intact or ganglion-blocked SHR, a 30-minute intra-arterial infusion of diltiazem at 100.0, but not 25.0, micrograms/kg/min significantly decreased baseline mean tail artery blood pressure. In ganglion-blocked SHR, the smaller dose of diltiazem antagonized by 40 and 80% the pressor effects of norepinephrine and B-HT 920, respectively, but failed to change the vasoconstrictor responses of phenylephrine, epinephrine, or vasopressin, which were, however, reduced by the higher dose of diltiazem. These results indicate that, in conscious adult SHR, norepinephrine released by peripheral sympathetic nervous terminals and humorally borne epinephrine stimulate almost exclusively post-junctional alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. The latter findings may account for the lack of blood pressure-lowering effects of the studied calcium antagonists at doses that effectively antagonize alpha 2-adrenergic receptor-mediated vasoconstriction in conscious SHR.

Cardiac effects produced by long-term stimulation of thoracic autonomic ganglia or nerves: implications for interneuronal interactions within the thoracic autonomic nervous system

Electrical stimulation of an acutely decentralized stellate or middle cervical ganglion or cardiopulmonary nerve augments cardiac chronotropism or inotropism; as the stimulation continues there is a gradual reduction of this augmentation following the peak response, i.e., an inhibition of augmentation. The amount of this inhibition was found to be dependent upon the region of the heart investigated and the neural structure stimulated. The cardiac parameters which were augmented the most displayed the greatest inhibition. Maximum augmentation or inhibition occurred, in most instances, when 5-20 Hz stimuli were used. Inhibition of augmentation was overcome when the stimulation frequency was subsequently increased or following the administration of nicotine or tyramine, indicating that the inhibition was not primarily due to the lack of availability of noradrenaline in the nerve terminals of the efferent postganglionic sympathetic neurons. Furthermore, as infusions of isoproterenol or noradrenaline during the period of inhibition could still augment cardiac responses, whereas during the early peak responses they did not, the inhibition of augmentation does not appear to be due primarily to down regulation of cardiac myocyte beta-adrenergic receptors. The inhibition was modified by hexamethonium but not by phentolamine or atropine. Inhibition occurred when all ipsilateral cardiopulmonary nerves connected with acutely decentralized middle cervical and stellate ganglia were stimulated, whereas significant inhibition did not occur when these nerves were stimulated after they had been disconnected from the ipsilateral decentralized ganglia. Taken together these data indicate that the inhibition of cardiac augmentation which occurs during relatively long-term stimulation of intrathoracic sympathetic neural elements is due in large part to nicotinic cholinergic synaptic mechanisms that lie primarily in the major thoracic autonomic ganglia. They also indicate that long-term stimulation in intrathoracic sympathetic neural elements with frequencies as low as 2 Hz may augment the heart as much as higher stimulation frequencies, depending upon the structure stimulated and the cardiovascular parameter monitored.

Hemodynamic effects of cadralazine in hexamethonium treated and non-treated anesthetized dogs

Hemodynamic effects of the newly synthesized vasodilator cadralazine (ethyl(+/)-6-[ethyl(2-hydroxypropyl)amino]-3- pyridazinecarbazate) were compared with those of hydralazine and budralazine in hexamethonium treated and non-treated anesthetized dogs. In hexamethonium non-treated dogs, cadralazine (1 and 3 mg/kg i.v.) exerted a dose-dependent and sustained decrease in systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure similar to that of budralazine (10 mg/kg i.v.) and the effect was slow in onset and long lasting until 5 h after administration compared with hydralazine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg i.v.). Total peripheral vascular resistance was decreased by these three drugs. The common carotid, femoral and renal arterial blood flow increased as a result of the decrease in vascular resistance, but the superior mesenteric arterial flow has not significantly changed. Blood flow increase in the renal artery was fast and that in the femoral artery was predominant. Treatment with hexamethonium decreased blood pressure, but cadralazine caused a further decrease within 60 min similarly to the decrease pattern of hydralazine. Common carotid and femoral arterial vascular resistance also decreased by hexamethonium treatment and a further decrease was observed by administration of cadralazine. Heart rate and cardiac output were immediately and significantly increased by cadralazine, but the increment in heart rate was diminished by the treatment with hexamethonium. Therefore the tachycardiac response is assumed to be caused by baroreceptor reflex and compensates the decrease in vascular resistance which results in moderation of manifestation of the early stage hypotensive effect of cadralazine.

Hemodynamic recovery during simulated ventricular tachycardia: role of adrenergic receptor activation

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) produces a wide variety of hemodynamic outcomes. Variations in autonomic nervous system response were studied in an animal model of VT. In 18 dogs anesthetized with chloralose VT was simulated by ventricular pacing (rate 240 bpm). Dynamic changes in left ventricular (LV) function were assessed during sinus rhythm and after VT was initiated, under variable autonomic conditions: ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium (n = 5), alpha-adrenergic blockade with terazosin (n = 7; 0.3 mg/kg), and beta-adrenergic blockade with propranolol (n = 6; 2 mg/kg). Micromanometers were used to measure LV pressure, and endocardial piezo crystals assessed changes in cavity size. Sinus interval, an index of autonomic tone, was determined immediately after tachycardia was terminated. Under control conditions the onset of simulated VT was accompanied by severe hypotension, with a decline in LV systolic pressure from 113 +/- 5 to 67 +/- 4 mm Hg within 10 seconds (p less than 0.05). Subsequently, during persistent tachycardia peak LV pressure recovered to sinus values, and maximum +dP/dt exceeded sinus values by 20 seconds (2604 +/- 413 vs 2112 +/- 184 mm Hg/sec; 20 seconds for VT vs sinus rhythm). Diastolic pressures were unchanged, and sinus rate accelerated. Ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium resulted in persistent hypotension, blunted +dP/dt, no change in diastolic pressures, and failure of the sinus rate to accelerate after the tachycardia. After beta blockade there was sustained hypotension (LV systolic pressure 78 +/- 4 vs 120 +/- 5 mm Hg; 20 seconds for VT vs sinus rhythm), maximum +dP/dt was blunted, and minimum diastolic ventricular pressure rose. This was due to an upward shift in the diastolic pressure-dimension relationship associated with prolongation of the time constant of LV relaxation. The sinus interval did not change. In contrast, tachycardia during alpha blockade produced a sustained fall in peak LV pressure; however, maximum +dP/dt recovered (2194 +/- 328 vs 2154 +/- 153 mm Hg/sec; 20 seconds for VT vs sinus rhythm), minimum diastolic LV pressure remained low, and sinus rate accelerated after ventricular tachycardia. Hemodynamic recovery during ventricular tachycardia is mediated by the response of the autonomic nervous system and requires both alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction and beta-adrenergic augmentation of contraction and relaxation.

Modulation of synaptic transmission in autonomic ganglia mediated via the activation of postganglionic muscarinic M1 receptors

The facilitatory actions of muscarine on synaptic transmission were measured in rat superior cervical ganglia in vitro. Muscarine (300 nmol/l) induced increases in submaximal population action potentials, which were mimicked by the M1 receptor agonist McN-A-343 (1 mumol/l) and antagonized by the M1 receptor antagonist pirenzepine (100 nmol/l) and telenzepine (100 nmol/l), but not by the M2 receptor antagonist AF-DX 116 (1 mumol/l). Slow excitatory postsynaptic potentials recorded from curarized rabbit isolated superior cervical ganglia were also blocked by telenzepine (300 nmol/l) but not by AF-DX 116 (3 mumol/l). It is concluded that M1 receptors mediate the excitatory actions of muscarinic agonists in these sympathetic ganglia.

[Effect of adamantyl quaternary ammonium derivatives on the autonomic ganglia]

The ganglionic blocking activity of mono- and bis-quaternary ammonium compounds with adamantyl radicals was studied on unanesthetized mice my measuring the pupil diameter with a binocular lens. To measure the mydriatic action of the agents, experiments were performed on anesthetized cats with recording of nictiating membrane contractions under the stimulation of the cervical sympathetic trunk. It was established that the ganglionic blocking activity of mono-quaternary compounds depends on the position of the adamantyl radical in the molecule. The maximal ganglionic blocking activity was formed in ethyl-n-toluenesulphonate of beta-diethylaminoethyl ether of I-adamantyl acetic acid and in N-adamantyl analogue of tetramethylammonium. Introduction of the adamantyl radical into the cation centres of symmetrical polymethylene bis-trimethylammonium compounds (with the length of interinonic chain of 5-10 carbon atoms) leads to the loss of the ganglionic blocking activity.

[Effect of cholinergic substances on the spontaneous activity of lower respiratory tract neurons]

Acetylcholine and low concentrations of nicotine were shown to increase firing rate, to induce grouping of spikes of spontaneously active cells and to activate "silent" neurons. High concentrations of nicotine exert a biphasic (excitatory-inhibitory) effect. Atropine just alters and benzohexonium suppresses the spontaneous unit activity. Changes in the unit activity seem to stem from an interaction of cholinergic substances with the nicotine and muscarine cholinoreceptors. Neurons with a mixed type activity were found to receive inhibitory cholinergic projections.

Evoked release of methionine enkephalin from tolerant/dependent enteric ganglia: paradoxical dependence on morphine

Experiments were performed in order to determine whether the state of tolerance to and dependence upon opiates is associated with changes in one or more of the characteristics of the electrically induced release of methionine enkephalin from enteric ganglia. Acute morphine pretreatment substantially reduces the magnitude of the evoked release of this peptide from opiate-naive ilea. However, the rate of the evoked release of enkephalin from morphine-pretreated, tolerant/dependent preparations is indistinguishable from that observed for untreated, naive ilea. Paradoxically, 15 min after acute in vitro withdrawal of morphine form such preparations, the presence of morphine appears to be prerequisite for the manifestation of electrically evoked release of methionine enkephalin. The evoked release of this peptide from ilea 60 min after withdrawal is no longer dependent upon morphine. Moreover, the magnitude of the increase in the rate of enkephalin release from these preparations is almost double that observed for opiate-naive ilea. These data indicate that the manifestation of opiate tolerance/dependence for the release of methionine enkephalin from enteric ganglia comprises several adaptive processes, the consequences of which can be observed at different stages of withdrawal.

Lophotoxin: selective blockade of nicotinic transmission in autonomic ganglia by a coral neurotoxin

Lophotoxin is a diterpene lactone isolated from gorgonian corals. The toxin has previously been shown to bind with high affinity to an acetylcholine recognition site located on skeletal muscle nicotinic receptors, producing an essentially irreversible blockade of neuromuscular transmission. Lophotoxin has also been shown to block nicotinic transmission in autonomic ganglia of the frog and in ileal strips of guinea pig and rabbit. The effects of lophotoxin have now been examined on neuronal nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia of the chick and rat. Low concentrations of lophotoxin (1 microM) produce a blockade of neuronal nicotinic transmission which is partially reversed by 3-5 h of washing out the toxin. The blockade produced by higher concentrations of lophotoxin (up to 32 microM) is not reversed during a similar washout period. Prior exposure to d-tubocurarine, a competitive nicotinic antagonist, can partially protect ganglia against exposure to lophotoxin. In contrast the local anesthetic QX-314, a noncompetitive nicotinic antagonist, does not protect ganglia against lophotoxin exposure. Lophotoxin binds to a site in ganglia identified by [125I]kappa-bungarotoxin which appears to be on the neuronal nicotinic receptor. Intracellular recordings reveal that lophotoxin has no effect on either muscarinic responses or on responses to gamma-aminobutyrate in autonomic ganglia. Passive and active membrane properties of the neurons are unaffected by lophotoxin except for the blockade of nicotinic responses. It is concluded that lophotoxin is a selective, high-affinity antagonist at the neuronal nicotinic receptor. The long-term nature of the blockade with lophotoxin suggests that the toxin will be of considerable value as a probe for characterizing the ganglionic nicotinic receptor.

Kappa-flavitoxin: isolation of a new neuronal nicotinic receptor antagonist that is structurally related to kappa-bungarotoxin

A peptide, termed kappa-flavitoxin (kappa-flavitoxin), has been purified from the venom of the red-headed krait, Bungarus flaviceps, by low- and high-pressure liquid chromatography. kappa-Flavitoxin has a pI of 8.8 and an apparent molecular weight on sodium dodecyl-sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 6500 Da. kappa-Flavitoxin is a potent inhibitor of nicotinic transmission in autonomic ganglia, producing a complete and long-lasting blockade at doses as low as 50 nM. Intracellular recordings reveal a selective blockade of neuronal nicotinic receptors by the toxin, with no effects on other active or passive properties of neuronal membranes. kappa-Flavitoxin shares a number of pharmacological and biochemical properties with kappa-bungarotoxin, purified from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus. The two peptides exhibit considerable homology in their amino acid sequences. Radiolabeled kappa-flavitoxin binds to a nicotinic site in ciliary ganglia previously identified by kappa-bungarotoxin, which appears to be associated with the neuronal nicotinic receptor. This site is not recognized by alpha-bungarotoxin, which also does not block nicotinic transmission in this ganglion.

Effect of enkephalins on colonic mechanoreceptor synaptic input to inferior mesenteric ganglion

The effects of leucine-enkephalin (Leu-Enk) on colonic mechanoreceptor input to the inferior mesenteric ganglion (IMG) and on colonic intraluminal pressure of the guinea pig were studied in vitro. Superfusion of the IMG with Leu-Enk decreased colonic, afferent mechanoreceptor synaptic input. In neurons in which mechanoreceptor input caused postsynaptic spikes, Leu-Enk decreased synaptic input and increased the basal intraluminal pressure of the colon. When mechanoreceptor input consisted of singly occurring excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), Leu-Enk decreased the frequency of EPSPs but did not cause a change in colonic pressure. The inhibitory effects of Leu-Enk on synaptic transmission were antagonized by naloxone. In the isolated IMG, Leu-Enk converted synchronous action potentials in response to electrical stimulation of intermesenteric nerves to subthreshold EPSPs without a change in the resting membrane potential or input resistance. Action potentials elicited by depolarizing current pulses or by exogenous acetylcholine were unaltered by Leu-Enk. These data suggest that Leu-Enk increased colonic intraluminal pressure by acting on the presynaptic terminals of colonic mechanoreceptive neurons to reduce synaptic input to and output from the inhibitory neurons of the IMG.