Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptides (PACAPs) increase cAMP in rat cerebral microvessels

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide induces pial arteriolar vasodilation through cyclooxygenase-dependent and independent mechanisms in newborn pigs

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a cerebrovascular dilator and was found neuroprotective in numerous in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral ischemia. However, the mechanism of its cerebrovascular action is poorly known, especially in newborns. Therefore, we tested pial arteriolar responses to the two naturally occurring forms PACAP27 and 38 as well as to shorter sequences (PACAP6-27, 6-38, 1-15, 6-15, 20-31). We also investigated the involvement of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and -2) activity in PACAP-induced pial arteriolar responses using the NOS inhibitor N-omega-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME 15 mg/kg iv), the non-selective COX inhibitor indomethacin (5 mg/kg iv), and the selective COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors SC-560 (1 mg/kg iv) and NS-398 (1 mg/kg iv), respectively. Anesthetized, ventilated piglets (n=127) were equipped with closed cranial windows, and pial arteriolar diameters were determined via intravital microscopy. Topical application of both natural PACAPs, but none of the PACAP segments, resulted in prominent, repeatable, dose-dependent vasodilation. Percentage changes ranged 5+/-1-29+/-6 (n=7) and 4+/-1-36+/-7 (n=9) to 10(-)(8) to 10(-)(6) M PACAP27 and 38 (mean+/-SEM), respectively. Vasodilation to both natural PACAPs was significantly reduced by co-application with PACAP6-27 or 6-38, but not by L-NAME. Indomethacin abolished PACAP38 but not PACAP27-induced vasodilation. Arteriolar responses to PACAP38 were also sensitive to SC-560 but not to NS-398 suggesting the unique involvement of COX-1 activity in this response. In summary, PACAP27 and 38 are potent vasodilators in the neonatal cerebral circulation with at least two distinct mechanisms of action: a COX-dependent and a COX-independent pathway.

Origin of PACAP-immunoreactive nerve fibers innervating the subarachnoidal blood vessels of the rat brain

The subarachnoidal cerebral blood vessels of the rat are innervated by nerve fibers containing different neuropeptides, e.g. pituitary adenylatecyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP). PACAP dilates brain arterioles and immunohistochemical studies of the rat have indicated that PACAP binds to a VPAC1-receptor in the cerebral vasculature of this species. We have investigated the perikaryal origin of the nerve fibers innervating the subarachnoidal blood vessels of the rat by combined retrograde tracing with Fluorogold and immunohistochemistry. The in vivo neuronal retrograde tracings were done by injection of 2% Fluorogold in water into the subarachnoidal space in the area of the middle cerebral artery. The retrograde transported tracer was detected by use of an antibody against Fluorogold. One week after the injections, the animals were vascularly perfused with Stephanini's fixative and labeled perikarya were found bilaterally in the trigeminal, sphenopalatine, and otic ganglia. The retrograde Fluorogold tracings were combined with immunohistochemistry for PACAP using a mouse monoclonal antibody and the biotinylated tyramide amplification system. Double labeled perikarya containing both Fluoro-gold and PACAP were found predominantly in the trigeminal ganglion, and only rarely in the otic and sphenopalatine ganglion. Summarizing, our retrograde tracings combined with immunohistochemistry indicate that the perikarya in the trigeminal ganglion are the main origin of PACAPergic nerve fibers projecting to the cerebral vasculature of the rat.

Phospholipids modulate the biophysical properties and vasoactivity of PACAP-(1--38)

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the interactions between pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP)-(1--38) and phospholipids in vitro and to determine whether these phenomena modulate, in part, the vasorelaxant effects of the peptide in the intact peripheral microcirculation. We found that the critical micellar concentration of PACAP-(1--38) was 0.4-0.9 microM. PACAP-(1--38) significantly increased the surface tension of a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine monolayer and underwent conformational transition from predominantly random coil in saline to alpha-helix in the presence of distearoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (molecular mass of 2,000 Da) sterically stabilized phospholipid micelles (SSM) (P < 0.05). Using intravital microscopy, we found that aqueous PACAP-(1--38) evoked significant concentration-dependent vasodilation in the intact hamster cheek pouch that was significantly potentiated when PACAP-(1--38) was associated with SSM (P < 0.05). The vasorelaxant effects of aqueous PACAP-(1--38) were mediated predominantly by PACAP type 1 (PAC(1)) receptors, whereas those of PACAP-(1--38) in SSM predominantly by PACAP/vasoactive intestinal peptide type 1 and 2 (VPAC(1)/VPAC(2)) receptors. Collectively, these data indicate that PACAP-(1--38) self-associates and interacts avidly with phospholipids in vitro and that these phenomena amplify peptide vasoactivity in the intact peripheral microcirculation.

[Regulation of brain microvessel function]

The brain microvessels are formed by a specialized endothelium and regulate the movement of solutes between blood and brain. The endothelial cells are sealed together by tight junctions and play a role as the blood-brain barrier. The brain microvessels express GLUT1 as the major form of glucose transporter, aquaporin-4 as a water channel, and p-glycoprotein as a xenobiotic transporter. Occludin and claudin-5 have been identified as the components of tight junction. Increasing evidence suggests that the activities of the transporters are regulated by adrenergic nerve activity as well as by bioactive peptides such as adrenomedullin. The regulation of the activity as well as expression of these transporters may become a strategy for prophylaxis and treatment of not only cerebral vascular diseases but also neurodegenerative disorders, developmental abnormalities and aging of the brain.

Novel action of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide. Stimulation of extracellular acidification in rat pituitary GH4C1 cells

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a member of the vasoactive intestinal peptide/secretin family. Using microphysiometry, we have found that PACAP acutely (1 min) increased the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in GH4C1 cells approximately 40% above basal in a concentration-dependent manner. ECAR, maximally induced by PACAP, can be increased further by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), indicating that the signalling pathways for these two neuropeptides are not identical. In studies on the mechanism of PACAP-enhanced ECAR, we found that maximum stimulation of the cAMP/PKA pathway by treatment with FSK, or the PKC pathway with PMA, did not inhibit the ECAR response to PACAP. The PKC inhibitor calphostin C and the MAP kinase inhibitor PD98059 had no effect on the ECAR response to PACAP. Furthermore, PACAP induced little or no change in cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)), while TRH induced a large increase in [Ca(2+)](i). However, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein completely blocked PACAP-induced ECAR, suggesting involvement of tyrosine kinase(s). We conclude that PACAP causes an increase in ECAR in GH4C1 rat pituitary cells, which is not dependent on the PKA, PKC, MAP kinase or Ca(2+) signalling pathways, but does require tyrosine kinase activity.

Effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide on the cyclooxygenase pathway of rat platelets and on platelet aggregation

Several data suggest that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is involved in the regulation of local circulation. One possible role of PACAP in the regulation of circulation is that, it may modify the cyclooxygenase pathway of the arachidonate cascade in platelets. Our study was designed to study the effect of PACAP on the cyclooxygenase pathway of rat platelets and on platelet aggregation. PACAP (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) significantly inhibited the cyclooxygenase pathway of platelets, mostly the thromboxane synthesis. Pretreatment with a PACAP receptor antagonist, PACAP(6-38), or with an inhibitor of protein kinase A, H-89, shows that the effects of PACAP on the cyclooxygenase pathway were diminished. In the aggregation studies, PACAP inhibited both the arachidonic acid-induced and the thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. It can be concluded that PACAP inhibits the cyclooxygenase pathway of rat platelets via a specific PACAP receptor-activated, cAMP-dependent pathway, and these effects of PACAP are involved in the inhibition of platelet aggregation.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide inhibits the cyclooxygenase pathway of rat cerebral microvessels

The presence of nerve endings containing pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) around cerebral microvessels suggests that these peptides have regulatory roles in the cerebral microcirculation. Prostanoids synthesized by the cerebrovascular endothelium have a determining role in the regulation of the brain circulation. In the present study, the effects of PACAP and VIP on the cyclooxygenase pathway of cerebral microvessels were investigated. The isolated microvessels were incubated with 1-14C-arachidonic acid and different concentrations of the peptides. The prostanoids formed were separated by means of overpressure thin-layer chromatography, and were quantitatively determined by liquid scintillation. Higher concentrations (10-7 and 10-6 mol L-1) of PACAP significantly inhibited the activity of the cyclooxygenase pathway, whereas VIP had no significant effect on it. As regards the cyclooxygenase metabolites, the syntheses of thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin D2 were inhibited significantly. PACAP and VIP are known to increase the intracellular cAMP level in the cerebral microvessels and in the present experiments the protein kinase A inhibitor H-89 attenuated the effect of PACAP on prostanoid synthesis. It is concluded that the cyclooxygenase pathway of rat cerebral microvessels is more sensitive to PACAP than to VIP. The inhibitory effect of PACAP on prostanoid synthesis is mediated via a cAMP-dependent pathway. By inhibiting the formation of vasoactive prostanoids, PACAP can decrease the vasoreactivity of the microvessels.

Vagal nerve stimulation during muscarinic and beta-adrenergic blockade causes significant coronary artery dilation

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is present in post-ganglionic vagal nerve fibers in the coronary arteries and right ventricle but no significant amounts are found in the left ventricle. We determined the effects of VIP, released endogenously from cardiac vagal nerves, on the circumflex mean coronary artery pressure and on right and left ventricular (RV and LV) contractility (dP/dtmax) and relaxation (dP/dtmin). In 20 anesthetized, open chest mongrel dogs, the cervical vagus nerves and cardiac sympathetic ansa subclaviae were isolated and transected. Electrodes were applied to the cardiac segments of the right and left vagus nerves for subsequent stimulation. The muscarinic and beta-adrenergic receptors were blocked with atropine and propranolol, respectively. The heart rate was controlled by either producing atrioventricular node block in 10 dogs and pacing the ventricles (series 1) or by right atrial pacing in 10 separate dogs (series 2). Coronary artery blood flow was controlled by perfusing the circumflex coronary artery in each dog with femoral arterial blood at a controlled flow rate. Coronary artery pressure, ventricular and aortic pressures and dP/dt were continuously measured. Experiments were performed prior to and after the administration of [4Cl-D-Phe6,Leu17]VIP, a sensitive and selective VIP antagonist. Vagal nerve stimulation at 20 Hz (0.5 ms, 20 V) for 5 min significantly decreased the circumflex mean coronary artery pressure by 17% from the control value of 95+/-2 mmHg in series 1 and by 13% from the control value of 109+/-2 mmHg in series 2 (both p < 0.005). Aortic, LV and RV systolic and end-diastolic pressures, LV dP/dtmax and dP/dtmin, and the EKG did not change. In contrast, RV dP/dtmax and dP/dtmin increased by 22% (p < 0.04) and 23% (p < 0.02), respectively, in series 1 and by 26% (p < 0.02) and 33% (p < 0.01), respectively, in series 2. The VIP antagonist, [4Cl-D-Phe6,Leu17]VIP, directly injected into the left circumflex coronary artery, had no effect on coronary, aortic or ventricular pressures, ventricular dP/dt or the EKG. However, 20 Hz vagal stimulation in the presence of the VIP antagonist did not decrease circumflex mean coronary artery pressure. In addition, vagal stimulation, in the presence of the VIP antagonist, had no effect on LV pressures or dP/dt but increased RV dP/dtmax and dP/dtmin. RV dP/dtmax increased by 16% (p < 0.01) and RV dP/dtmin increased by 22% (p < 0.04), respectively, in series 1 and by 27 and 24%, respectively, in series 2 (both p < 0.01). Vagal nerve stimulation during muscarinic and beta-adrenergic blockade releases VIP or a 'VIP-like' substance that significantly decreases circumflex coronary artery vascular resistance and increases RV dP/dtmax and dP/dtmin.

Regulation of the cerebral circulation: role of endothelium and potassium channels

Several new concepts have emerged in relation to mechanisms that contribute to regulation of the cerebral circulation. This review focuses on some physiological mechanisms of cerebral vasodilatation and alteration of these mechanisms by disease states. One mechanism involves release of vasoactive factors by the endothelium that affect underlying vascular muscle. These factors include endothelium-derived relaxing factor (nitric oxide), prostacyclin, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor(s). The normal vasodilator influence of endothelium is impaired by some disease states. Under pathophysiological conditions, endothelium may produce potent contracting factors such as endothelin. Another major mechanism of regulation of cerebral vascular tone relates to potassium channels. Activation of potassium channels appears to mediate relaxation of cerebral vessels to diverse stimuli including receptor-mediated agonists, intracellular second messenger, and hypoxia. Endothelial- and potassium channel-based mechanisms are related because several endothelium-derived factors produce relaxation by activation of potassium channels. The influence of potassium channels may be altered by disease states including chronic hypertension, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and diabetes.

PACAP-induced plasma extravasation in rat skin

The effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) 38, PACAP 27 and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on plasma extravasation were investigated in vivo in rat skin. PACAP 38, PACAP 27 and VIP, caused concentration-dependent extravasation in rat skin. The order of potency was PACAP 38 > PACAP 27 = VIP, whereas the order of maximal induced extravasation was PACAP 38 = PACAP 27 > VIP, suggesting that PACAP 38 might be the most powerful inducer of plasma extravasation of the three tested members of the secretin-glucagon-VIP family. Substance P (SP) was about 5 times more potent than PACAP 38 and 15 times more potent than PACAP 27. These data indicate that PACAP 38 induced plasma extravasation in concentrations roughly equimolar to SP. Pyrilamine (H1 receptor antagonist) reduced the PACAP 38-induced plasma extravasation more than 50%; cimetidine (H2 receptor antagonist) was without effect. To investigate whether a cAMP-mediated process is involved in the induction of plasma extravasation, the synthetic adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), dibutyryl adenosine cyclic monophosphate (DBcAMP) and the cAMP-inducing drug, salbutamol, were each injected in the skin; neither of these drugs caused extravasation. We conclude that PACAP 38 and PACAP 27 cause potent plasma extravasation which, at least in part, involves histamine release.

Identification of endogenous sympathetic neuron pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP): depolarization regulates production and secretion through induction of multiple propeptide transcripts

The vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)/secretin/glucagon family of peptides displays numerous physiological roles in autonomic nervous system development and function. The regulated endogenous production and release of PACAP peptides in sympathetic neurons of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) was investigated. The two posttranslationally processed forms of PACAP, PACAP27 and PACAP38, were identified in rat adult, neonatal, and cultured SCG neurons. PACAP38 levels were approximately 5-10 fmol/adult SCG and approximately 2 fmol/neonatal SCG; PACAP27 levels were comparable. The authenticity of peptide immunoreactivity in these tissues was verified by coelution with synthetic PACAP in reverse-phase HPLC analysis. Reverse transcription-PCR and sequence-specific hybridization revealed PACAP mRNA in adult, neonatal, and cultured SCG neurons; in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunocytochemistry localized the PACAP peptide and proPACAP mRNA to a subset of the SCG neuronal population. Basal and stimulated release of endogenous PACAP38 from cultured sympathetic neurons was established, suggesting that these peptides may function as signaling molecules at target tissues. Chronic depolarization with 40 mM potassium stimulated the PACAP secretory rate 10- to 20-fold, with concomitant increases in cellular PACAP peptide and mRNA levels. When examined using Northern analysis, depolarizing conditions not only stimulated the 2.2 kb form of PACAP mRNA, but also induced the expression of a shortened, 0.9 kb, transcript. Further reverse-transcription PCR analysis demonstrated that this smaller transcript was not identical to the unique testicular message. These studies identify PACAP38 and PACAP27 as regulated endogenous releasable peptides contributing to the functional diversity and phenotypic plasticity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide microinjections into the oral pontine tegmentum enhance rapid eye movement sleep in the rat

Rapid eye movement sleep can be elicited in the rat by microinjection of the cholinergic agonist carbachol into the oral pontine reticular nucleus. Intracerebroventricular administration, during the light period, of vasoactive intestinal peptide enhances rapid eye movement sleep in several species. Since this peptide is co-localized with acetylcholine in many neurons in the central nervous system, it was assumed that the oral pontine tegmentum could also be one target for vasoactive intestinal peptide to induce rapid eye movement sleep. This hypothesis was tested by recording the sleep-wakefulness cycle in freely-moving rats injected with vasoactive intestinal peptide or its fragments (1-12 and 10-28) directly into the oral pontine reticular nucleus. when administered into the posterior part of this nucleus, vasoactive intestinal peptide at 1 and 10 ng (in 0.1 microliter of saline), but not its fragments, induced a 2-fold enhancement of rapid eye movement sleep during 4 h, at the expense of wakefulness. At the dose of 10 ng, a significant increase in rapid eye movement sleep persisted for up to 8 h. Moreover, when the peptide was injected into the centre of the positive zone, rapid eye movement sleep was enhanced during three to eight consecutive days. These data provide the first evidence that rapid eye movement sleep can be elicited at both short- and long-term by a single intracerebral microinjection of vasoactive intestinal peptide. Peptidergic mechanisms, possibly in association with cholinergic mechanisms, within the caudal part of the oral pontine reticular nucleus may play a critical role in the long-term regulation of rapid eye movement sleep in rats.

Role of potassium channels in cerebral blood vessels

BACKGROUND

Hyperpolarization of vascular muscle in response to activation of potassium channels is a major mechanism of vasodilatation. In cerebral blood vessels, four different potassium channels have been described: ATP-sensitive potassium channels, calcium-activated potassium channels, delayed rectifier potassium channels, and inward rectifier potassium channels.

SUMMARY OF REVIEW

Activation of ATP-sensitive and calcium activated potassium channels appears to play a major role in relaxation of cerebral arteries and arterioles in response to diverse stimuli, including receptor-mediated agonists, intracellular second messengers, and hypoxia. Both calcium-activated and delayed rectifier potassium channels may contribute to a negative feedback system that regulates tone in large cerebral arteries. The influence of ATP-sensitive and calcium-activated potassium channels is altered in disease states such as hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Activation of potassium channels is a major mechanism of cerebral vasodilatation. Alteration of activity of potassium channels and impairment of vasodilatation may contribute to the development or maintenance of cerebral ischemia or vasospasm.