The direct influence of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the smooth muscle of rat duodenum

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone interacts with vasoactive intestinal peptide-specific receptor in guinea pig cecal circular smooth muscle cells

The relationship between thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) binding sites and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors in circular muscle cells obtained from the guinea pig cecum was investigated using antagonists of VIP receptors and a selective receptor protection method. Both VIP10-28, a VIP antagonist, and atrial natriuretic peptide1-11 (ANP1-11), a VIP-specific receptor antagonist, completely inhibited 10(-5) M TRH-induced relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner. The muscle cells where cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) and TRH binding sites were protected completely preserved the inhibitory responses to TRH and ANP (a VIP-specific receptor agonist), and partially the inhibitory response to VIP. Peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI: a VIP-preferring receptor agonist) had no inhibitory effect on these cells. The muscle cells where CCK-8 and ANP (VIP-specific) receptors were protected completely preserved the inhibitory responses to TRH and ANP and partially the inhibitory response to VIP. PHI had no inhibitory effect on these cells. The muscle cells where CCK-8 and VIP receptors (both VIP-specific and VIP-preferring receptors) were protected preserved completely the inhibitory responses to TRH, VIP, ANP, and PHI. The muscle cells where CCK-8 and PHI (VIP-preferring) receptors were protected completely preserved the inhibitory response to PHI and partially the inhibitory response to VIP. TRH and ANP had no inhibitory effect on these cells. This study first demonstrates that TRH interacts with VIP-specific receptor in guinea pig cecal circular smooth muscle cells.

Developmental changes in response to endothelins and receptor subtypes of isolated rat duodenum

The response of isolated duodenum to endothelin-1, -3 and IRL 1620 (Suc-[Glu9,Ala11,15]endothelin-1 (8-21)), a selective endothelin ETB receptor agonist, was studied in both neonatal (1-week-old) and adult rats by recording mechanical activity isotonically. Endothelin-1, -3 and IRL 1620 (1-100 nM) elicited sustained contraction of neonatal duodenum, in a concentration-dependent manner, with a potency order of endothelin-1 = endothelin-3 > IRL 1620. The response to endothelin-1 and -3 (10-1000 nM) of adult duodenum was biphasic, i.e., transient relaxation followed by contraction, with a potency order of endothelin-1 > endothelin-3. The contractile response to endothelin-1 of adult but not neonatal duodenum was significantly antagonized by pretreatment with FR139317 (1 microM), an endothelin ETA receptor antagonist. An endothelin ETB receptor antagonist, RES-701-1 (3 microM), weakly antagonized the IRL 1620-induced contraction of neonatal duodenum. However, RES-701-1 (10 microM) did not affect the response to endothelin-1 of either adult or neonatal duodenum. These results indicate that the duodenal response to endothelins changes from a sustained contraction in neonates to a biphasic response in adults. The contractile response to endothelins of neonatal duodenum is suggested to be mediated through endothelin ETB receptors or possibly RES-701-1-resistant ETB receptor subtypes and contraction of adult duodenum through endothelin ETA receptors. The mechanism of the endothelin-induced response of duodenum was also studied.

Developmental changes in the response of rat isolated duodenum to nicotine

Developmental changes in the response to ganglionic stimulants, nicotine and dimethylphenylpiperazinium, were investigated in rat isolated duodenum by recording isotonic mechanical activity. The duodenal response to nicotine/dimethylphenylpiperazinium (3 x 10(-7) to 10(-3) M) in neonatal rats was contraction, which was blocked by hexamethonium, tetrodotoxin and hyoscine. The response to nicotine/dimethylphenylpiperazinium (10(-6) to 10(-4) M) in the adult duodenum was relaxation, which was blocked by tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium, but by neither guanethidine nor hyoscine. The transition of the response to nicotine/dimethylphenylpiperazinium from contraction to relaxation occurred at around the 3rd postnatal week. Nicotine-induced relaxation of adult duodenum was significantly inhibited by preincubation with alpha-chymotrypsin, a proteolytic enzyme, and a combination of nucleotide pyrophosphatase and 8-phenyltheophylline, a P1 purinoceptor antagonist. Nicotine-induced relaxation was desensitized by alpha, beta-methylene ATP, a stable P2x purinoceptor agonist. These results suggest that the contractile response of isolated duodenum to nicotine is mediated through cholinergic transmission in neonatal rats and the relaxant response is mediated through non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic transmission, which involves both peptidergic and purinergic transmission, in adult rats.

L-NG-nitro-arginine inhibits nicotine-induced relaxation of isolated rat duodenum

We studied the effects of L-NG-nitro-arginine (L-NOARG), which inhibits nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis from L-arginine, on the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC)-mediated relaxation induced by nicotine in isolated rat duodenum. L-NOARG reduced nicotine-induced relaxation, and L-arginine prevented the inhibitory effect of L-NOARG. However, L-NOARG did not inhibit the tetrodotoxin-insensitive relaxation induced by adenosine 5'-triphosphate, alpha, beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate, thyrotropin-releasing hormone or the calcitonin gene-related peptide. Endogenous NO thus could possibly be involved in the NANC-mediated relaxation of rat duodenum induced by nicotine.

Central and peripheral type benzodiazepine ligands displace [3H][3-ME-HIS2]TRH from its binding sites in the brain and the anterior pituitary and antagonize the effect of TRH in the rat duodenum

The effects of central (clonazepam, an agonist, and FG 7142, an inverse agonist), mixed (diazepam) or peripheral type (Ro 5-4864) benzodiazepine receptor ligands on the action of TRH on the transmurally stimulated rat duodenum and binding of [3H][3-Me-His2] TRH in the rat anterior pituitary, hypothalamus, cortex and brainstem have been studied. TRH dose-dependently inhibited the contractions of transmurally stimulated rate duodenum. Clonazepam (5 x 10(-6) M), diazepam (10(-5) M), Ro 5-4864 (10(-5) M) or FG 7142 (10(-5) M) attenuated the response of TRH in the rat duodenum. The action of these compounds was antagonized neither by the central type benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil nor by peripheral type antagonist PK 11195 but instead PK 11195 itself counteracted TRH. TRH displaced [3H][3-Me-His2]TRH with Ki-values ranging 0.08 to 0.31 microM. Ki-values for clonazepam diazepam, Ro 5-4864, PK 11195 and FG 7142 ranged 6-117 microM, 3-23 microM, 20-67 microM, 20-40 microM and 260-420 microM, respectively, demonstrating fairly weak affinity to TRH-receptors. In saturation experiments, clonazepam and PK 11195 significantly increased KD but not Bmax of the labelled ligand while Ro 5-4864 increased both KD and Bmax. This indicates that all these compounds competitively inhibit the binding of [3H][3-Me-His2]TRH in the CNS which may also be the mechanism for their antagonism of the effect of TRH in the rat duodenum.

Atipamezole, benzodiazepines, bicucullin and tifluadom antagonize the effect of TRH on rat duodenum and displace it from brain and anterior pituitary receptors

The mechanism of action of the TRH induced inhibition of contractions of the transmurally stimulated rat duodenum has been studied. The effect of TRH was not antagonized by atropine, pentolinium, phenoxybenzamine, sotalol, methysergide, domperidone, diphenhydramine, cimetidine, aminophylline, antazolin, indomethacin, morphine, naloxone or tetrodotoxin. In contrast, the adrenergic alpha 2-antagonist atipamezole, the benzodiazepines chlordiaxepoxide and midazolam or GABA-A-antagonist bicucullin but not picrotoxin or SR-95531 attenuated the response to TRH. An opioid-kappa-receptor agonist having benzodiazepine structure, tifluadom, but not MR 2034 also diminished the response to TRH. However, these actions were not modified by the alpha 2-agonist medetomidine, benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil, GABA-agonists muscimol or baclofen or naloxone, respectively. While the binding of [3H][3-Me-His2]TRH to the rat anterior pituitary, hypothalamus, cortex and brainstem homogenates was saturable and of high affinity, no saturable binding was observed in the duodenal smooth muscle. Agents that were effective in the duodenal preparation displaced [3H][3-Me-His2]TRH from its binding sites in brain homogenates and the inhibitory constants (Ki) were (in microM): 0.038-0.107 (TRH), 0.19-5.8 (chlordiazepoxide), 0.021-8.9 (midazolam), 1.5-17 (tifluadom), 60-210 (bicucullin) and 150-530 (atipamezole). Atipamezole, bicucullin and chlordiazepoxide caused competitive displacement indicated by the increased KD of the labelled ligand but no change in the Bmax while tifluadom increased KD and decreased Bmax. It is concluded that the inhibitory effect of TRH on the contractions of the duodenal smooth muscle is mediated directly by the smooth muscle and it is apparently specific for TRH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

TRH-induced tachyphylaxis: present in the smooth muscle but not in the cardiorespiratory effects

The development of tachyphylaxis to the pressor, tachycardiac, ventilatory and smooth muscle effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was studied. Subsequent administrations of increasing doses of TRH (0.1-1000 nmol/kg intracerebroventricularly), at 20 min. intervals in urethane-anesthetized rats dose-dependently increased the mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate and minute ventilation volume. At all doses the effect on mean arterial blood pressure was apparent at least 20 min. after each injection whereas at low doses (0.1-1 nmol/kg) the duration of the effects on heart rate or minute ventilation volume were shorter. The cardiorespiratory effects of TRH 10 nmol/kg intracerebroventricularly did not subside completely within an observation period of 1 hr. However, a repeated administration of TRH at 1 hr resulted in the levels of mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate and minute ventilation volume not statistically different from the peak levels of the first injection. While the cardiorespiratory effects of TRH were long-lasting, the TRH induced inhibition of the contractions of the rat duodenal smooth muscle lasted only 12-18 sec. The TRH-treated duodenal preparation responded normally to noradrenaline but remained unresponsive to further administrations of TRH until washed extensively. When the medium after cessation of the TRH response was transferred into another chamber with an untreated preparation, a full response was resulted. Inhibitors of TRH metabolism, bacitracin, EDTA and iodoacetamide, did not prolong nor enhance the response. Likewise, a stable TRH-analogue MK-771 did not produce any longer response than TRH. It is concluded that no tachyphylaxis was produced to the neurally mediated pressor, tachycardiac or ventilatory effects of TRH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Selective cardiorespiratory activity of an iodinated analog of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)

The biological activity of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and its analogs 4(5)-I-Im-TRH and 2,4(5)-I2-Im-TRH was assessed by means of their effects on: 1) the mean arterial pressure (MAP), 2) heart rate (HR), 3) ventilation minute volume (MV), 4) contractility of the rat duodenum, and 5) concentrations of thyrotropin (TSH) or prolactin (PRL) in serum. Also their binding to TRH-receptors in brain homogenates was studied. In urethane-anesthetized rats TRH ICV increased MAP, HR and MV. 4(5)-I-Im-TRH was equally as active as TRH on HR and MV but a significant elevation in MAP was observed only at a dose 100-fold to that of TRH. However, the maximal responses of 4(5)-I-Im-TRH and TRH did not differ. In conscious rats, TRH 1A elevated MAP and HR but 4(5)-I-Im-TRH was active on MAP only. 2,4(5)-I2-Im-TRH was devoid of cardiorespiratory activity. TRH dose-dependently inhibited the contractions of the rat duodenum while the iodinated analogs lacked such an activity. To induce a significant release of TSH several hundred times more of 4(5)-I-Im-TRH and over 1000 times more of 2,4(5)-I2-Im-TRH were needed as compared to TRH. The iodoanalogs elevated PRL levels only at doses 2000-fold higher than those of TRH. The iodoanalogs displaced [3H][3-Me-His2]TRH [( 3H]MeTRH) from its binding sites at concentrations about 1000 times higher than those of TRH. Substitutions of the histidyl moiety of TRH in 4(5)-I-Im-TRH and 2,4(5)-I2-Im-TRH resulted in substantial loss of the endocrine activity. While the di-iodinated analog was practically devoid of any biological activity the monoiodinated analog exerted similar cardiorespiratory activity to that of TRH.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone effects on guinea pig antrum

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone transiently increased resting tension and spontaneous contraction amplitude more potently in longitudinal muscle than in circular muscle. The frequency of the contraction did not change. Excitation was enhanced by eserine, and blocked by atropine and tetrodotoxin; this excitation was, therefore, probably mediated by acetylcholine release from cholinergic neurons in the myenteric plexus. In the presence of atropine, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (10(-10) M) inhibited spontaneous contraction, particularly in longitudinal muscle. This was accompanied by decreased resting tension at and above 10(-8) M. Because contraction was not blocked by adrenergic blockade, indomethacin, methysergide, or hexamethonium, but was abolished by tetrodotoxin, it was postulated that thyrotropin-releasing hormone might stimulate nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory neurons. There was no cross-tachyphylaxis between 5-hydroxytryptamine and thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Results show that 5-hydroxytryptamine does not interact with thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

The effect of thyrotropin releasing hormone and morphine on gastrointestinal transit

The effect of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) alone and in combination with morphine on the gastrointestinal transit was investigated by using the charcoal meal test in mice. The intraperitoneal (IP) administration of TRH decreased the transit when given in a dose of 1.0 mg/kg 10 min prior to the meal. The intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of TRH (10 micrograms/mouse) also inhibited the transit when given just prior to the charcoal meal. Subcutaneous (SC) administration of morphine (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) inhibited gastrointestinal transit in a dose dependent manner. When TRH (1,3 and 10 mg/kg, IP as well as 0.3 microgram, ICV) which had no effect on the transit by itself was combined with morphine (10 mg/kg, SC), an enhancement in the inhibition of the transit was observed. TRH-induced inhibition of the transit was antagonized by naloxone (0.1 mg/kg, SC). It is concluded that TRH inhibits gastrointestinal transit in the mouse possibly via the opiate receptor system.

Increase in muscarinic receptors in rat intestine by thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)

The effect of Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) on the contractile activity elicited by acetylcholine and electric stimulation in the rat ileus terminalis was investigated. TRH did not show any intrinsic contractile activity but, after a 30 minute latency period, the peptide caused a shift to the left of the dose-response curve for both acetylcholine and electric stimulation. The binding of 3H-quinuclidinylbenzilate (3H-QNB) assayed on ileum slices disclosed that the addition of TRH increased the number of muscarinic cholinergic receptors without changes in affinity when incubation was performed at pH 7.8, but no effect TRH was demonstrated at pH 7.4. Therefore, in spite of its neural and direct actions on intestine motor activity, TRH may affect the acetylcholine induced contraction by increasing the number of muscarinic receptors at a specific pH.

Neuropeptide-induced contraction and relaxation of the mouse anococcygeus muscle

Isometric tension responses to neuropeptides were recorded from anococcygeus muscles isolated from male mice. This smooth muscle tissue is innervated by inhibitory nonadrenergic, noncholinergic nerves that resemble, ultrastructurally, the peptidergic neurons of the gastrointestinal tract; the physiological function of the anococcygeus is not known. Slow sustained contractions were produced by oxytocin (0.2-20 nM), [Arg8]vasopressin (0.4-200 nM), and [Arg]-vasotocin (0.4-100 nM); the mouse anococcygeus is, therefore, one of the few examples of nonvascular smooth muscle from male mammals to respond to low concentrations of oxytocin and related peptides. Substance P (0.5-8 microM) caused distinctive, biphasic increases in muscle tone of some, but not all, preparations. Other neuropeptides producing contractions were neurotensin (2-100 microM) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (2-100 microM); the responses were of similar time course and displayed selective cross-desensitization, suggesting that these two peptides act through a common distinct mechanism. Tetradecapeptide somatostatin (10-80 microM) and its analog urotensin II (0.1-5 microM), a dodecapeptide from the urophysis of the teleost fish Gillichthys mirabilis, produced similar slowly developing relaxations of carbachol-induced tone. Piscine urotensin II, of which there are no reported effects on nonvascular mammalian systems, was 20-50 times more potent than somatostatin, a well-established mammalian hormone. Of the peptides studied, only vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (0.05-1 microM) caused rapid powerful relaxations in low concentrations; this is consistent with its proposed involvement in nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmission in the mouse anococcygeus.

Minireview. Thyrotropin releasing hormone and CNS cholinergic neurons

The centrally mediated pharmacological effects of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), their mechanistic basis and therapeutic implications, along with the possible physiological significance of extrahypothalamic TRH, have been the subject of numerous investigations for over a decade. Despite this effort a holistic perspective on these issues and considerations does not exist. However, with continued research employing multiple and diverse experimental approaches, many interactions of TRH and related peptides with central cholinergic mechanisms have been revealed. These interactions are documented in this review and it is proposed that they can account for several of the more prominent pharmacological actions of these peptides. Additionally, it is suggested that a function of endogenous YHR, throughout the neuroaxis, may be to regulate the excitability of central cholinergic neurons.

Changes in thyrotropin-releasing hormone levels in alligator stomach during fasting

Stomach tissue of the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, contains substantial levels of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) which behaves identically to the synthetic hormone on radioimmunoassay (RIA) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fasting induces a marked increase in gastric tissue levels of this hypophysiotropic hormone, but is without effect on hypothalamic content, suggesting a physiological role for TRH in gastric function of this vertebrate.

Regulatory peptides as a source of new drugs--the clinical prospects for analogues of TRH which are resistant to metabolic degradation

The biological properties of several analogues of TRH (Pyr-His-Pro X NH2) are reviewed. Analogues discussed include those with modifications to the Pyr moiety (e.g. DN-1417, CG 3509 and CG 3703), the Pro moiety (e.g. RX 77368) and MK-771 which has both terminal residues modified. The analogues have enhanced biological half-lives compared to TRH because of their resistance to enzymatic degradation. Neuropharmacological evaluation indicates the analogues to be active in antidepressant screening tests, to reverse the effects of diverse CNS depressants and to promote arousal when given alone. The analogues all exhibit enhanced potency compared to TRH in such tests. In contrast they appear equipotent to TRH in endocrine tests. An explanation is offered for this paradox in terms of metabolic stability and bioavailability to the requisite sites of action. The prospects for clinical utilization of the neuropharmacological properties common to TRH and its analogues are considered.

Effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on gastric acid secretion in man

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) has been shown to have a dose-dependent inhibiting effect on the pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in man. We studied the effect of increasing doses of TRH on the gastric acid secretion stimulated by a submaximal histamine dose. The effect of a relatively high dose of TRH (500 micrograms/h) on the maximal histamine-stimulated acid secretion was examined. Furthermore, we studied the effect of two doses of TRH (40 micrograms/h and 500 micrograms/h) on the gastric acid output after insulin-induced hypoglycemia. A significant reduction of the submaximal histamine-stimulated gastric acid output was observed during infusion of 8 micrograms/h TRH (16%), 40 micrograms/h TRH (38%), and 200 micrograms/h TRH (42%) (percentage reduction compared with the control experiment). TRH, 1000 micrograms/h, had no significant effect. With regard to the acid output after maximal histamine stimulation, TRH 500 micrograms/h was without significant effect. After hypoglycemia the acid output was reduced by 30% during 40 micrograms/h TRH (p less than 0.05) and by 37% during 500 micrograms/h TRH (p less than 0.02). TRH had no effect on the acid concentration in any of the studies. The possible mechanisms by which TRH may interact with the acid regulation are discussed.

Myogenic receptivity for Met-enkephalin in the rat duodenum: comparison with the guinea-pig duodenum

Met-enkephalin (ENK) induced a dose-dependent transient relaxation in vitro in the rat duodenum while morphine neither induced a response nor affected the response to ENK. The response was not blocked by tetrodotoxin but was abolished by naloxone. The response of guinea-pig duodenum to ENK was either relaxation or pulsatile contractions depending on the dose and was abolished by tetrodotoxin.

Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the isolated small intestine and taenia coli of the guinea pig

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) produced a contraction in the isolated segment of duodenum and taenia coli of the guinea-pig (pA2, 8.0 and 8.9). TRH induced a contraction, a relaxation, or a contraction followed by relaxation in the jejunum and ileum. All the responses to TRH of the small intestine and the taenia coli were abolished in the presence of tetrodotoxin but not affected by hexamethonium. The contractile response to TRH of the small intestine was abolished and replaced by a relaxation in the presence of hyoscine. This relaxant response was not affected by guanethidine. The taenial response to TRH was partially inhibited by either hyoscine or methysergide and markedly diminished by the two together. These findings indicate that TRH acts on the myenteric neurons of the small intestine and taenia coli of the guinea pig. The contractile response of small intestine is likely to be induced through cholinergic nerves while cholinergic, serotonergic and unidentified excitatory neurons seem to be involved in the taenial response. These neurogenic actions of TRH on the guinea-pig intestine are in contrast with the myogenic natur of the response to TRH in the duodenum of the rat.