Calcitonin gene-related peptide is a potent intestinal, but not gastric, vasodilator in conscious dogs

Sensory neuroimmune interactions at the barrier

Epithelial barriers such as the skin, lung, and gut, in addition to having unique physiologic functions, are designed to preserve tissue homeostasis upon challenge with a variety of allergens, irritants, or pathogens. Both the innate and adaptive immune systems play a critical role in responding to epithelial cues triggered by environmental stimuli. However, the mechanisms by which organs sense and coordinate complex epithelial, stromal, and immune responses have remained a mystery. Our increasing understanding of the anatomic and functional characteristics of the sensory nervous system is greatly advancing a new field of peripheral neuroimmunology and subsequently changing our understanding of mucosal immunology. Herein, we detail how sensory biology is informing mucosal neuroimmunology, even beyond neuroimmune interactions seen within the central and autonomic nervous systems.

Effects of Ninjin-to on Levels of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Substance P in Human Plasma

The herbal medicine Ninjin-to has been used for the treatment of gastroenteritis, esogastritis, gastric atony, gastrectasis, vomiting, and anorexia. One of the mechanisms of the empirical effects is assumed to be due to local changes in neuropeptide levels. Sensory afferent neurons in the gastrointestinal mucosa regulate neuropeptides [calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P, etc.], which play various physiologic roles. To determine whether the pharmacologic effects of Ninjin-to on the gastrointestine are due to changes in gastrointestinal mucosa regulatory peptide levels, we examined the effects of Ninjin-to on the levels of CGRP-like immunoreactive substances (IS) and substance P-IS in plasma taken from five healthy subjects. A single oral administration of 6.0 g of Ninjin-to caused significant increases in plasma CGRP-IS at 40 min and 60 min, and in substance P-IS levels at 90 min, compared with a placebo group. These results may indicate that the pharmacologic actions of Ninjin-to are closely related to changes in CGRP-IS and substance P-IS levels.

Motilin regulates interdigestive gastric blood flow in dogs

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Gastric blood flow exhibits cyclical increases in phase with the interdigestive contractions and secretion of the stomach in dogs. The aim of this study is to clarify the regulatory role of motilin in interdigestive gastric blood flow in dogs.

METHODS

Blood flow of the left gastric (LGA) and superior mesenteric (SMA) arteries were measured by ultrasound transit-time blood-flow meters in 5 conscious dogs. Motilin was infused intravenously with or without Phe-cyclo[Lys-Tyr(3-tBu)-betaAla-]. trifluoroacetate (GM-109; motilin antagonist), granisetron (5-HT3 antagonist), atropine, hexamethonium (C6), phenoxybenzamine, propranolol, or cimetidine.

RESULTS

Motilin (12.5, 25, 50, and 100 pmol x kg(-1) x h(-1)) induced LGA blood-flow responses, consisting of a sustained increase and a rapid phasic change coupled with a contraction, without affecting the blood pressure, heart rate, and SMA blood flow. GM-109 completely abolished the LGA, motility, and secretory responses to motilin (100 pmol x kg(-1) x h(-1)). Atropine abolished motilin-induced gastric contractions, secretion, and phasic changes of LGA blood flow but failed to affect the sustained flow increase. However, atropine partially inhibited the LGA responses to lower doses of motilin. The LGA flow responses to motilin were not inhibited by granisetron, C6, alpha-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, or H2 blockers. Motilin induced significantly larger gastric vasodilatation than the equivalent doses of VIP.

CONCLUSIONS

Motilin has a potent and selective gastric vasodilator effect, which appears to be mediated by both cholinergic and noncholinergic mechanisms. Motilin plays an important role in the regulation of interdigestive gastric blood flow in dogs.

The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on pancreatic blood flow and secretion in conscious dogs

The effects of human alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (alpha-CGRP) and beta-CGRP on pancreatic arterial (PA), superior mesenteric (SMA) and left gastric arterial (LGA) blood flows were studied by ultrasound transit-time blood flow meters in five conscious dogs. Intravenous injections of alpha-CGRP and beta-CGRP (5-200 pmol/kg) induced a dose-related increase in PA flow and a dose-related decrease in its resistance. At lower doses, alpha-CGRP was more potent than beta-CGRP, but their maximal responses were similar. The blood flow responses to alpha-CGRP (200 pmol/kg) were 153% of the basal flow in LGA, 313% in PA, and 534% in SMA, while those to VIP (100 pmol/kg) were 467% in LGA, 953% in PA and 163% in SMA. Somatostatin reduced blood flow in all arteries. alpha-CGRP, but not beta-CGRP, at higher doses induced gastric contractions and pancreatic protein-rich secretion, which were blocked by atropine. These results suggest that CGRP in perivascular nerves in the pancreas may regulate pancreatic blood flow in dogs but its physiological function remains to be studied.

Role of cholecystokinin in the intestinal phase of pancreatic circulation in dogs

The regulatory mechanisms of postprandial pancreatic hyperemia are not well characterized. The aim of this study is to clarify the role of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the intestinal phase of pancreatic circulation. Pancreatic, gastric, and intestinal blood flows were measured by ultrasound transit-time blood flowmeters in five conscious dogs. Pancreatic and gastric secretion and blood pressure were also monitored. Synthetic CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) or gastrin heptadecapeptide (gastrin-17) was infused intravenously, and milk was infused into the duodenum with or without loxiglumide, a specific CCK-A receptor antagonist. CCK-8 induced dose-related increases of pancreatic, but not gastric or intestinal, blood flow and protein secretion without affecting systemic blood pressure. Gastrin-17 did not affect pancreatic blood flow. An intraduodenal infusion of milk increased pancreatic and intestinal blood flows and pancreatic protein secretion. Loxiglumide completely inhibited pancreatic blood flow and protein responses to CCK-8 and milk but not the intestinal blood flow response. CCK is a potent and specific pancreatic vasodilator, with its effect mediated by CCK-A receptors. CCK plays an important role in the regulation of the intestinal phase of the pancreatic circulation in dogs.

The effect of VIP/PACAP family of peptides on pancreatic blood flow and secretion in conscious dogs

The effects of PACAP-38, PACAP-27, VIP and secretin on pancreatic blood flow were compared with those of meals in five conscious dogs using an ultrasound transit-time blood flow meter. All peptides (1-100 pmol/kg) induced dose-related increases of pancreatic blood flow, and fluid and bicarbonate secretion. Only PACAPs stimulated protein secretion. Both PACAPs at doses which did not stimulate pancreatic secretion, induced significant pancreatic vasodilatation. VIP was less potent than PACAP-38 and PACAP-27 at lower doses (1-25 pmol/kg), but was similar to PACAPs at higher doses. The maximal effects of PACAPs and VIP were comparable to those observed after meals. Secretin was a significant but weak vasodilator. When pancreatic secretion was maximally stimulated by secretin, a reduction of vascular resistance was 75% of postprandial peak levels. PACAP(6-38), a competitive antagonist of PACAP, inhibited pancreatic vascular responses to PACAPs, but not those to VIP and secretin. Its inhibitory effects on protein response to PACAPs were not significant. Atropine inhibited pancreatic protein but not the vascular effect of PACAP-27. Pancreatic vasodilatation by PACAPs appears to be mediated by both PACAP-specific and VIP/PACAP common receptors in dogs. PACAP, like VIP, is a good candidate for a mediator of atropine-resistant vasodilatation of the pancreas.