Effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide, peptide histidine isoleucine and growth hormone-releasing factor-40 on bombesin-like immunoreactivity, somatostatin and gastrin release from the perfused rat stomach

The role(s) of somatostatin, structurally related peptides and somatostatin receptors in the gastrointestinal tract: a review

Extensive functional and morphological research has demonstrated the pivotal role of somatostatin (SOM) in the regulation of a wide variety of gastrointestinal activities. In addition to its profound inhibitory effects on gastrointestinal motility and exocrine and endocrine secretion processes along the entire gastrointestinal tract, SOM modulates several organ-specific activities. In contrast to these well-known SOM-dependent effects, knowledge on the SOM receptors (SSTR) involved in these effects is much less conclusive. Experimental data on the identities of the SSTRs, although species- and tissue-dependent, point towards the involvement of multiple receptor subtypes in the vast majority of gastrointestinal SOM-mediated effects. Recent evidence demonstrating the role of SOM in intestinal pathologies has extended the interest of gastrointestinal research in this peptide even further. More specifically, SOM is supposed to suppress intestinal inflammatory responses by interfering with the extensive bidirectional communication between mucosal mast cells and neurons. This way, SOM not only acts as a powerful inhibitor of the inflammatory cascade at the site of inflammation, but exerts a profound antinociceptive effect through the modulation of extrinsic afferent nerve fibres. The combination of these physiological and pathological activities opens up new opportunities to explore the potential of stable SOM analogues in the treatment of GI inflammatory pathologies.

Presynaptic modulation by VIP, secretin and isoproterenol of somatostatin release from enriched enteric synaptosomes: role of cAMP

The release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was studied in isolated synaptosomes. A significant release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was observed in the presence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (10(-6) M: 53.0 +/- 12.4 pg/mg, basal: 14.3 +/- 1.7 pg/mg, n = 5, P < 0.05), secretin (10(-6) M: 56.1 +/- 3.8 pg/mg, basal: 25.8 +/- 1.6 pg/mg, n = 6, P < 0.01) and isoproterenol (10(-5) M: 54.0 +/- 13.4 pg/mg, basal: 20.0 +/- 3.4 pg/mg, n = 8, P < 0.05). Forskolin, an unspecified activator of the adenylate cyclase, caused a significant release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (10(-6) M: 57.3 +/- 13.2 pg/mg, basal: 30.0 +/- 5.8 pg/mg, n = 13, P < 0.01) which was further augmented in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX 10(-4) M) (77.0 +/- 17.8 pg/mg, n = 13, P < 0.01). 3-Isobutyl-l-methylxanthine and N6, 2'-O-dibutyryladenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate mimicked at effect of forskolin and VIP. The release of somatostatin was paralleled by an increase of cAMP immunoreactivity in the presence of VIP (10(-6) M: 37.1 +/- 9.4 pmol/mg, basal: 19.8 +/- 4.2 pmol/mg, n = 10, P < 0.05), isoproterenol (10(-5) M: 42.4 +/- 9.8 pmol/mg basal: 16.7 +/- 2.4 pmol/mg, n = 12, P < 0.01) and forskolin (10(-6) M: 47.1 +/- 12.4 pmol/mg, basal: 19.8 +/- 4.2 pmol/mg, n = 10, P < 0.01). The effect of nitric oxide (NO) which acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system was studied. NO is known to activate guanylate cyclase to induce transmitter release. The NO-generating compound sodium nitroprusside and bromoguanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) had no effect on the release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity. These data demonstrate the stimulatory effect of VIP, secretin and isoproterenol on release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity from enteric synaptosomes, which is presumably mediated by cAMP-dependent mechanisms. cGMP-dependent mechanisms seem to be of minor relevance.

Release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity from enriched enteric nerve varicosities of rat ileum

Synaptosomes were isolated from rat ileum by various steps of differential centrifugation. The peptide content for somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was used as marker for neuronal membranes. The enriched synaptosomal fraction (P2) showed a good enrichment of somatostatin content (4-fold) in comparison to the post-nuclear supernatant. The basal release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was 26 +/- 3 pg/mg tissue protein. KCl-evoked depolarization (65 mM) caused a significant increase of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity release (72 +/- 11 pg/mg, n = 12, P < 0.001) compared to basal release. In Ca(2+)-free medium the evoked release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was abolished. A substantial increase of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity release (52 +/- 7 pg/mg, n = 12, P < 0.05) was also observed in the presence of the Ca2+ ionophore A-23187. The cholinergic agonist carbachol elicited a dose-dependent release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (10(-7) M: 54 +/- 8 pg/mg, 10(-6) M: 63 +/- 6 pg/mg, 10(-5) M: 53 +/- 5 pg/mg, n = 12, P < 0.001), which was blocked by atropine (10(-6) M: 35 +/- 6 pg/mg, n = 12, P < 0.001), but not by hexamethonium. Other presynaptic modulating substances such as serotonin, the selective neurokinin-B agonist [beta Asp4,MePhe7]neurokinin B-(4-10), neurotensin, cholecystokinin-8, caerulein and pentagastrin had no stimulatory effect on release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity. In summary, somatostatin-like immunoreactivity can be released from enteric synaptosomes by both depolarization with KCl and cholinergic stimulation via a muscarinic mechanism. The synaptosomes of intrinsic nerves offer an approach to study release of neuronal somatostatin on the subcellular level.

Effect of endogenous opioids on vagally induced release of gastrin, somatostatin and bombesin-like immunoreactivity from the perfused rat stomach

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone on vagally stimulated secretion of bombesin-like immunoreactivity (BLI), somatostatin and gastrin from the isolated rat stomach, which was perfused via the celiac artery with Krebs-Ringer buffer. Vagal stimulation was performed for 10 min with 1 ms, 10 V and 2, 5, 10 or 20 Hz, respectively. In control experiments BLI release increased significantly above basal secretion during a stimulation frequency of 10 Hz (1367 +/- 357 pg/10 min; P < 0.001) and 20 Hz (996 +/- 202 pg/10 min; P < 0.01), but not at 2 and 5 Hz. In comparison to the controls naloxone (10(-6) M) significantly increased BLI secretion at 5 Hz by 573 +/- 150 pg/10 min (P < 0.05), but attenuated the BLI response to higher stimulation frequencies of 10 and 20 Hz to 284 +/- 143 pg/10 min (P < 0.001) and 490 +/- 114 pg/10 min (P < 0.01), respectively. At 2 Hz naloxone had no effect on BLI release. As shown previously the cholinergic blocker atropine (10(-7) M) induced a significant BLI release during vagal stimulation at 2 Hz (680 +/- 233 pg/10 min; P < 0.01) and 5 Hz (935 +/- 324 pg/10 min; P < 0.05), but was without effect at 10 and 20 Hz compared to the controls. The effects of the combination of naloxone and atropine were similar to naloxone and atropine alone. Naloxone had no effect on vagal or GRP-induced regulation of gastrin and somatostatin release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of glucose and insulin on vagally induced gastrin, bombesin-like immunoreactivity and somatostatin secretion from the perfused rat stomach

Previous studies in the isolated perfused rat stomach have shown that elevated glucose and insulin concentrations modulate BLI and somatostatin release during arterially administered peptidergic stimuli. In the present study the effect of elevated levels of glucose or insulin was examined on vagally induced changes of gastrin, somatostatin and BLI secretion. The lumen of the stomach was perfused with saline pH 7 or pH 2. Vagal stimulation (5 Hz, 1 msec, 10V) increased gastrin and BLI secretion and inhibited somatostatin release. The increase of the perfusate glucose concentration from 100 mg/dl to 150 or 300 mg/dl or the addition of insulin (100 microU/ml) augmented vagally stimulated gastrin release at luminal pH 7 but not pH2. Vagally induced inhibition of somatostatin was attenuated by both concentrations of glucose at either luminal pH while insulin had no effect. BLI secretion was affected neither by elevated glucose nor by insulin. On the other hand, the noncholinergic component of vagally induced BLI secretion in the presence of atropine was augmented by insulin. These data demonstrate that glucose and insulin can modulate vagally activated gastric neuroendocrine functions which could be of relevance during the ingestion of carbohydrate containing meals.

The effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on the canine gallbladder motility

1. VIP at doses of 10(-9) to 10(-8) M was ineffective and at doses of 5 x 10(-8) to 10(-7) M exerted a slight inhibitory effect on the tone of the canine gallbladder muscle strip. However, VIP (0.1-1 micrograms/kg) injected intravenously (i.v.) in conscious dogs dose-dependently decreased the gallbladder pressure. 2. VIP did not influence significantly the acetylcholine (ACh)- or carbachol- induced contractions of canine gallbladder under in vitro or in vivo conditions, but it decreased the electrically-induced, atropine-sensitive contractions of gallbladder muscle strips. 3. VIP (5 x 10(-9) to 5 x 10(-8) M) did not influence significantly the dose-response curve for cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK OP) of canine and guinea-pig gallbladder muscle strips. VIP injected i.v. (0.1-0.5 micrograms/kg) in conscious dogs greatly decreased the CCK OP-induced gallbladder pressure.

Vagally induced release of gastrin, somatostatin and bombesin-like immunoreactivity from perfused rat stomach. Effect of stimulation frequency and cholinergic mechanisms

The isolated stomach of rats was vascularly perfused to measure the secretion of gastrin, somatostatin (SLI) and bombesin-like immunoreactivity (BLI). The gastric lumen was perfused with saline pH 7 or pH 2, and electrical vagal stimulation was performed with 1 ms, 10 V and 2, 5 or 10 Hz, respectively. Atropine was added in concentrations of 10(-9) or 10(-7) M to evaluate the role of cholinergic mechanisms. In control experiments, vagal stimulation during luminal pH 2 elicited a significant increase of BLI secretion only at 10 Hz but not at 2 and 5 Hz. Somatostatin release was inhibited independent of the stimulation frequency employed. Gastrin secretion at 2 Hz was twice the secretion rates observed at 5 and 10 Hz, respectively. At luminal pH 7 BLI rose significantly at 5 and 10 Hz. SLI secretion was decreased by all frequencies. Gastrin secretion at 2 and 5 Hz was twice as high as during stimulation with 10 Hz. Atropine at doses of 10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7) and 10(-6) M had no effect on basal secretion of BLI, SLI and gastrin. At luminal pH 2, atropine increased dose-dependently the BLI response at 2 and 5 but not at 10 Hz. The decrease of SLI during 2 and 5 Hz but not 10 Hz was abolished by atropine 10(-9) M. SLI was reversed to stimulation during atropine 10(-7) M at all frequencies. The rise of gastrin at 2 Hz was reduced by 50%. At luminal pH 7, atropine had comparable effects with a few differences: the BLI response at 10 Hz was augmented and the gastrin response to 2 and 5 Hz was reduced. In conclusion the present data demonstrate a frequency and pH-dependent stimulation of BLI and gastrin release. The stimulation of BLI is predominantly due to atropine-insensitive mechanisms while muscarinic cholinergic mechanisms exert an inhibitory effect on BLI release during lower stimulation frequencies (2 and 5 Hz) independent of the intragastric pH and also during higher frequencies at neutral pH. Both, atropine sensitive and insensitive mechanisms are activated frequency dependent. The atropine-sensitive cholinergic mechanisms but not the noncholinergic mechanisms involved in regulation of G-cell function are pH and frequency dependent. Somatostatin is regulated largely independent of stimulation frequency and pH by at least two pathways involving cholinergic mechanisms of different sensitivity to atropine. These data suggest a highly differentiated regulation of BLI, gastrin and SLI secretion and the interaction between these systems awaits further elucidation.

Role of peptide histidine isoleucine in relaxation of cat lower esophageal sphincter

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a candidate as an inhibitory neurotransmitter mediating relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) because VIP antiserum reduces LES relaxation in response to neural stimulation. Vasoactive intestinal peptide antiserum, however, does not completely block LES relaxation. Thus it is possible that other neurotransmitters may be involved. Peptide histidine isoleucine has structural homologies with VIP, is synthesized with VIP from a common precursor protein, coexists in some nerve cells, and is coproduced with VIP in some tumors. In numerous organ systems VIP and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) produce similar effects, with PHI being less potent than VIP by approximately one log number. In the LES both VIP and PHI produce tetrodotoxin-resistant dose-dependent relaxation, with PHI being almost equipotent with VIP. We therefore tested the hypothesis that PHI may be a second neurotransmitter, partly responsible for relaxation of the cat LES, by using a highly specific rabbit PHI antiserum that exhibits minimal cross-binding with VIP, secretin, and glucagon. In 3 animals, LES and brain tissue were extracted in 0.1 N HCl and assayed with a PHI radioimmunoassay. The antiserum cross-reacted with cat brain and LES showing PHI concentrations greater than 100 ng/g, with the LES containing equal or greater concentrations of PHI than brain tissue. In other animals consecutive LES circular muscle strips were cut, mounted in 1-ml muscle chambers, and stimulated with 6-s square-wave trains of 0.1-, 0.2-, 0.4-, and 0.8-ms pulses at 1, 2, and 5 Hz. These parameters produced relaxation that was completely blocked by tetrodotoxin, and reduced by VIP antiserum, but not affected by adrenergic or cholinergic receptor antagonists. Some strips were incubated in 5% or 10% PHI antiserum, whereas others were incubated in the same concentration of preimmunization serum from the same animal. Incubation in normal serum did not significantly affect relaxation, whereas in the antiserum-treated strips, LES relaxation was reduced by a significant amount (20%-30%) at all parameters of stimulation tested. Incubation in antiserum however had no effect on relaxation induced by VIP (10(-8)-10(-6) M). These data suggest that PHI may play a role in LES relaxation induced by electrical stimulation.

Peptide histidine isoleucine and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide cause relaxation of opossum internal anal sphincter via two distinct receptors

The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the nature of peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptors, and to examine the role of PHI in internal anal sphincter (IAS) relaxation. The studies were performed on opossums anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. The pressures in the IAS were recorded using continuously perfused catheters. The IAS responses to PHI analogues, PHI-27, PHM-27, PHI-(14-27)-NH2, PHI-(1-13), to VIP, to rectal balloon distention, sacral nerve stimulation, and local intramural stimulation were evaluated before and after PHI-(14-27)-NH2, PHI tachyphylaxis, and the VIP antagonists [4 Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17] VIP (VIP analogue) and (N-Ac-Tyr1, D-Phe2)-GRF(1-29)-NH2 (growth hormone releasing factor analogue). The inhibitory responses by all of the PHI analogues and VIP were not modified by tetrodotoxin. PHI-(14-27)-NH2 and PHI tachyphylaxis caused significant antagonism of the fall in internal anal sphincter pressure by PHI-27 and PHM-27 without modifying the IAS responses to VIP and rectal balloon distention, sacral nerve stimulation, and local intramural stimulation. On the other hand, VIP and growth hormone releasing factor analogues caused significant antagonism of VIP responses without modifying the responses to PHI-27. We conclude that distinct PHI and VIP receptors are present in the IAS smooth muscle and that PHI may not play a significant role in the IAS relaxation via the rectoanal reflex.

Gastric somatostatin release: evidence for direct mediation by calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide

It has previously been demonstrated that somatostatin (SRIF) directly inhibits parietal cell secretion. However, the significance of SRIF as a paracrine agent and mechanisms of local gastric SRIF release are not clear. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are neuropeptides which have been localized in the gastric fundus and have been demonstrated to inhibit gastric acid secretion in vivo. The present study examines the hypothesis that CGRP and VIP act via the release of gastric fundic SRIF. The study utilized rabbit isolated gastric glands prepared by collagenase digestion. Glands were incubated alone, or with 10(-10)-10(-6) M CGRP or 10(-10)-10(-6) M VIP for 30 min. Supernatant SRIF was measured using a specific radioimmunoassay. Unstimulated SRIF release was 101 +/- 16 fmole/ml. CGRP (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) and VIP (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) resulted in significant SRIF release. The maximum release of SRIF by CGRP (506 +/- 113 fmole/ml) was significantly greater than that by VIP (293 +/- 33 fmole/ml) (P less than 0.05). However, both these concentrations of SRIF are comparable to the ID50 concentration (4.5 X 10(-10) M) for SRIF inhibition of acid secretion by isolated parietal cells as assessed by [14C]aminopyrine accumulation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CGRP and VIP inhibition of acid secretion may be mediated, at least in part, by the local release of SRIF from the gastric fundus. These data further support the significance of paracrine interactions in the modulation of cellular secretory function.