ACE inhibition by enalaprilate stimulates duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion via a bradykinin pathway in the rat

The human duodenal mucosa harbors all components for a local renin angiotensin system

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is present in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract but remains to be fully characterized, particularly in man. The duodenum plays a role in both the upper and lower GI regulation, as well as in distant organs. The present study investigates the presence and functional potential of RAS in the human duodenal mucosa of healthy individuals. Endoscopically acquired mucosal biopsies from healthy volunteers were examined using western blot, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. Functionality was examined by using Ussing chambers and recording duodenal transmucosal potential difference (PD) and motility in vivo Angiotensinogen, Angiotensin II (AngII) and its receptors (AT1R, AT2R) as well as to the RAS associated enzymes renin, ACE, and neprylisin were detected in all samples of duodenal mucosa. Migrating motility complex induced elevations of transmucosal PD were significantly larger after per-oral administration of the AT1R receptor antagonist candesartan. Fasting duodenal motility per se was not influenced by candesartan. The epithelial current produced by duodenal mucosae mounted in Ussing chambers increased significantly after addition of AngII to specimens where the AT1R was blocked using losartan. The epithelial current also increased after addition of the AT2R-selective agonist C21. Immunostaining and pharmacological data demonstrate the presence of a local RAS in the human duodenal mucosa with capacity to influence epithelial ion transport by way of particulary the AT2R.

Kinin-induced anion-dependent secretion in porcine ileum: characterization and involvement of opioid- and cannabinoid-sensitive enteric neural circuits

The intestinal secretory actions of the proinflammatory peptide kallidin (lysyl-bradykinin) are mediated partially by enteric neurons. We hypothesized that kallidin produces neurogenic anion secretion through opioid- and cannabinoid-sensitive enteric neural pathways. Changes in short-circuit current (I(sc)) across sheets of porcine ileal mucosa-submucosa mounted in Ussing chambers were measured in response to kallidin (1 microM) or drugs added to the contraluminal bathing medium. Kallidin transiently increased I(sc), an effect reduced after inhibition of neuronal conduction by 0.1 microM saxitoxin, cyclooxygenase inhibition by 10 microM indomethacin, or kinin B(2) receptor blockade by 1 microM d-arginyl-l-arginyl-l-prolyl-trans-4-hydroxy-l-prolylglycyl-3-(2-thienyl)-l-alanyl-l-seryl-d-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinolinecarbonyl-l-(2alpha,3beta,7alphabeta)-octahydro-1H-indole-2-carbonyl-l-arginine (HOE-140). Its action was dependent upon extracellular Cl(-) or HCO(3)(-) ions, but was resistant to 10 microM bumetanide or 0.3 mM 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, and seemed to involve luminal alkalinization as measured by pH-stat titration. Kallidin-induced I(sc) elevations were sensitive to saxitoxin in tissues bathed in Cl(-)-, but not HCO(3)(-)-deficient media. Tissues pretreated with 0.1 microM [d-Pen(2,5)]-enkephalin, a selective delta-opioid agonist, displayed reduced I(sc) responses to kallidin; this effect was prevented by the delta-opioid antagonist naltrindole. At a contraluminal concentration of 1 microM, the cannabinoid receptor agonist (6aR)-trans-3-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-6a,7,10,10a-tetrahydro-1-hydroxy-6,6-dimethyl-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-9-methanol (HU-210) also attenuated responses to kallidin. Proinflammatory kinins seem to stimulate neurogenic anion secretion in porcine ileum by activating enteric neural circuits expressing inhibitory opioid and possibly cannabinoid receptors.

The bradykinin BK2 receptor mediates angiotensin II receptor type 2 stimulated rat duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion

BACKGROUND

This study investigates bradykinin and nitric oxide as potential mediators of AT2-receptor-stimulated duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion. Duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion was measured in methohexital- and alpha-chloralose-anaesthetised rats by means of in situ pH-stat titration. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to identify the BK2 receptors.

RESULTS

The AT2 receptor agonist CGP42112A (0.1 microg kg(-1) min(-1)) administered intravenously increased the duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion by approximately 50 %. This increase was sensitive to the selective BK2 receptor blocker HOE140 (100 ng/kg i.v.), but not to luminal administration of the NOS blocker L-NAME (0.3 mM). Mean arterial pressure did not differ between groups during the procedures. Immunohistochemistry showed a distinct staining of the crypt epithelium and a moderate staining of basal cytoplasm in villus enterocytes.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the AT2-receptor-stimulated alkaline secretion is mediated via BK2 receptors located in the duodenal cryptal mucosal epithelium.

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor-mediated duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion in the rat

The aims of this study were to elucidate the distribution of angiotensin receptors (AT(1) and AT(2)) in the duodenal wall and to investigate whether AT(2) receptors are involved in the regulation of duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion, which is of importance for the mucosal defense against gastric acid. Immunohistochemistry was used to locate AT(1) and AT(2) receptors in chloralose-anesthetized rats. Duodenal mucosal alkaline output was measured by use of in situ pH-stat titration. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a distinct staining for both AT(1) and AT(2) receptors in the lamina propria of the villi and also for AT(1) receptors in the muscularis interna. When angiotensin II was infused in the presence of the AT(1) receptor antagonist losartan, mucosal alkaline secretion increased by ~50%. This response was inhibited by the AT(2) receptor antagonist PD-123319. The AT(2) receptor agonist CGP-42112A increased mucosal alkaline secretion by ~50%. This increase was absent in the presence of PD-123319 but not in the presence of losartan or the local anesthetic lidocaine. We conclude that angiotensin II stimulates duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion by activation of AT(2) receptors located in the duodenal mucosa/submucosa.