The site of action of drugs on the isolated taenia caeci from the guinea-pig

The effect of gallamine, gallopamil and nifedipine on responses to acetylcholine and carbachol in the taenia of the guinea-pig caecum

The effects of gallamine, gallopamil and nifedipine on isotonic contractions of the isolated taenia of the guinea-pig caecum produced by acetylcholine (ACh) or carbachol (CCh) were investigated. Gallamine (0.1 to 0.3 mM) inhibited contractions produced by CCh more than those produced by ACh. The difference was still present after pretreatment of the tissue with paraoxon (10 microM for 20 min) to inhibit cholinesterases or in experiments carried out in the presence of tetrodotoxin (0.3 microM) to exclude possible ganglionic stimulation by the agonists. Gallopamil or nifedipine selectively inhibited the tonic response to ACh in the absence or presence of paraoxon. The phasic response to ACh or the tonic response to CCh (0.1 or 1 microM) was much less affected. Reduction of the Ca2+ content of the bath medium reduced phasic and tonic responses to ACh more than the tonic response to CCh. These results suggest that there are differences in the interaction of ACh and CCh with muscarinic receptors in this muscle.

The effect of GABA antagonism on propulsive activity of the guinea-pig large intestine

Possible involvement of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in intestinal motility of the guinea-pig has been investigated using the speed of propulsion of faecal pellets along isolated segments of guinea-pig distal colon, and the rate of pellet expulsion from freshly excised colon. GABA antagonism, by bicuculline or by tachyphylaxis to GABA, substantially reduced intestinal motility and generally reduced the amplitude of the reflex contraction associated with pellet propulsion. These results support the view that GABAergic mechanisms may be involved in the propulsive activity of the guinea-pig distal colon.

The effect of cold storage on the adrenergic mechanisms of intestinal smooth muscle

1. In the guinea-pig taenia caecum, fluorescent adrenergic fibres terminate in both muscle layers. The density of these fibres is greater in the taenia than in the underlying circular muscle layer. The myenteric plexus and individual ganglion cells are also densely innervated by intensely fluorescent adrenergic nerve fibres.2. After three days of cold storage, the specific fluorescence disappeared from all tissue layers of the taenia caecum and smooth muscle fibres. In contrast, cholinesterase active substances were still demonstrable in all tissue layers even after seven days of cold storage but the density of these substances was decreased.3. Cold storage (3-7 days) decreased the tissue noradrenaline content and did not modify the cholinesterase enzyme activity (4 days).4. In cold stored strips, the inhibitory response to nicotine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP) or electrical transmural stimulation was abolished and enhancement of the contractile response occurred. Cold storage also inhibited the inhibitory action of tyramine. Similar results were observed after reserpine treatment.5. In fresh taenia, the relaxation produced by nicotine, DMPP and electrical transmural stimulation was inhibited by adrenoceptor blocking agents and bretylium. In cold storage preparations, contraction produced by these stimuli was blocked by parasympathetic blocking agents and potentiated by anti-cholinesterase. These results indicate that the inhibitory response to these stimulants is mediated by stimulation of the adrenergic nerve system more than by non-adrenergic nerves; the excitatory effect is probably due to stimulation of cholinergic nerves.6. These results suggest that the adrenergic mechanisms of the taenia caecum are more labile in cold storage than the cholinergic mechanisms. Thus, the inhibitory action of cold storage on the relaxation produced by nicotine, DMPP, and transmural stimulation is probably explained by selective physical degeneration of the adrenergic nerve terminal. Also, enhancement of the contractile response to these stimulants in cold stored preparations is explained by the lack of adrenergic inhibitory mechanisms.

Differentiation between the actions of acetylcholine and tetramethylammonium on the isolated taenia of the guinea-pig caecum by hemicholinium-3

1. Contractions of the isolated taenia of the guinea-pig caecum produced by acetylcholine and TMA were examined in the presence of various antagonists and anticholinesterases.2. Hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) (50-400 mug/ml) inhibited contractions or relaxations produced by TMA but not contractions produced by acetylcholine. The inhibition was rapid in onset and readily reversible. Contractions produced by transmural stimulation were unaffected by HC-3 but responses produced by nicotine were inhibited.3. Low concentrations of hyoscine and benzhexol inhibited responses to acetylcholine to a greater extent than those to TMA.4. Morphine, raised concentrations of Mg(++) or reduced concentrations of Ca(++) inhibited contractions produced by TMA and by acetylcholine to a similar extent.5. Edrophonium, in concentrations which preferentially inhibit acetylcholinesterase, increased contractions produced by acetylcholine and converted responses to nicotine or transmural stimulation into contractions or biphasic responses with a marked contraction phase but did not increase contractions produced by TMA.6. Iso-OMPA, in concentrations which preferentially inhibit butyrylcholinesterase, had no effect on responses to acetylcholine, nicotine, transmural stimulation or TMA.7. HC-3 inhibited contractions produced by TMA in the presence of anticholinesterases but had little effect on contractions produced by acetylcholine.8. These results suggest that TMA produces contractions by acting directly on receptors of the smooth muscle. An analysis of possible reasons for HC-3 (in the concentrations used) acting as an antagonist of TMA but not of acetylcholine indicates that the findings do not necessarily contradict the interpretation that both agonists act on the same receptor.

The actions of some cholinomimetic drugs on the isolated taenia of the guinea-pig caecum

1. The actions on the taenia of 4-(m-chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl-trimethylammonium chloride (McN-A-343), N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidyl acetate methobromide (AHR-602), tetramethylammonium (TMA) and choline phenyl ether have been examined and compared with the actions of acetylcholine, nicotine and 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP).2. Responses of the taenia to these agonists are quantitatively and often qualitatively dependent on the tone of the preparation. A method is described which makes allowance for the effect of tone on heights of contractions.3. Acetylcholine, McN-A-343 and AHR-602 produced only contractions; TMA produced contractions or biphasic responses; and choline phenyl ether, nicotine and DMPP produced contractions, relaxations or biphasic responses.4. The mode of action of these compounds has been analysed by means of hyoscine, ganglion-blocking drugs, tetrodotoxin and local anaesthetics.5. It is concluded that acetylcholine, McN-A-343, AHR-602, TMA and choline phenyl ether act on muscarinic receptors in the smooth muscle. Choline phenyl ether has an additional action on nicotinic receptors of cholinergic neurones. Nicotine and DMPP act on nicotinic receptors of cholinergic neurones and of inhibitory neurones. An action on the latter is sometimes also seen with TMA and choline phenyl ether.6. With nicotine or DMPP, and TMA or choline phenyl ether in the presence of hyoscine, part of the contraction phase of biphasic responses (in which a contraction follows relaxation) is best explained as being triggered by the initial relaxation-that is, as a "rebound contraction".7. None of the compounds tested appeared to exert an atropine-sensitive action on neurones.8. In the presence of hyoscine high concentrations of agonists can act on sites not involved with lower concentrations.

An analysis of the action of drugs on the circular muscle strips from the caecum of the guinea-pig

The taenia-free circular muscle strips of the caecum of the guinea-pig contracted to acetylcholine or histamine. 5-Hydroxytryptamine produced small contractile responses but high concentrations (40 μg/ml or more) induced relaxation. The contractions to 5-hydroxytryptamine were enhanced by the organophosphorus anticholinesterase drug mipafox. The responses to nicotine were always relaxations but contractions were obtained after incubating the preparation with mipafox. Hence circular muscle strips treated with mipafox were used to investigate the mechanism of contractions to all the drugs. The site of action of acetylcholine or histamine was located on the smooth muscle cells because the responses were not blocked by pentolinium, dimethylphenylpiperazinium, procaine or cocaine. Hyoscine blocked the responses to acetylcholine but left those to histamine unchanged. The contractions to nicotine were blocked by hyoscine, local anaesthetics or ganglion blocking drugs. Nicotine is thought to activate cholinergic ganglion cells. 5-Hydroxytryptamine produced contractions which were potentiated by mipafox, blocked by hyoscine and almost abolished by local anaesthetics. The responses were not modified by pentolinium but were reduced by dimethylphenylpiperazinium at a concentration which did not block the responses to acetylcholine or histamine. It is concluded that the action of 5-hydroxytryptamine was wholly indirect, on nervous tissues, part of which was located on cholinergic ganglion cells.