The relaxant properties of human calcitonin gene-related peptide on vascular and extravascular capsular) smooth muscle of the isolated blood-perfused spleen of the anaesthetized dog

The effects and molar potency of iloprost, U46619 and sodium nitroprusside on capsular and vascular smooth muscle of the isolated perfused canine spleen

The isolated canine spleen was perfused at constant flow with continuous recording of splenic arterial perfusion pressure (SAPP) and spleen weight. Intra-arterial injections of the thromboxane A2 (TXA2) mimetic U46619 caused dose-related increases in splenic arterial perfusion pressure (SAPP) of short duration (ED50 0.31 nmol). There were very small changes in spleen weight accompanying any of the vasoconstrictor responses to U46619. The stable analogue of prostacyclin, iloprost, caused dose-dependent reductions in SAPP (ED50 1.3 nmol) indicating vasodilation. There were no changes in spleen weight to any doses of iloprost indicating a lack of action on capsular smooth muscle. Similarly, the nitric oxide (NO) mimetic sodium nitroprusside caused dose-related reductions in SAPP of short duration (ED50 5.8 nmol). No changes in spleen weight accompanied splenic vasodilator responses to any dose of sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The results indicate the potential actions and intrinsic potency of three endogenous vasoactive substances and provide information about their relative roles in the control of the splenic microcirculation in situations when they are released.

Comparison of the acute influence of neuropeptide Y and sympathetic stimulation on the composition of blood cells in the splenic vein in vivo

The acute influence of exogenous transmitters and sympathetic nerve stimulation on the composition of blood cells in the splenic vein in relation to the splenic vascular effects was investigated in anaesthetized pigs. Intra arterial bolus injections of 720 pmol neuropeptide Y (NPY), 4.9 nmol noradrenaline (NA) and 20 nmol alpha,beta-methylene adenosine triphosphate (mATP) in the spleen were given and these doses caused arterial vasoconstriction in the same range, and increase in splenic venous haematocrit. NPY administration evoked a decrease in splenic venous blood flow and an unchanged leukocyte outflow from the spleen. mATP and NA, on the other hand, evoked increases in splenic venous blood flow and leukocyte outflow. Sympathetic nerve stimulation caused increases in haematocrit and leukocyte outflow in control pigs as well as in pigs with reserpine-induced depletion of tissue NA, although these effects, as well as the vascular effects, were significantly reduced after reserpine treatment. For comparison, the vasodilator calcitonin gene-related peptide increased leukocyte outflow without change in haematocrit. It is concluded that haematocrit and leukocyte concentration in the splenic venous blood are acutely modulated in different ways by vascular changes evoked by different sympathetic mediators. Furthermore, the capacitance function seems to be regulated by adrenergic and possibly purinergic transmission, whereas the non-adrenergic mediator NPY seems to be involved mainly in splenic arterial vasoconstriction.

Capsaicin induced afferent denervation and receptor-linked responses to CGRP in the rat

We have examined the effect of neonatal capsaicin-induced destruction of primary afferent nerves in rats on the response to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in vitro and in vivo. Denervation was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Rat alpha-CGRP (rCGRP) activated adenylate cyclase in homogenates of rat spleen (basal activity 45 +/- 8.27, delta Vmax 75 +/- 16 pmol cyclic AMP min-1 protein; K(act) 2.04 +/- 0.44 nM). A single specific binding site for [125I]hCGRP was demonstrated in homogenates of spleen (Kd = 4.84 +/- 0.66 nM, Bmax = 1.43 +/- 0.35 pmol mg-1 protein). Neither adenylate cyclase activation nor binding site characteristics were affected by capsaicin-induced denervation. In addition, hypotensive responses to intravenous boluses of rCGRP were examined in anaesthetized rats. Neither the basal blood pressure nor the blood pressure fall in response to rCGRP were altered by neonatal denervation by capsaicin. In conclusion, there is no evidence of denervation hypersensitivity of receptor mediated responses to CGRP in vivo or in vitro, following capsaicin-induced denervation in the rat. This suggests that CGRP is unlikely to exert a sustained tonic influence on cardiovascular regulation in the rat.

Gastric vasodilator and motor responses to splanchnic stimulation and tachykinins in the dog

1. Gastric blood flow and motor responses to greater splanchnic nerve stimulation and intra-arterial injection of tachykinins were studied in anaesthetized dogs. 2. Splanchnic nerve stimulation (40 V, 10 Hz) with pulse durations of 0.05 and 1 msec caused a gastric relaxation and contraction, respectively. Both types of stimulation produced a decrease followed by an increase in blood flow. The responses to stimulation with a pulse duration of 0.05 msec were inhibited by hexamethonium. 3. After treatment with hexamethonium, stimulation with 1 msec caused frequency-dependent gastric contraction and vasodilation. Both responses had two components, sensitive and resistant to atropine. 4. Intra-arterial injection of substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neurokinin B (NKB), physalaemin (PHY) or eledoisin (ELE) elicited dose-dependent gastric contraction and vasodilation. The order of potency for contraction was SP = PHY = ELE = NKA >> NKB and that for vasodilation was SP = PHY > ELE > NKA > NKB. 5. Atropine partly inhibited the tachykinin-induced gastric contraction but not gastric vasodilation. Spantide partly inhibited the atropine-resistant vasodilation but not contraction in response to splanchnic nerve stimulation and SP. 6. It is concluded that splanchnic nerve stimulation produced cholinergic and SPergic vasodilation after ganglionic blockade in the dog stomach.

The actions of two sensory neuropeptides, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide, on the canine hepatic arterial and portal vascular beds

1. The two peptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) were administered individually as bolus injections into the separately perfused hepatic arterial and portal vascular beds of the anaesthetized dog to assess their actions and relative molar potencies at these sites. 2. CGRP caused an immediate dose-related increase in hepatic arterial flow when injected close-arterially, reflecting a fall in resistance. This vasodilator effect was slightly increased by the prior administration of the selective beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, ICI 118,551. 3. On a molar basis, CGRP was more potent as an hepatic arterial vasodilator than the non-selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist, isoprenaline (Iso). 4. Intra-portal injection of CGRP also evoked hepatic arterial vasodilatation unaccompanied by other cardiovascular changes. 5. CGRP in doses up to 10 nmol had no effect on portal vascular resistance when administered intra-portally. 6. SP evoked a rapid, dose-related increase in hepatic arterial flow when injected intra-arterially. The molar ED50 for this hepatic vasodilatation was 40.2 fmol, significantly less than the ED50 for either CGRP or Iso. SP was the most potent hepatic arterial vasodilator yet examined. The vasodilator effect of SP was slightly potentiated by prior beta 2-adrenoceptor blockade. 7. SP caused hepatic arterial vasodilatation when administered by intra-portal injection; its absolute and relative potency was much reduced. 8. SP when injected intra-portally caused a graded increase in hepatic portal inflow resistance. The molar potency for this portal vasoconstriction was significantly greater than that for noradrenaline (NA); however, the maximum increase in portal resistance was significantly less to SP than to NA.9. In view of the location of the peptides CGRP and SP within the afferent innervation of the liver, it is proposed that they play an important function in controlling the hepatic microvasculature in response to sensory stimuli, particularly those arising from changes in portal blood composition secondary to change in metabolic activity within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).10. Since the peptides are released from the GIT into the hepatic portal inflow, they may modify hepatic arterial blood flow, the extent of which is related to events within the GIT.

The actions of endothelins-1 and -3 on the vascular and capsular smooth muscle of the isolated blood perfused spleen of the dog

1. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin-3 (ET-3) and noradrenaline (NA) were administered as intra-arterial bolus injections into the isolated, blood-perfused spleen of the dog to assess agonist properties and relative molar potencies on the vascular and capsular smooth muscle. 2. An initial small vasodilatation was observed occasionally at low doses (1.0-10 pmol) of ET-1. 3. ET-1, ET-3 and NA all caused graded increases in splenic arterial vascular resistance. The molar ED50 for the splenic vasoconstrictor response to ET-1 was significantly less (P less than 0.001) than that to ET-3; both peptides were significantly more potent as vasoconstrictor agents than NA. The maximum increase in splenic arterial vascular resistance was not significantly different for either ET-1, ET-3 or NA. 4. The time course of the splenic vasoconstrictor response to ET-1 was significantly (P less than 0.01) longer than that to equieffective doses of ET-3 or NA. 5. The splenic vasoconstrictor responses to ET-1 and ET-3 were accompanied by reductions in spleen volume. The rank order of molar potency in causing splenic capsular contraction was ET-1 greater than ET-3 greater than NA. The maximum reduction in splenic volume was significantly greater for NA than for either ET-1 or ET-3. The two peptides (ET-1, ET-3) were equiefficacious in contracting splenic capsular smooth muscle. 6. The high molar potency of ET-1 as a splenic arterial vasoconstrictor, over 1,700 times more potent than NA, suggests that it may play an important local role in the control of splenic haemodynamics.