Effect of neuropeptide Y on adrenergic and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic responses in the rat anococcygeus muscle

Enhanced noradrenergic transmission in the spontaneously hypertensive rat anococcygeus muscle

There is a long-known hyper-responsiveness of vascular adrenergic transmission in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) that is uncovered specifically in the presence of cocaine and attributed to blockade of the neuronal monoamine transporter. We have now used the rat anococcygeus muscle to investigate whether this phenomenon is generic to sympathetic transmission to smooth muscle rather than a purely vascular phenomenon. We sought the origin of the effect by successively blocking the buffering effects of the neuronal monoamine transporter, prejunctional alpha2-adrenoceptors and NO from nitrergic nerves with desipramine (0.1 microm), rauwolscine (0.01 microm) and l-NG-nitro-arginine (100 microm). In the presence of desipramine, contractile responses to electrical field stimulation but not to noradrenaline (1 nm-100 microm) were greater in SHR than in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY). Neither inhibition of prejunctional alpha2-adrenoceptors nor the blockade of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) accounted for the differential enhancement of response in SHR. The enhanced effectiveness of motor neurotransmission in SHR becomes most apparent when all known major buffering mechanisms are removed. When nitrergic responses were isolated pharmacologically (phentolamine 1 microm and guanethidine 30 microm; tone raised with carbachol 50 microm), they were not different between SHR and WKY. Western blots showed that both nNOS and tyrosine hydroxylase are expressed to a similar extent in anococcygeus muscle from SHR and WKY, suggesting similar adrenergic and nitrergic innervations in the two strains. This suggests that enhanced motor transmission is due to increased transmitter release per varicosity rather than there being normal transmission from a greater number of sites. We conclude that there is a generic enhancement of sympathetic transmission in SHR rather than this being a vascular phenomenon.

Decreased gallbladder response in leptin-deficient obese mice

Obesity is a major risk factor for gallstone formation, but the pathogenesis of this phenomenon remains unclear. Human data on gallbladder emptying are conflicting, and no animal data exist on the effect of obesity on gallbladder motility. Leptin, a hormone produced by adipocytes, is known to have central effects on neuropeptide Y and cholecystokinin, but the influence of leptin on the biliary effects of these hormones is unknown. Therefore we tested the hypothesis that leptin-deficient C57BL/6J-lep(ob) obese mice would have decreased gallbladder responses to excitatory stimuli. Twelve-week-old lean control (C57BL/6J) (n = 22) and C57BL/6J-lep(ob) obese (n = 20) female mice were fed a nonlithogenic diet. The mice were fasted overnight and underwent cholecystectomy. Whole gallbladders were placed in 3 ml muscle baths. After optimal length was determined with acetylcholine (10(-5) mol/L, responses to increasing doses of neuropeptide Y (10(-8) to 10(-6) mol/L) and cholecystokinin-8 (10(-10) to 10(-7) mol/L) were measured. Student's t test and two-way analysis of variance were used where appropriate. Results were expressed as Newtons per cross-sectional area. The lean control mice had significantly greater excitatory responses to acetylcholine than the obese mice (0.37 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.16 +/- 0.02, P < 0.01). The gallbladder responses were also greater when mice were treated with neuropeptide Y (10(-8) mol/L: 0.00 +/- 0.00 vs. 0.00 +/- 0.00, NS; 10(-7) mol/L: 0.12 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.05 +/- 0.01, P < 0.01; 10(-6) mol/L: 0.26 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.06 +/- 0.01, P < 0.01) and cholecystokinin (10(-10) mol/L: 0.27 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.13 +/- 0.02, P < 0.01; 10(-9) mol/L: 0.59 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.27 +/- 0.04, P < 0.01; 10(-8) mol/L: 0.80 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.05, P < 0.01; 10(-7) mol/L: 0.86 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.44 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01). These data suggest that genetically obese, leptin-deficient mice have decreased responses to acetylcholine, neuropeptide Y, and cholecystokinin. We conclude that decreased gallbladder motility contributes to the increased incidence of gallstones associated with obesity.

Biology of the anococcygeus muscle

The anococcygeus is a smooth muscle tissue of the urogenital tract which, in the male, runs on to form the retractor penis. The motor innervation is classically sympathetic with noradrenaline as transmitter, but the relaxant parasympathetic transmitter has only recently been identified as nitric oxide. Indeed, the anococcygeus has provided an extremely useful model with which to probe the mechanisms underlying this novel nitrergic system, including the importance of physiological antioxidants in maintaining the potency of nitric oxide as a neurotransmitter. The cellular mechanisms of contraction and relaxation are slowly being clarified, with particular interest in the contribution of capacitative calcium entry and the guanylyl cyclase/cyclic GMP system. Many questions remain unanswered, however, including the precise physiological role of the muscle, the identity of substances released from subcellular vesicles of nitrergic nerves, the unusual sensitivity of the tissue to certain peptides (oxytocin and urotensin II), and the nature of store-operated channels through which calcium enters the cell to maintain contraction.

Endogenous dopaminergic tone and dopamine agonist action

Dopamine receptor agonists provide symptomatic relief in the early stages of Parkinson's disease, but with disease progression, their efficacy decreases. The reason behind this decrease in effectiveness is unknown, but maximal efficacy may be dependent on endogenous dopaminergic tone to provide stimulation of D1 and D2 receptor subtypes. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (AMPT) on the actions of D1, D2, and D1/D2 agonists and levodopa (L-dopa) in common marmosets treated with 1 -methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. Administration of AMPT alone further increased motor disability and decreased locomotor activity. Administration of L-dopa reversed motor disability and increased locomotor activity, and this reversal was not affected by previous AMPT treatment. The D1 agonist A-77636 and the D2 agonist quinpirole reversed motor deficits, but these effects were markedly inhibited by previous AMPT treatment. Administration of quinpirole with A-77636 produced a reversal of motor deficits that was more resistant to AMPT pretreatment than was the effect produced by quinpirole or A-77636 alone. These data suggest that D1 and D2 receptor stimulation are required for dopamine receptor agonists to produce a maximal antiparkinsonian response. The reversal of motor deficits produced by the mixed D1/D2 agonist apomorphine was more resistant to AMPT treatment than that produced by quinpirole or A-77636. However, the motor effects of A-77636 plus quinpirole and of apomorphine were still affected by AMPT treatment. This suggests that loss of tyrosine hydroxylase activity may also alter motor activity through inhibition of endogenous L-dopa or norepinephrine synthesis, because both are also involved in the genesis of motor activity.

Characterization of the ORL(1) receptor on adrenergic nerves in the rat anococcygeus muscle

1. Nociceptin, the endogenous ORL(1) receptor agonist inhibited the motor response to electrical-field stimulation in the rat anococcygeus muscle. This effect was characterized using the peptide ligands acetyl-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Trp-Lys-NH(2) (Ac-RYYRWK-NH(2)), acetyl-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Ile-Lys-NH(2) (Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2)) and [Phe(1)psi(CH(2)-NH)Gly(2)]nociceptin(1-13)NH(2) ([F/G]NC(1-13)NH(2)), and the non-selective opioid antagonist naloxone benzoylhydrazone (NalBzOH). 2. Nociceptin produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the adrenergic motor response to electrical-field stimulation (EC(50) 19 nM, pEC(50) 7.7+/-0.1, n=8), but the response to exogenous noradrenaline (0.2 - 1 microM) was unaffected. The inhibitory nerve response was not affected by up to 1 microM nociceptin. 3. After inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine 100 microM), and in the presence of peptidase inhibitors, nociceptin produced full inhibition of the pure adrenergic motor response (EC(50) 4 nM; pEC(50) 8.4+/-0.1, E(max) 98.3+/-1.2%, n=12). Ac-RYYRWK-NH(2) was a potent partial-agonist (pEC(50) 9.0+/-0.1, E(max) 66.4+/-5.2; n=11) but the efficacy of Ac-RYYRIK-NH(2) (pEC(50) 8.0+/-0.2, E(max) 36.7+/-3.5; n=12) was lower and the peptide could be tested as an antagonist (pA(2) 9.01). 4. [F/G]NC(1-13)NH(2) and NalBzOH had little or no efficacy and were competitive antagonists with pK(B) values of 7.4 (95% c.l. 7.1, 7.7) and 6.9 (95% c.l. 6.7, 7.1) respectively. Both increased the response to field stimulation at high concentrations, suggesting the release of an endogenous agonist for the ORL(1) receptor during stimulation. 5. Rat nocistatin did not affect the response to electrical-field stimulation, nor did it modify the inhibitory action of nociceptin. 6. Our findings suggest there is a significant endowment of ORL(1) receptors on sympathetic terminals of the rat anococcygeus, where nociceptin mediates a powerful inhibitory effect on adrenergic neuromuscular transmission.

Pharmacological characterization of neurogenic responses of the sheep isolated internal anal sphincter

The aim of the study was to establish the nature of the neurogenic responses of the sheep isolated anal sphincter. Isolated strips of sheep internal anal sphincter develop intrinsic contractile tone following the application of stretch tension. On transmural stimulation (1 - 20 Hz, 10 V pulse strength, 0.5 ms pulse width, 1 s every 180 s) transient relaxations were observed. The amplitude of the relaxations were frequency-dependent reaching a maximal response at 10 - 20 Hz and were inhibited by tetrodotoxin (0.3 microM). Neither atropine (0.3 microM) nor phentolamine (1 microM) affected control responses. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM) and the selective inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase ODQ, (1H-[1,2, 4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one) (1 microM) completely inhibited the neurogenic relaxations and uncovered contractions that were abolished by 1 microM phentolamine and 0.1 microM prazosin. The effect of L-NAME, but not that of ODQ, was partially reversed by the addition of L-arginine (1 mM). Sodium nitroprusside (10 nM - 10 microM) caused concentration-dependent inhibition of myogenic tone and this effect was significantly reduced by ODQ. Calcium-free Krebs-Henseleit solution also reduced myogenic tone by 85%. Transmural electrical stimulation of the sheep isolated internal anal sphincter causes a transient relaxation of myogenic tone that appears to involve nitric oxide from non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerves and, to a lesser degree, noradrenaline from sympathetic nerves. The characteristics of the preparation compares well with that of human tissue and may prove to be a suitable animal based model for further studies.

Receptor recruitment: a mechanism for interactions between G protein-coupled receptors

There is a great deal of evidence for synergistic interactions between G protein-coupled signal transduction pathways in various tissues. As two specific examples, the potent effects of the biogenic amines norepinephrine and dopamine on sodium transporters and natriuresis can be modulated by neuropeptide Y and atrial natriuretic peptide, respectively. Here, we report, using a renal epithelial cell line, that both types of modulation involve recruitment of receptors from the interior of the cell to the plasma membrane. The results indicate that recruitment of G protein-coupled receptors may be a ubiquitous mechanism for receptor sensitization and may play a role in the modulation of signal transduction comparable to that of the well established phenomenon of receptor endocytosis and desensitization.

The presence and the effects of neuropeptide Y in rat anococcygeus muscle

Isolated anococcygeus muscle from male rats was examined for the presence of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive nerves and for the effects of neuropeptide Y on its tone and its contractile/relaxant responses to electrical field stimulation, acetylcholine, guanethidine and noradrenaline. Using peroxidase anti-peroxidase immunohistochemistry in stretch preparation of the anococcygeus, neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive nerve fibres were observed, in abundance, running along both vascular as well as non-vascular smooth muscle cells. Neuropeptide Y (> 250 nM) evoked phentolamine and tetrodotoxin-resistant contractile response. Neuropeptide Y, even in subspasmogenic concentrations, potentiated contractions evoked by acetylcholine, guanethidine and noradrenaline. Electrical field stimulation (trains of 3-4 pulses, 0.1 ms, 10 Hz) of the isolated anococcygeus preparation produced robust, phentolamine and tetrodotoxin sensitive contractions. Neuropeptide Y (< 10 nM) exerted a biphasic effect on the electrical field stimulation-evoked contractions; an early potentiation was followed by a delayed and progressive inhibition. Neuropeptide Y (> 10 nM) caused a concentration-dependent potentiation of electrical field stimulation-evoked contraction alone, matching its potentiation of noradrenaline-evoked contraction. Electrical field stimulation (5 pulses, 0.1 ms, 10 Hz) of guanethidine (50 microM)-contracted anococcygeus induced a relaxant response and neuropeptide Y (1-100 nM) exerted a concentration-related slight and variable effect on the electrical field stimulation-evoked relaxant response (1 nM, augmentation; 10 nM, no effect; 100 nM, reduction). It is concluded that rat anococcygeus muscle has a rich neuropeptide Y-containing innervation and neuropeptide Y is mostly stored within adrenergic nerves. The main functional roles of neuropeptide Y in the anococcygeus muscle are likely to be post-junctionally mediated facilitation and prejunctionally mediated inhibition of adrenergic motor transmission.

Effects of L-NG-nitro-arginine on noradrenaline induced contraction in the rat anococcygeus muscle

1. The influence of L-NG-nitro-arginine (L-NOARG, 30 microM) on contractile responses to exogenous noradrenaline was studied in the rat anococcygeus muscle. 2. Noradrenaline (0.1-100 microM) contracted the muscle in a concentration-dependent manner. L-NOARG (30 microM) had no effect on noradrenaline responses. 3. Phenoxybenzamine (Phz 0.1 microM) depressed by 46% (P < 0.001) the maximum response and shifted to the right (P < 0.001) the E/[A] curve to noradrenaline (pEC50 control: 6.92 +/- 0.09; pEC50 Pbz: 5.30 +/- 0.10; n = 20). 4. The nested hyperbolic null method of analysing noradrenaline responses after phenoxybenzamine showed that only 0.61% of the receptors need to be occupied to elicit 50% of the maximum response, indicating a very high functional receptor reserve. 5. Contractile responses to noradrenaline after partial alpha 1-adrenoceptor alkylation with phenoxybenzamine (0.1 microM) were clearly enhanced by L-NOARG. 6. The potentiating effect of L-NOARG on noradrenaline responses after phenoxybenzamine was reversed by (100 microM) L-arginine but not by (100 microM) D-arginine. 7. These results indicate that spontaneous release of NO by nitrergic nerves can influence the alpha -adrenoceptor-mediated response to exogenous noradrenaline.

Differential effects of nifedipine on nerve-mediated and noradrenaline-evoked contractions of rat anococcygeus muscle

In rat anococcygeus muscle the inhibitory effect of nifedipine (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 microM) was determined on adrenergic twitches in response to electrical field stimulation (trains of 4 pulses, 0.1 ms pulse duration, 10 Hz) and on twitch-matching contractions evoked by noradrenaline. Nifedipine concentration-dependently reduced the neurogenic twitch with an IC50 of 0.083 microM. Nifedipine reduced the noradrenaline-evoked contraction to a markedly lesser degree (IC50 > 10 microM). The difference in the magnitude of inhibition of electrically evoked twitch and twitch-matching noradrenaline-evoked contraction was statistically significant at every concentration of nifedipine. It is concluded that inhibition of the twitch by nifedipine involves some other mechanism(s) in addition to its Ca2+ channel blocking property in smooth muscle.