ATP, beta-gamma-methylene-ATP, and adenosine inhibit non-cholinergic non-adrenergic transmission in rat urinary bladder

Cascade bioassay evidence for the existence of urothelium-derived inhibitory factor in Guinea pig urinary bladder

Our aim was to investigate whether guinea pig urothelium-derived bioactivities compatible with the existence of urothelium-derived inhibitory factor could be demonstrated by in vitro serial bioassay and whether purinergic P1 receptor agonists, nitric oxide, nitrite or prostaglandins might explain observed activities. In a cascade superfusion system, urothelium-denuded guinea pig ureters were used as bioassay tissues, recording their spontaneous rhythmic contractions in presence of scopolamine. Urothelium-intact or -denuded guinea pig urinary bladders were used as donor tissues, stimulated by intermittent application of carbachol before or during the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the adenosine/P1 nucleoside receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline (8-PST) or the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor diclofenac infused to bath donor and bioassay tissues. The spontaneous contractions of bioassay ureters were unaltered by application of carbachol 1-5 µM in the presence of scopolamine 5-30 µM. When carbachol was applied over the urothelium-denuded bladder, the assay ureter contraction rate was unaltered. Introducing carbachol over the everted urothelium-intact bladder significantly inhibited the contraction frequency of the assay ureter, suggesting the transfer of an inhibitory activity from the bladder to the assay ureter. The transmissible inhibitory activity was not markedly antagonized by L-NAME, 8-PST or diclofenac, while L-NAME nearly abolished nitrite release from the urothelium-intact bladder preparations. We suggest that urothelium-derived inhibitory factor is a transmissible entity over a significant distance as demonstrated in this novel cascade superfusion assay and seems less likely to be nitric oxide, nitrite, an adenosine receptor agonist or subject to inhibition by administration of a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor.

Purinergic signalling in the urinary tract in health and disease

Purinergic signalling is involved in a number of physiological and pathophysiological activities in the lower urinary tract. In the bladder of laboratory animals there is parasympathetic excitatory cotransmission with the purinergic and cholinergic components being approximately equal, acting via P2X1 and muscarinic receptors, respectively. Purinergic mechanosensory transduction occurs where ATP, released from urothelial cells during distension of bladder and ureter, acts on P2X3 and P2X2/3 receptors on suburothelial sensory nerves to initiate the voiding reflex, via low threshold fibres, and nociception, via high threshold fibres. In human bladder the purinergic component of parasympathetic cotransmission is less than 3 %, but in pathological conditions, such as interstitial cystitis, obstructed and neuropathic bladder, the purinergic component is increased to 40 %. Other pathological conditions of the bladder have been shown to involve purinoceptor-mediated activities, including multiple sclerosis, ischaemia, diabetes, cancer and bacterial infections. In the ureter, P2X7 receptors have been implicated in inflammation and fibrosis. Purinergic therapeutic strategies are being explored that hopefully will be developed and bring benefit and relief to many patients with urinary tract disorders.

Cellular Distribution and Functions of P2 Receptor Subtypes in Different Systems

This review is aimed at providing readers with a comprehensive reference article about the distribution and function of P2 receptors in all the organs, tissues, and cells in the body. Each section provides an account of the early history of purinergic signaling in the organ?cell up to 1994, then summarizes subsequent evidence for the presence of P2X and P2Y receptor subtype mRNA and proteins as well as functional data, all fully referenced. A section is included describing the plasticity of expression of P2 receptors during development and aging as well as in various pathophysiological conditions. Finally, there is some discussion of possible future developments in the purinergic signaling field.

Neural mechanisms of impaired micturition reflex in rats with acute partial bladder outlet obstruction

To determine the contribution of neural elements to micturition, we evaluated, in intact rats, the cystometrogram, pelvic afferent nervous activity, pelvic efferent nervous activity and external urethral sphincter-electromyogram activity in the normal and acute partial bladder outlet obstruction states. In the normal state, in response to saline filling, mechanoreceptor-dependent pelvic afferent nervous activity gradually activated and finally triggered a voiding reflex, including four phases of detrusor contractions. Phase 1 was characterized by an initial rising intravesical pressure, Phase 2 was characterized by a series of high-frequency oscillations in intravesical pressure, Phase 3 contraction was characterized by a rebound intravesical pressure and Phase 4 contraction was characterized by a rapid fall in intravesical pressure. In the acute partial bladder outlet obstruction state, Phase 1 contraction rose and high-frequency oscillations fell in Phase 2. This voiding dysfunction is ascribed to the bursting extraurethral sphincter activity being converted to tonic extraurethral sphincter activity. In summary, the suppressed high-frequency oscillations in Phase 2 of the detrusor muscle contraction could be detrimental to efficient voidings in the acute partial bladder outlet obstructed rat.

The biphasic response of rat vesical smooth muscle to ATP

1. Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) is known to exert a variety of biological effects via the activation of either ionotropic P2x- or G-protein coupled P2Y-purinoceptor subtypes. In this study the effects induced by ATP and ATP analogues on rat bladder strips were characterized at resting tone and in carbachol-prestimulated tissues. 2. ATP exerted a clear concentration-dependent biphasic response, which was maximal at 1 mM concentration and was characterized by an immediate and transient contraction, followed by a slower sustained relaxation. The receptor mediating contraction was susceptible to desensitization by ATP and by the ATP analogue, alpha,beta-methyleneATP (alpha,beta-meATP) showing the typical features of the P2x-purinoceptor; conversely, ATP-evoked relaxation did not undergo tachyphylaxis following either ATP or alpha,beta-meATP. 3. The slower and sustained relaxant phase seemed to be due to activation of P2Y-purinoceptors, based on responses obtained with the P2Y agonist, 2-methyl-thioATP (2-meSATP) and, more importantly, based on the clear involvement of the G-proteins. In fact, the G-protein activator, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) significantly potentiated and the G-protein blocking agent, guanosine 5'-O-(2-thio-diphosphate) (GDP beta S) completely abolished the ATP-induced relaxation. No effects were exerted by these two G-protein modulators on the ATP-induced contraction. 4. The relaxant component of the ATP response of bladder tissue was not significantly influenced by nitro-benzyl-thioinosine (NBTI) or by 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), suggesting that the contribution of the ATP metabolite adenosine to this response was negligible. Moreover, relaxation evoked by ATP and by the adenosine analogue, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) was additive.5. Suramin was unable to modify either the relaxant or the contractile responses of bladder strips to ATP. However, when tested on the concentration-response curve to the slowly hydrolysable P2x-agonist alpha,beta-meATP, a rightward shift was detected, suggesting that ATP contractile responses are mediated by suramine-sensitive P2x-purinoceptors.6. Uridine-5'-triphosphate (UTP) only induced a rapid and concentration-dependent contraction of the rat bladder preparation, which was not desensitized by pre-exposure to alpha,beta-meATP, suggesting that UTP responses were not mediated by the 'classical' P2X-purinoceptor.7. It is therefore concluded that both P2x- and P2y-purinoceptors, which mediate ATP-induced contraction and relaxation, respectively, are present in rat bladder. Moreover, removal of epithelium did not affect ATP-elicited contraction, whereas ATP-induced relaxation was significantly augmented. These data suggest that P2x- and P2Y- purinoceptors are localized in smooth muscle cells and that the relaxant response is probably modulated by excitatory factor(s) released by epithelial cells.

Functional importance of cholinergic and purinergic neurotransmission for micturition contraction in the normal, unanaesthetized rat

1. The cholinergic and purinergic neurotransmission involved in micturition in the normal, unanaesthetized rat was investigated by means of continuous cystometry. 2. ATP (1 and 5 mg kg-1), administered intra-arterially (i.a.) close to the bladder, produced rapid, phasic, dose-dependent increases in bladder pressure with micturition immediately after injection. The micturition pressure of the following spontaneous voidings increased, and bladder capacity, micturition volume, and residual volume decreased. Pretreatment with alpha,beta-methylene ATP (1 mg kg-1, i.a.) blocked the effects of ATP (5 mg kg-1). 3. alpha,beta-Methylene ATP (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg kg-1, i.a.) produced rapid, phasic, increases in bladder pressure with micturition immediately after injection. The effects of alpha,beta-methylene ATP (0.25 mg kg-1, i.a.) were not affected by pretreatment with indomethacin (0.5-2 mg kg-1, i.a.). The micturition pressure of the subsequent spontaneous voidings decreased, and bladder capacity and residual volume increased. 4. Carbachol (5-50 micrograms kg-1, i.a.) produced rapid, sustained, dose-dependent increases in bladder pressure with micturition, and then increased basal pressure, threshold pressure, and micturition pressure, and decreased bladder capacity and micturition volume during the following spontaneous voidings. 5. Atropine (1 mg kg-1, i.a.) decreased micturition pressure and micturition volume, but did not induce dribbling incontinence. Micturition contractions still occurred after the injection, but changed in appearance and were of shorter duration than before. In the presence of atropine (1 mg kg-1, i.a.), alpha,beta-methylene ATP (1 mg kg-1, i.a.) produced initially a phasic increase in bladder pressure with micturition and then dribbling incontinence in all animals tested. 6. After blockade of the micturition reflex with morphine (10 microg intrathecally), ATP (5 mg kg-1, i.a.),alpha,beta-methylene ATP (0.25-1 mg kg-1 , i.a.), and carbachol (5-500 microg kg-1, i.a.) were unable to empty the bladder.7. The results suggest that drug-induced bladder emptying in the normal, unanaesthetized rat requires an intact micturition reflex and they support the view that the two physiologically important transmitters involved in micturition are acetylcholine and ATP.

Contractile responses to electrical field stimulation and ATP in guinea-pig urinary bladder

1. The responses of guinea-pig urinary bladder smooth muscle to intramuscular nerve stimulation were investigated by isometric tension recording. 2. The nerve mediated contractions, evoked by field stimulation with a stimulus of 0.5 msec duration, a frequency of 15 Hz and a voltage of 50 V, were inhibited by atropine (10(-6) M) and alpha, beta-MeATP (10(-4) M) to about 80% and 20%, respectively, of control. 3. Simultaneous application of atropine (10(-6) M) and alpha, beta-MeATP (10(-4) M) abolished the contraction evoked by selective nerve stimulation. 4. Terodiline (10(-4) M), one of Ca2+ antagonists, inhibited the contraction evoked by both nerve selective stimulation and exogenously applied ATP. 5. Based on these results we suggested that in guinea-pig urinary bladder, ATP was a predominant excitatory transmitter and the nerve-mediated contraction and exogenous ATP were mainly dependent upon Ca2+ influx.

Effects of purines on the longitudinal muscle of the rat colon

1. Adenosine and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) have been reported to cause relaxation of the rat colon longitudinal muscle preparation; the purinoceptors mediating this effect were investigated by use of a series of agonists and antagonists. 2. The tissue was precontracted with carbachol (1 microM), and the purines induced reversible relaxations with a potency order of 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) greater than N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) = adenosine 5'-(alpha, beta-methylene) triphosphonate (AMPCPP) greater than adenosine = adenylyl 5'-(beta, gamma-methylene) disphosphonate (AMPPCP) = ATP. The P1-selective antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX) (3 microM) shifted to the right the log concentration-response curves of all these agonists except for AMPCPP, indicating that they all act via P1-purinoceptors. The order of potency of the adenosine analogues and the relatively high concentrations of the antagonist required indicated that these receptors are of the A2 subtype. The P2-selective antagonist suramin (300 microM) inhibited responses to AMPCPP, but not to the other agonists. 3. The dephosphorylation of the nucleotides was studied by high performance liquid chromatography following incubation with the longitudinal muscle preparation for up to 30 min. ATP was rapidly degraded, largely to adenosine, and AMPPCP and AMPCPP were also degraded, although more slowly, to adenosine and adenosine 5'-(alpha, beta-methylene) diphosphonate (AMPCP) respectively. AMPCP, like AMPCPP, caused relaxations by acting on P2-purinoceptors, as it was also inhibited by suramin (300 microM). Incubation of the tissue with adenosine deaminase abolished responses to adenosine, reduced those to ATP and AMPPCP, but had no effect on those to AMPCPP.ATP and AMPPCP therefore appear to be acting on the A2 receptors in this tissue largely via their degradation product adenosine.4. The longitudinal muscle of the rat colon therefore contains both P.- and P2-purinoceptors, which both mediate relaxation. The P,-purinoceptors are of the A2 subtype and the P2-purinoceptors are probably of the P2Y subtype, although the rapid degradation of the nucleotides means that it is difficult to classify them with certainty.

Direct effects of adenylyl 5'-(beta,gamma-methylene)diphosphonate, a stable ATP analogue, on relaxant P1-purinoceptors in smooth muscle

1. Previous results obtained with the rat colon muscularis mucosae, which contracts in response to adenosine and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), had suggested that adenylyl 5'-(beta,gamma-methylene)diphosphonate (AMPPCP), a stable ATP analogue, acted on P1-purinoceptors rather than, as expected, on P2-purinoceptors. This possibility has been examined in two tissues in which adenosine and ATP both cause relaxation, the guinea-pig taenia caeci and the rat duodenum. 2. ATP, 2-methylthio-ATP (2-MeSATP), AMPPCP, adenosine 5'-(alpha,beta-methylene)triphosphonate (AMPCPP) and adenosine each relaxed the taenia caeci and the duodenum, and the order of potency of the nucleotides in each tissue was 2-MeSATP greater than ATP greater than AMPCPP greater than AMPPCP, indicating that these effects were mediated by P2Y-purinoceptors. 3. The P1 antagonist 8-(p-sulphophenyl)theophylline (8-SPT) (100 microM) did not affect the responses to ATP, 2-MeSATP or AMPCPP in either tissue, but inhibited the responses of adenosine and of AMPPCP in both tissues. In the duodenum a lower concentration of 8-SPT caused a parallel shift to the right of the concentration-response curve to adenosine and to AMPPCP but to different extents, with AMPPCP being inhibited more powerfully than adenosine. A dose-ratio of around 5 was observed for adenosine and AMPPCP at concentrations of 8-SPT of 20 microM and 2 microM respectively, but Schild analysis resulted in plots with slopes greater than unity. In the taenia caeci, however, 8-SPT inhibited adenosine more powerfully than AMPPCP, and a range of concentrations (10-20 microM) only caused a two fold shift in the concentration-response curve for AMPPCP, although the concentration-response curve to adenosine was shifted in a concentration-dependent manner and Schild analysis gave a pA2 value of 5.13 with a slope of 0.90.4. As has been shown in other tissues, including the guinea-pig taenia caeci, ATP (100 microM) was rapidly dephosphorylated by enzymes present in the rat duodenum, with less than 10% remaining after 20min incubation, whereas AMPPCP (100 microM) was resistant to degradation, with greater than 90% remaining at the same time point.5. AMPPCP therefore has pronounced but variable agonist actions on P,-purinoceptors, and appears to act entirely via these receptors on the rat duodenum although in the guinea-pig taenia caeci this action is less important and it acts largely via P2y-purinoceptors. These Pl-purinoceptor effects of AMPPCP are direct and are not due to its degradation to adenosine.

Adenosine- and alpha,beta-methylene ATP-induced differential inhibition of cholinergic and non-cholinergic neurogenic responses in rat urinary bladder

1. The effects of adenosine and alpha,beta-methylene adenosine triphosphate (alpha,beta-Me ATP) on single pulse-induced neurogenic responses and contractions caused by exogenously applied acetylcholine (ACh) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were examined in rat urinary bladder. 2. Application of single pulse stimulation (1 ms; 80 V) evoked a biphasic contractile response (abolished by tetrodotoxin, 0.5 x 10(-7) M) consisting of a fast (time to peak: 1.02 +/- 0.07 s) and a slow component (time to peak: 4.92 +/- 1.6 s). The selective inhibition of the slow component by atropine (3 x 10(-6) M) suggests the participation of both cholinergic and non-cholinergic neurotransmitters. 3. alpha,beta-Me ATP (5 x 10(-6) M) abolished ATP (10(-4) M)-induced contractions without altering those to ACh (10(-6) M). Further, the selective inhibition of the fast component of the neurogenic response by alpha,beta-Me ATP is suggestive of the contribution of endogenous ATP to the non-cholinergic component. 4. Adenosine (10(-8) M to 10(-4) M) caused dose-related differential inhibition of the fast (IC50, 1.04 +/- 0.25 x 10(-5) M) and slow (IC50, 2.18 +/- 0.69 x 10(-6) M) components, thereby further supporting two modes of neurotransmission in bladder. 5. Theophylline (10(-4) M) antagonized the inhibitory effects of adenosine on the non-cholinergic component, thereby implicating the participation of P1-purinoceptors in neuromodulation. In contrast, theophylline at this concentration enhanced the adenosine-induced inhibition of the cholinergic component. component. 6. The magnitude of ATP (10-4M)- and ACh (10-8M)-induced contractions were almost identical to those of the fast and slow components of the neurogenic response, respectively. Comparable reduction of ATP (30.2 + 3.4%) and ACh (100%) contractions to those of fast (44.2 + 6.5%) and slow (88.2 + 5.5%) components suggests the involvement of a postjunctional mechanism in adenosine-induced differential inhibition of neurogenic responses. 7. The lack of effect of erythro-6-amino-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenosine hydrochloride (10-6M) and dipyridamole (10-6M) suggests that endogenous adenosine plays little part in modulation of single pulseinduced neurogenic response. 8. The results of the present study suggest that fast and slow components of neurogenic response are mediated through ATP and ACh, respectively, possibly co-released from the same neurone in the rat bladder.

Purinoceptor desensitization impairs but does not abolish the non-cholinergic motor transmission in rat isolated urinary bladder

In order to determine the effectiveness of purinoceptor desensitization in blocking the non-cholinergic motor transmission in rat detrusor, isolated preparations of urinary bladder, pretreated with atropine 3 microM + indomethacin 10 microM were contracted by alpha, beta-methylene-ATP, a stable analogue of ATP and by electrical stimulation at frequencies of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 Hz. The mean maximum tension generated by alpha, beta-methylene-ATP was 43% of that by electrical field stimulation. Desensitization to the contractile action of alpha, beta-methylene-ATP was achieved by administration of alpha, beta-methylene-ATP 10 microM, three times at 10 min intervals. Responses to electrical field stimulation were reduced following induction of alpha, beta-methylene-ATP desensitization but a sizeable proportion of the response persisted (51% at 1 Hz; 29% at 8 Hz). Tetrodotoxin 0.5 microM abolished the responses to electrical field stimulation, persisting after alpha, beta-methylene-ATP desensitization. It is concluded that ATP is unlikely to be the sole non-cholinergic motor transmitter in the rat detrusor.

The ontogeny of purinoceptors in rat urinary bladder and duodenum

1. The ontogeny of responses to purines and analogues of smooth muscle preparations was studied in rat duodenum and rat urinary bladder. 2. Responses to adenosine and to adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) mediated by P1- and P2-purinoceptors respectively were present as early as postnatal day 2, the earliest day studied. 3. In rat bladder, adenosine was inhibitory and ATP and adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma-methylene) triphosphonate (AMP-PCP) were excitatory, acting on the P2X subtype of P2-purinoceptors. Adenosine was more potent in the neonate than in the adult, while the potency of the nucleotides initially increased with age but then declined, being highest between postnatal days 10 and 25. 4. In rat duodenum also, adenosine was inhibitory, its potency being less than the adult before day 15. 5. ATP at low concentrations was inhibitory in rat duodenum at every age studied and its potency increased with age, but higher concentrations of ATP (3 microM and above) were excitatory until day 15. Both relaxations and contractions were mediated by the P2Y subtype of P2-purinoceptors. These ATP-induced contractions were not inhibited by indomethacin (25 microM) or by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) and are therefore not due to prostaglandin synthesis or to ATP-induced release of transmitter substances from nerves. 6. These results show that responses to adenosine and to adenine nucleotides are present from birth and vary with age, and that the changes seen indicate a differential development for P1-, P2X- and P2Y-purinoceptors.

Antagonism by nifedipine of contraction and Ca2(+)-influx evoked by ATP in guinea-pig urinary bladder

1. The effects of Ca2(+)-antagonists, especially nifedipine, on contraction and increase of intracellular Ca2+ (Fura-2/AM method) evoked by ATP were evaluated in a thin outer layer segment of guinea-pig urinary bladder. 2. The ATP-evoked contraction was markedly inhibited by dihydropyridine-type Ca2(+)-antagonists, such as nifedipine and nitrendipine, but not by D-600, omega-conotoxin and tetramethrin. 3. This antagonism by nifedipine of ATP-evoked contractions was competitive from the Schild plot analysis, the pA2 value being 8.23. The reduction of ATP-evoked contraction by nifedipine (0.1 microM) was fully reversed by administration of Bay K 8644 (0.1 microM). 4. ATP (100 microM) caused an increase of fluorescence brightness after loading Fura-2/AM, which was coupled with a contraction of the bladder. Both the contraction and the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ evoked evoked by the nucleotide were completely antagonized by nifedipine. by the nucleotide were completely antagonized by nifedipine. 5. These results suggest that ATP may activate the dihydropyridine-sensitive, voltage-dependent Ca2(+)-channels in a direct or indirect fashion and, thereby, elicit a contraction of the bladder.

Abnormalities of responses to autonomic stimulation in the mouse urinary bladder associated with Semliki Forest virus-induced demyelination

The responses to autonomic stimulation of the urinary bladder were studied in mice infected with Semliki Forest Virus, which has been proposed as an animal model for multiple sclerosis. Mice infected with Semliki Forest Virus showed a decreased body weight when compared with control animals, although their bladders were proportionately heavier. The pharmacological results indicated a selective change in purinergic transmission in the bladders of mice infected with Semliki Forest Virus, while cholinergic transmission remained unchanged. This was demonstrated by a significant increase in the contractile response to beta,gamma-methylene ATP accompanied by an increase in the proportion of the nerve-mediated response blocked by alpha,beta-methylene ATP. In contrast, the contractile response to acetylcholine and the atropine-sensitive component of the neurogenic response were not significantly different between the two groups of animals. Active length-tension curves were also unchanged in the mice infected with Semliki Forest Virus when compared with controls. The results are discussed in relation to those obtained from models of urinary bladder dysfunction associated with hypertrophy; whether the alteration of atropine-resistant (purinergic) function reported here is a general secondary feature of this type of bladder dysfunction or a change specific to the Semliki Forest Virus model of multiple sclerosis is not resolved. This study provides evidence that peripheral changes as well as central nervous system demyelination occur in the Semliki Forest Virus-infected mouse.

The postganglionic excitatory innervation of the mouse urinary bladder and its modulation by prejunctional GABAB receptors

Field stimulation produced reproducible contractions of the mouse isolated urinary bladder whose amplitude was frequency-related. These contractions were partially sensitive to atropine (3 microM), unaffected by hexamethonium (10 microM) and almost abolished by tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM). Atropine (3 microM) suppressed contractions produced by exogenous acetylcholine thereby indicating atropine-resistance of the nerve-mediated contractions. Nerve-mediated contractions of the mouse urinary bladder were enhanced by physostigmine (0.1-0.5 microM) and inhibited by hemicholinium-3 (0.5 mM) thus confirming the presence of a cholinergic component in the excitatory postganglionic innervation. Atropine (3 microM) inhibition of the nerve-mediated contractions increased with increasing duration and strength of the train of stimulation. The nerve-mediated contractions of the mouse bladder were unaffected by phentolamine (0.2 microM), propranolol (0.3 microM) or indomethacin (5 microM). ATP (1mM) the major candidate for the role of nonadrenergic-noncholinegic (NANC) excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian urinary bladder produced a contraction of the mouse isolated bladder. Exposure to the stable ATP analogue alpha, beta-methylene ATP (APCPP) or beta, gamma-methylene ATP (APPCP) produced a partial desensitization of the nerve-mediated response which, for APCPP, was greater in the presence than in the absence of atropine (3 microM). In the presence of atropine (3 microM) and after APCPP desensitization the amplitude of the response to field stimulation amounted to about 20% of the original response and was sensitive to tetrodotoxin, indicating that it is nerve-mediated. GABA (0.001-0.3 mM) inhibited the amplitude of field stimulation induced contractions of mouse urinary bladder. This effect was mimicked by the selective GABAB receptor agonist, (+/-)-baclofen, but not by the selective GABAA receptor agonist, homotaurine. GABA and (+/-)-baclofen exhibited cross-desensitization. The GABA-or (+/-)-baclofen-induced inhibition of the nerve-mediated contractions were reduced by previous exposure to homotaurine (1 mM) or to 5-aminovaleric acid (2 mM), two GABAB receptor antagonists. On the other hand the inhibitory effects of GABA or (+/-)-baclofen were unaffected by picrotoxin (0.1 mM), a selective GABAA receptor antagonist. The inhibitory effect of GABA on nerve-mediated contractions was reduced in the presence of atropine or hemicholinium-3 as well as following desensitization of P2-purinoreceptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Is there a basis for distinguishing two types of P2-purinoceptor?

It is suggested that the P2-purinoceptor may be separated into two subtypes largely on the basis of the rank order of agonist potency of structural analogues of ATP and also on the activity of antagonists at the P2-purinoceptor: Subtype 1 (designated P2X), potency order: alpha, beta-methyleneATP, beta, gamma-methyleneATP greater than ATP = 2 methylthioATP; antagonism by ANAPP3 and selectively desensitisation following administration of alpha, beta-methyleneATP; present in the vas deferens and urinary bladder of guinea-pig and rat, frog and rat ventricle, and also in the smooth muscle of the rat femoral artery and rabbit central ear artery, where they mediate excitation. Subtype 2 (designated P2Y), potency order: 2-methylthioATP much greater than ATP greater than alpha, beta-methyleneATP, beta, gamma-methyleneATP; weak antagonism by ANAPP3 and desensitisation following administration of alpha, beta-methyleneATP; present in the guinea-pig taenia coli and the longitudinal muscle layer of the rabbit portal vein, where they mediate relaxation and also on the vascular endothelial cells of the rat femoral artery and pig aorta (where occupation leads to the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor). Differences in the structure of the P2-purinoceptor in various tissues may be useful in the development of drugs for the treatment of vascular, gastrointestinal and urinoglenital disorders.

Sensory substance P-innervation of the urinary bladder: possible site of action of capsaicin in causing urine retention in rats

In rats treated neonatally with capsaicin there is, in later life, a tendency tendency towards urine retention. Since capsaicin is known to cause irreversible loss of certain primary sensory neurons, notably those containing substance P, we have studied the sensory innervation of the bladder in capsaicin-treated and control rats using retrograde tracing methods and immunohistochemistry; in addition, the motor function of the bladder was assessed in in vitro experiments, using electrical field stimulation. Five days after injection of the fluorescent tracer True Blue into the wall of the bladder, numerous labelled cells were identified in dorsal root ganglia T13, L1, L2, L6, and S1 and smaller numbers of cells were found in T12 and L3. In capsaicin-treated rats the numbers of labelled cells were reduced by over 50% in L1, L6 and S1. In control rats, 10-16% of True Blue labelled cells also contained substance P as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence, but in capsaicin-treated rats substance P cells were virtually absent. In in vitro studies, contractions of the detrusor muscle to electrical field stimulation, both before and after atropine, were similar in control and capsaicin-treated rats. We suggest that capsaicin causes urine retention in rats due to an impairment of sensory transmission from the bladder (that could involve substance P) and a consequent failure in the normal micturition reflexes.

Direct effects of adenosine and adenine nucleotides on isolated human urinary bladder and their influence on electrically induced contractions

Adenosine triphosphate concentration-dependent contracted strips of isolated human urinary bladder. Three types of responses were recognized. One consisted of an initial, transient, phasic contraction followed by a sustained tonic response, another lacked the tonic part and the 3rd had intermediate-type characteristics. Adenosine diphosphate produced an intermediate type of contraction, while adenosine monophosphate, adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine had no effect. Preparations obtained from hypertrophic bladders were more sensitive to adenosine triphosphate than macroscopically normal preparations. Indomethacin abolished tonic responses and reduced phasic adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate induced responses by about 30 per cent; addition of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha reestablished the phasic responses. Atropine, physostigmine, hexamethonium and phentolamine had no effect on the adenosine triphosphate induced contractions. These contractions were reduced by 33 to 48 per cent after nifedipine pretreatment and abolished within 10 minutes in a calcium-free medium. The response to transmural nerve stimulation was initially stimulated and then reduced by 30 to 80 per cent by purines in the order of potency ATP greater than APPCP = ADP greater than AMP greater than adenosine = 2-chloroadenosine. Acetylcholine induced contractions were reduced by 10 to 30 per cent. Indomethacin inhibited the response to transmural nerve stimulation by about 30 per cent but did not influence inhibition produced by adenosine triphosphate. Atropine-resistant responses to transmural nerve stimulation were significantly reduced by both adenosine triphosphate and indomethacin; nifedipine abolished the responses. The results suggest that adenosine triphosphate has a calcium-dependent direct contractive effect on isolated human urinary bladder and also that it may release prostaglandins. Muscular hypertrophy seems to increase the sensitivity to adenosine triphosphate. The response to transmural nerve stimulation was influenced by adenosine triphosphate probably both by prejunctional and postjunctional effects.

Purine receptors in the rat anococcygeus muscle

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) caused contraction of the resting isolated rat anococcygeus muscle. Non-phosphorylated purines did not cause contraction of the resting muscle but did so in muscles in which the tone was raised by carbachol or guanethidine. Adenosine, (-)N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and 5'-N-ethyl-carboxamide adenosine (NECA) were approximately equipotent, and these responses were not prevented by theophylline, quinidine, 2,2'-pyridylisatogen tosylate, phentolamine, methysergide, dipyridamole, hexobendine or indomethacin. The contractions became smaller as muscle tone progressively declined, and it is suggested that this effect may explain the apparent blockade of ATP responses by indomethacin reported previously. Adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine, ATP, PIA and NECA inhibited contractile responses of the anococcygeus to field stimulation of the excitatory adrenergic innervation. This inhibitory action was blocked by theophylline, and as PIA was easily the most potent purine tested, it may involve activation of an A1/Ri receptor. It is also argued, however, that the A/R scheme of classification may be inappropriate for the description of responses of intact tissues. As response to noradrenaline were not changed by the purines, the inhibitory effect on stimulation-evoked contractions is probably mediated at a presynaptic site. None of the purines tested had any effect on the neurally mediated inhibition of the anococcygeus which is seen when intrinsic tone is raised and the excitatory adrenergic nerves are blocked.

The effects of putative non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic autonomic transmitters on isolated strips from the stomach of the rainbow trout. Salmo gairdneri

1. The effects of some putative non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic transmitters have been studied on longitudinal and circular smooth muscle from the stomach of the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. 2. ATP, adenosine and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on certain occasions inhibited the activity of the stomach smooth muscle; ATP and adenosine only circular muscle. VIP both longitudinal and circular muscle. 3. Neurotensin produced a contraction, which in strips from the cardiac stomach in most cases occurred after the exposure to the peptide; this might be a rebound contraction after an inhibition which could not be recorded with the experimental set-up. 4. Bombesin, 5-hydroxytryptamine and substance P produced dose-dependent contractions over a wide dose range. Somatostatin and enkephalin contracted the preparations only in the highest doses tested (10(-9) moles, 10(-8) moles). 5. Atropine did not reduce or abolish the response to any of the substances tested, indicating that their effects are not via cholinergic neurons, which innervate the smooth muscle. 6. Of the substances tested ATP, adenosine, VIP and neurotensin may be involved in the inhibitory vagal non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic innervation of the rainbow trout stomach.