Adrenergic control of rat gastric somatostatin and gastrin release

Transcriptional and Functional Characterization of the G Protein-Coupled Receptor Repertoire of Gastric Somatostatin Cells

In the stomach, somatostatin (SST) acts as a general paracrine negative regulator of exocrine secretion of gastric acid and pepsinogen and endocrine secretion of gastrin, ghrelin, and histamine. Using reporter mice expressing red fluorescent protein (RFP) under control of the SST promotor, we have characterized the G protein-coupled receptors expressed in gastric Sst-RFP-positive cells and probed their effects on SST secretion in primary cell cultures. Surprisingly, besides SST, amylin and PYY were also highly enriched in the SST cells. Several receptors found to regulate SST secretion were highly expressed and/or enriched. 1) The metabolite receptors calcium-sensing receptor and free fatty acid receptor 4 (GPR120) functioned as positive and negative regulators, respectively. 2) Among the neurotransmitter receptors, adrenergic receptors α1a, α2a, α2b, and β1 were all highly expressed, with norepinephrine and isoproterenol acting as positive regulators. The muscarinic receptor M3 acted as a positive regulator, whereas M4 was conceivably a negative regulator. 3) Of the hormone receptors, the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, CCKb (stimulated by both CCK and gastrin) and surprisingly the melanocortin MC1 receptor were all positive regulators. 4) The neuropeptide receptors for calcitonin gene-related peptide, adrenomedullin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide acted as positive regulators, no effect was observed using galanin and nociceptin although transcripts for the corresponding receptors appeared highly expressed. 5) The SST receptors 1 and 2 functioned in an autocrine negative feedback loop. Thus, the article provides a comprehensive map of receptors through which SST secretion is regulated by hormones, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and metabolites that act directly on the SST cells in the gastric mucosa.

Role of adenosine A1 receptor in the regulation of gastrin release

Adenosine has been demonstrated to inhibit gastric acid secretion. In the rat stomach, this inhibitory effect may be mediated indirectly by the inhibition of gastrin release. Results show that the A(1) receptor agonist N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) suppressed immunoreactive gastrin (IRG) release in a concentration-dependent manner. CPA significantly inhibited IRG release at 0.001 microM and maximally inhibited IRG release at 1 microM. At concentrations of 0.001 to 0.1 microM, the A(2A) receptor-selective agonist 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine and A(3) receptor-selective agonist 1-deoxy-1-[6-[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purin-9-yl]-N-methyl-beta-d-ribofuranuronamide, had no effect on IRG release, suggesting the involvement of A(1) receptors. In agreement, the A(1) receptor-selective antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine abolished adenosine-induced inhibition of IRG release. Results of immunohistochemistry experiments reveal the presence of A(1) receptor immunoreactivity on mucosal G-cells and D-cells, and the gastric plexi, but not parietal cells, suggesting that adenosine may act directly on G-cells or indirectly on the gastric plexi to modulate IRG release. The structure of the mucosal A(1) receptor was found to be identical to that in the rat brain. Alternative splicing within the coding region of this receptor did not occur. A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay was developed to measure gastric A(1) receptor gene expression. The highest level of gastric A(1) receptor mRNA was found in the corporeal muscle. However, this level was significantly lower in comparison with the striatum. In conclusion, this study shows that adenosine may suppress IRG release, at least in part, by activating A(1) receptors localized on G-cells and may consequently result in an inhibition of gastric acid secretion.

Role of adenosine A2A receptor in the regulation of gastric somatostatin release

Adenosine has been demonstrated to inhibit gastric acid secretion. In the rat stomach, this inhibitory effect may be mediated indirectly by increasing the release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI). Results show that adenosine analogs augmented SLI release in the isolated vascularly perfused rat stomach. The rank order of potency of the analogs in stimulating SLI release was 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680) approximately 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine > 2-chloroadenosine > R-(-)-N(6)-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine >1-deoxy-1-[6-[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purin-9-yl]-N-methyl-beta-d-ribofuranuronamide > N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine approximately N(6)-cyclohexyladenosine > S-(+)-N(6)-(2-phenylisopropyl) adenosine, suggesting the involvement of the A(2A) receptor. In agreement, 4-(2-[7-amino-2-(2-furyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[2,3-a] [1,3,5]triazin-5-ylamino]ethyl)phenol (ZM 241385), an A(2A) receptor antagonist, was shown to abolish the adenosine- and CGS 21680-stimulated SLI release. Immunohistochemical studies reveal the presence of A(2A) receptor immunoreactivity on the gastric plexi and mucosal D-cells, but not on parietal cells and G-cells, suggesting that adenosine may act directly on D-cells or indirectly on the gastric plexi to augment SLI release. The present study also demonstrates that the structure of the mucosal A(2A) receptor is identical to that in the rat brain, and that alternative splicing of this gene does not occur. A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay has also been established to quantify the levels of A(2A) receptor mRNA. Results show that gastric tissues contained significantly lower levels of A(2A) receptor mRNA compared with the striatum. The lowest level was detected in the mucosa. In conclusion, adenosine may act on A(2A) receptors to augment SLI release and consequently control gastric acid secretion.

Role of cholecystokinin in the control of gastric somatostatin in the rat: in vivo and in vitro studies

Cholecystokinin (CCK) has been shown to be a powerful stimulus for somatostatin release from isolated canine fundic D-cells in short-term culture. The influence of the CCK analogue caerulein on the secretory activity of the D-cell in the intact stomach in vitro and the effect of elevated plasma levels of endogenous CCK on gastric somatostatin stores in vivo were investigated in the rat. Basal somatostatin secretion from the isolated, vascularly perfused rat stomach preparation was not affected by various doses of caerulein. Slight stimulation of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) release by epinephrine was significantly inhibited by caerulein, whereas caerulein did not alter half-maximal stimulation of SLI secretion by isoproterenol. Rats with chronically elevated plasma CCK levels induced by experimental exocrine pancreatic insufficiency did not show any change in tissue concentrations of SLI or in D-cell number, both in the antrum and corpus. These data suggest that CCK--in contrast to dogs--is not an important modulator of gastric somatostatin in the rat.

Adrenaline stimulates acid production in isolated pig and human parietal cells

To investigate the mechanisms of adrenergic stimulation of the parietal cell and to study the possible relationship between the stress hormone adrenaline and duodenal ulcer, the effects of adrenaline and various adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists were investigated in parietal cells isolated from pig stomachs and from endoscopic biopsy specimens taken from the gastric mucosa of patients. Parietal cell acid production was assayed by the aminopyrine accumulation technique. Adrenaline as the sole drug showed poor or no stimulatory effect but potentiated histamine-stimulated acid production. In the presence of histamine, beta-adrenoceptor agonists caused a stimulation of acid formation with the potency order isoproterenol greater than adrenaline greater than noradrenaline. The beta-2-selective antagonist ICI118551 was a more potent inhibitor of acid production than both the beta-1 antagonist practolol and the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine. Studies of (3H)-dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binding to purified parietal cell membranes showed a protein-concentration-dependent and specific binding of 2.2 +/- 0.6 pmol DHA/microgram. Adrenaline increased gastric acid production in both pig and human parietal cells, most likely through a beta-2 receptor on the parietal cell. The adrenaline stimulatory effect in cells obtained from patients with peptic ulcer was more pronounced than in cells from non-ulcer patients, which indicates a possible role of adrenaline in some types of ulcer disease.

Mechanisms of stimulation of acid production in parietal cells isolated from the pig gastric mucosa

Sequential incubations with pronase and collagenase of pig gastric mucosa resulted in single cell preparations containing 10-20% parietal cells, which could be enriched further to 85-95% purity by density-gradient centrifugation followed by elutriation. Acid production of the isolated cells was measured by means of aminopyrine accumulation in their acid compartments. When small pieces of the mucosa were pretreated for 1 h in the presence of either histamine, pentagastrin or carbachol before preparation of cells, the ability of the subsequently isolated cells to produce acid was increased. In parietal cells isolated from resting (not pretreated) mucosa pentagastrin, carbachol and also adrenaline increased the histamine-stimulated aminopyrine accumulation (50-90% increase). Adrenaline alone had no significant effect on the aminopyrine accumulation. In the presence of 10(-4) M histamine the apparent EC50 for adrenaline was 5 X 10(-7) M. Adrenaline, histamine, forskolin and isobutylmethylxanthin (IBMX) increased the formation of cAMP in purified parietal cells. The three 'classical' secretagogues histamine, pentagastrin and carbachol, but also IBMX and forskolin, increased the cytosolic free Ca2+ from approximately 1.5 X 10(-7) M to 2.2-3.5 X 10(-7) M but adrenaline and dibutyryl cyclic AMP did not. Thus the present results indicate that there are - in addition to histaminergic H2 receptors - specific cholinergic, gastrinergic and adrenergic receptors on the plasma membrane and that there are separate cAMP and Ca2+-dependent stimulatory pathways in the parietal cell.

Effects of physiological increases of plasma noradrenaline on gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal hormones

It is not known if the increased plasma concentration of noradrenaline in patients with chronic duodenal ulcer disease is a pathogenetic factor or not. The aim of the present study was to investigate if physiologic changes of noradrenaline would evoke any alterations in gastric acid secretion or in the plasma concentration of some gastrointestinal hormones (gastrin, secretin, PP, PYY, and GIP) known to affect gastric physiology. The results show that basal plasma noradrenaline concentration was 1.8 nM and after infusion with noradrenaline at 0.04 or 0.2 nmol/kg/min plasma levels of 2.5 and 4.4 nM were obtained. No appreciable changes could be found in basal or pentagastrin stimulated acid secretion or in any of the gastrointestinal peptides studied. If the elevated plasma noradrenaline concentration observed in duodenal ulcer patients is a pathogenetic factor; it is probable that it interferes with other variables such as blood flow, bicarbonate secretion, or prostaglandin synthesis.

Beta-adrenergic stimulation of gastrin release mediated by gastrin-releasing peptide in rat antral mucosa

The present studies were directed to examine the effects of beta-adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation on gastrin release and to assess the potential role of gastrin-releasing peptide in exerting these effects, utilizing incubated rat antral mucosa. Rat antral mucosa was incubated at 37 degrees C in Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer, pH 7.4, continuously gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2. After 1 h media were sampled for radioimmunoassay measurement of gastrin content. Inclusion of carbachol (2.5 X 10(-6) M) in culture medium increased medium gastrin concentration by 106 +/- 28% (P less than 0.01); addition of specific antibodies to gastrin-releasing peptide to the culture medium did not affect carbachol-stimulated gastrin release. Inclusion of isoproterenol (10(-9) M) in culture medium did not affect somatostatin release into the medium, but increased medium gastrin by 234 +/- 24% (P less than 0.001). However, in contrast to carbachol, addition of antibodies to gastrin-releasing peptide to culture medium decreased isoproterenol-stimulated gastrin release by 67 +/- 9% (P less than 0.001). Results of these studies indicate that, under the conditions of these experiments, beta-adrenergic, but not muscarinic, stimulation of gastrin release may be mediated, at least in part, through gastrin-releasing peptide.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide stimulates rat gastric somatostatin release in vitro

The influence of rat calcitonin gene-related peptide (rCGRP) on the secretion of gastric somatostatin and gastrin was studied in vitro using the isolated, vascularly perfused rat stomach preparation. rCGRP stimulated somatostatin secretion dose-dependently reaching 3-fold stimulation at 1 microM. The kinetics of somatostatin response were characterized by a sharp increase in the initial phase of rCGRP perfusion followed by sustained elevated levels. Gastrin secretion was moderately suppressed at 1 nM to 100 nM CGRP. Somatostatin responses to half-maximal stimulation with 100 nM CGRP were not affected by concomitant perfusion of atropine, propranolol, and tetrodotoxin. It is concluded that increases in somatostatin release in response to CGRP are probably due to a direct effect on the gastric somatostatin-producing D-cell and may be important for the potent acid-inhibitory activity of CGRP.

Influence of chronic drug-induced achlorhydria by substituted benzimidazoles on the endocrine stomach in rats

The release of gastric somatostatinlike immunoreactivity and gastrin was studied in rats with chronic achlorhydria induced by the substituted benzimidazole BY 308. In vitro, stimulation of gastrin release by acetylcholine was slightly enhanced after 1 day of treatment but no further effects were observed compared to placebo controls. Four weeks of treatment evoked marked gastrin hypersecretion, which was atropine-resistant. Stimulation of gastrin release was inversely correlated to enhancement of basal gastrin levels. Chronic achlorhydria distinctly reduced somatostatin responses to isoproterenol, whereas potent stimulation was observed in controls. Treatment with BY 308 for 1 wk was associated with fully developed gastrin hypersecretion but isoproterenol-stimulated somatostatin release was still unaffected. Hypergastrinemia accompanied by increased antral gastrin and reduced antral and fundic somatostatin concentrations was also found in vivo after 4 wk of treatment with BY 308. It is concluded that chronic achlorhydria not only enhances storage and secretion of gastrin but also diminishes the secretion and tissue stores of somatostatin; adaptive changes of the somatostatin cell occur, however, with a much longer delay.

Paradoxical effects of gastrin releasing peptide on gastrin release and gastric secretion in the rat

The effects of gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) on gastrin release and gastric secretion were studied in anesthetized rats. Intravenous infusion of GRP (1-16 micrograms/kg/hr) caused a dose-dependent increase in serum gastrin level, however, it had no effect on basal gastric secretion in the lumen-perfused stomach preparation. Furthermore, GRP inhibited gastric secretion stimulated by pentagastrin or histamine dose-dependently, but not by carbachol. Simultaneous infusion of GRP and a beta adrenergic blocking agent, propranolol, an inhibitor of somatostatin release, did not alter the inhibitory effect of GRP on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of GRP on gastric secretion in a stimulated condition is mediated via peptide hormones coreleased by GRP, and not via beta-adrenergic pathways.

Beta-adrenergic agonists inhibit gastric acid and pepsin secretion through somatostatin release in dogs

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether the inhibitory effects of beta-adrenergic agonists on gastric secretory activity in vivo could be mediated through a local release of somatostatin. The gastric secretion was measured during continuous stimulation with pentagastrin (1 microgram/kg/h). The infusion of isoprenaline (beta 1 + beta 2), salmefamol (beta 2), and somatostatin produced inhibitory effects on both acid and pepsin secretion. The reaction patterns were similar for isoprenaline and somatostatin, whereas salmefamol induced an inhibition of longer duration and with dissimilar dose-response kinetics. The gastric somatostatin release was significantly increased after infusion of both beta-adrenergic agonists and somatostatin, with patterns similar to those obtained for the secretory inhibition. There was a significant correlation between the somatostatin release and the acid and pepsin secretion during infusion of the secretory inhibitors but not in the control state. This study shows that beta-adrenergic agonists have inhibitory effects on gastric secretion in vivo similar to those of somatostatin. Both somatostatin and the beta-adrenergic agonists stimulated the release of somatostatin from the gastric mucosa. beta-Adrenergic antagonists were without effects. Somatostatin thereby fulfils the requirements for an endogenous mediator of the beta-adrenergic inhibition.

Gastrointestinal somatostatin: distribution, secretion and physiological significance

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) has been found throughout the gastrointestinal tract in all species examined. In the stomach it is mainly present in endocrine-type D-cells whereas in the intestine there is also an extensive distribution in enteric neurones. In all regions of the gastrointestinal tract multiple forms of somatostatin exist. A precursor (prosomatostatin) has been partially sequenced, three forms with 20 (SS-20), 25 (SS-25) and 28 (SS-28) amino acids completely sequenced, and somatostatin-14 (SS-14) demonstrated by radioimmunoassay. Both SS-14 and SS-28 exert a wide range of actions on the gastrointestinal tract and there is strong supportive evidence for a role in the regulation of gastric acid and gastrin secretion, gastrointestinal motility and intestinal transport. Both in vivo and in vitro studies on the secretion of gastric SLI into the vasculature have shown that nutrients initiate the process but that subsequent events are regulated by a complex interplay between hormonal and neuronal pathways. GIP is one of the most potent hormonal secretagogues. In the stomach, acetylcholine, opioid peptides and substance P are probably involved in parasympathetic inhibitory pathways and gastrin releasing peptide in stimulatory pathways. The sympathetic nerves are also stimulatory. Regulation of secretion of intestinal SLI has not been so extensively studied. Although SLI is also found in the gastrointestinal lumen the significance is unclear. Despite these advances the exact route of delivery of somatostatin to its target organs is uncertain and paracrine, endocrine and neural pathways may all be involved.

Beta adrenergic influence on esophageal and colonic motility in man

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility is centrally controlled through the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, sympathetic effects being partly mediated by beta adrenoceptors. Although beta adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists are widely used for different disorders, little is known about the influence of these agents on GI motility. The present study was initiated to investigate whether there is a physiological, beta adrenergic influence on human GI motility and to describe the effects of selective beta adrenoceptor stimulation on motility in the proximal and distal parts of the GI tract. Esophageal peristalsis was measured in healthy subjects using electronic catheters. Distal colonic motility was measured with an open-tipped, water-perfused catheter in the sigmoid colon and from an air-filled balloon in the rectum in healthy subjects and in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In one study, colonic motility was stimulated with continuous infusion of the octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-OP). Esophagus: Peristaltic amplitude was increased in the distal smooth muscle part of the esophageal body after infusion of both the nonselective beta blocker propranolol and the beta-1 selective blocker metoprolol. After infusion of the beta-1 agonist prenalterol and the beta-2 selective agonist terbutaline, a profound decrease in esophageal peristaltic amplitude was seen. Pretreatment with metoprolol selectively blocked the response to a moderate dose of prenalterol but did not block the response to terbutaline. The latter response was blocked by propranolol. Peristaltic velocity in the proximal part of the esophagus was decreased by beta-1 stimulation and in the distal part by beta-2 stimulation. Distal colon: In healthy subjects the sigmoid motility index showed a dose-dependent increase after metoprolol and propranolol, respectively. The increase was more marked after propranolol infusion. Terbutaline decreased the sigmoid motility index both in healthy subjects and in patients with the IBS. Furthermore, the rectal motility index was decreased in the group of healthy subjects. The effects of prenalterol on rectal and sigmoid motility did not differ from those of placebo. The IBS patient group showed larger intraindividual variations in sigmoid motility from day to day and also lower rectal motility indices than the healthy subjects. Infusion of CCK-OP increased the sigmoid motility index compared to non-stimulated conditions. No effects on CCK-OP stimulated motility were seen after either terbutaline, prenalterol or placebo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Beta-adrenergic regulation of cyclic adenosine 3',5' monophosphate accumulation in human gastric epithelial glands. Inhibitory effect of somatostatin

The action of catecholamines and somatostatin on cyclic adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (cyclic AMP) formation in human isolated gastric glands is reported. We show that: (1) there is a beta 2 receptor-mediated stimulation of cyclic AMP production in fundus. Catecholamines act with the order of potencies isoproterenol (ED50 = 50 nmol 1(-1) greater than epinephrine (ED50 = 0.1 mumol 1(-1] greater than norepinephrine (ED50 = 5 mumol 1(-1]. Their action is completely reversed by propranolol at doses 10(3) times lower than practolol, while unaffected by phentolamine; (2) isoproterenol and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) have additive effects on cyclic AMP in fundic glands whereas no additivity is observed between histamine and isoproterenol; this, together with the absence of catecholamine effect in antral glands, suggests that the beta 2 receptor is located on parietal cells; (3) somatostatin (1 mumol 1(-1] non-competitively inhibits the stimulation by catecholamines but does not affect VIP and histamine stimulations. These results suggest a physiological stimulatory effect of catecholamines on gastric acid secretion in man, through a beta 2 receptor coupled to the cyclic AMP system, regulated by somatostatin.