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G Drapeau

Publications and source records attributed to G Drapeau.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Selective agonists for receptors of substance P and related neurokinins.

Neurokinins and their receptors are a complex system consisting of at least three endogenous agents--substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), and neurokinin B (NKB)--and their corresponding receptor types, respectively, NK-1, NK-2, and NK-3. Investigations on receptors have been made using sensitive and fairly selective pharmacological preparations (the dog carotid artery for the NK-1, the rabbit pulmonary artery devoid of endothelium for the NK-2, and the rat portal vein for the NK-3 receptor), and some natural peptides of mammalian and nonmammalian origin. Because of the nonselectivity of the natural peptides, analogues of the neurokinins have been found that act on one receptor only and show therefore high selectivity. The selective agonists [Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP, [Nle10]NKA (4-10), and [MePhe7]-NKB have been used successfully for (a) characterizing the three neurokinin receptors, (b) identifying isolated organs whose responses to neurokinins depend on the activation of a single (monoreceptor systems) or of more than one (multireceptor systems) receptor, and (c) elucidating some of the physiological function of the three receptor types. It is suggested that NK-1 mediate peripheral vasodilatation and exocrine secretions, NK-2 stimulate bronchial muscles and facilitate the release of catecholamines, and NK-3 promote the release of acetylcholine in peripheral organs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Capillary permeability induced by intravenous neurokinins. Receptor characterization and mechanism of action.

The effects on plasma extravasation of three increasing doses from 6.5 pmol to 650 nmol/kg of substance P (SP), SP fragments, neurokinin A (NKA), neurokinin B (NKB) and selective agonists for neurokinin receptors were assessed in three cutaneous tissues (skin of hind paws, dorsal skin and ears) by intravenous (i.v.) administration in the pentobarbitone anaesthetized rat. Dose-dependent increases in plasma extravasation were observed with the following rank orders of potency (SP greater than NKA greater than NKB) for neurokinins and (SP greater than [p-Glu6]SP(6-11) greater than SP(4-11) greater than [p-Glu5]SP(5-11) greater than SP(7-11] for C-terminal SP fragments. The metabolically stable SP analogue [p-Glu5, MePhe8, Sar9]SP(5-11) was slightly more potent than [p-Glu5]SP(5-11). The N-terminal fragments SP(1-4), SP(1-7) and SP(1-9) were inactive up to 650 nmol/kg. The NK-1 receptor selective agonists [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP and [beta-Ala4, Sar9, Met (O2)11]SP(4-11) were more potent than the NK-2 [( Nle10]NKA(4-10] and NK-3 [( MePhe7]NKB and [beta-Asp4, MePhe7]NKB(4-10] receptor selective agonists. Plasma extravasation induced by SP (6.5 nmol/kg) was unchanged in the presence of atropine, methysergide, diphenhydramine or during the i.v. and intra-arterial (i.a.) infusion of D-Arg0[Hyp3.D-Phe7]BK, an antagonist of bradykinin. Plasma extravasation induced by SP and [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP was significantly reduced by indomethacin while that induced by NKA, NKB, [beta-Ala4, Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP(4-11), SP(4-11) and [p-Glu6]SP(6-11) was unaffected by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Compound 48/80 (0.75 mg/kg), histamine (10 mg/kg) and 5-HT (10 mg/kg) caused an increase in plasma extravasation, only the effect of compound 48/80 was abolished by indomethacin. Pretreatment with compound 48/80 prevented its own action on plasma extravasation and significantly reduced that induced by 6.5 nmol/kg of SP. These results rule out the involvement of acetylcholine (muscarinic receptors), 5-HT (5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors), histamine (H1 receptors) and kinins (B2 receptors) in the response to SP and indicate that the two positively charged amino acids (Arg, Lys) at the N-terminal end of the SP molecule are essential to trigger the release of prostaglandins from mast cells. This mechanism is responsible for the indirect effect of SP and related peptides on capillary permeability and does not appear to be mediated by a selective SP receptor. In addition, neurokinins may increase capillary permeability by direct activation of a NK-1 receptor type on the vascular endothelium.

Animals↗

Characterization of the peripheral action of neurokinins and neurokinin receptor selective agonists on the rat cardiovascular system.

The effects on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) of increasing doses (0.65-65 nmol/kg) of substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neurokinin B (NKB) and selective agonists for neurokinin receptors were measured after intravenous (i.v.) injection in urethane anaesthetized rats. Neurokinins (NKs) elicited a vasodepressor effect with the following rank order of potency: SP (100%) greater than NKB (17.5%) greater than NKA (10%). The two undecapeptide NK-1 selective agonists, [Pro9, Met(O2)11]SP (787%) and [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP (697%), evoked a significantly (P less than 0.05) greater vasodepressor response than SP, while the potency of the octapeptide NK-1 selective agonist [beta-Ala4, Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP (4-11) (316%) was not significantly different from SP. Conversely, the NK-2 selective agonist NKA (4-10) (less than 2%) caused only a small effect. The vasodepressor effect elicited by [MePhe7]NKB (112%) and [beta-Asp4, MePhe7]NKB (4-10) (92%), two NK-3 selective agonists, were not significantly different from that of SP. Senktide (1,095%) is the most potent NK-3 agonist, and is significantly (P less than 0.01) more potent than SP. No cross-desensitization, of the vasodepressor response, was observed between NK-1 and NK-3 selective agonists. I.V. injection of 32.5 nmol/kg of NKA, NKA (4-10) and [beta-Ala4, Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP (4-11) raised HR, while NKB and the NK-3 selective agonists produced a rapid and marked bradycardia. SP and the two undecapeptide, NK-1 selective agonists, produced an initial increase in HR and a latent long-lasting bradycardia. The bradycardia elicited by [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP (32.5 nmol/kg) was blocked by methylatropine, hexamethonium, indomethacin and by treatment with capsaicin or compound 48/80. Although the bradycardia elicited by [beta-Asp4, MePhe7]NKB (4-10) (32.5 nmol/kg) was also blocked by hexamethonium, methylatropine, and by bilateral vagotomy, it remained unaffected after indomethacin, or in rats pretreated with either capsaicin or compound 48/80. The drop in MAP produced by the NK-1 and NK-3 agonists were reduced by hexamethonium, methylatropine and bilateral vagotomy (NK-3 agonist), but remained unaffected by indomethacin, capsaicin, and compound 48/80. The tachycardia to NKA (4-10) (65 nmol/kg) was blocked entirely by sotalol or metoprolol and potentiated by hexamethonium. Guanethidine and bilateral adrenalectomy (48 h) failed to affect the tachycardia induced by the agonist, whereas the combination of both treatments abolished the response. Rats sympathectomized with 6-hydroxydopamine (48 h) reduced the increase in HR to NKA (4-10) only at 1 min post-administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Receptors for substance P and related neurokinins.

The most widely used smooth muscle preparations for neurokinin bioassays have been critically analyzed in order to determine whether neurokinins act directly or by the intermediary of other natural agents. Indeed, part of the contraction of the GPI in response to neurokinins appears to be mediated by acetylcholine and possibly prostaglandins. Active metabolites of the arachidonic acid cascade also intervene in the response of the HUB. Neurokinins produce relaxation of the DCA by stimulating the release of a vascular smooth muscle relaxing factor from the endothelium. In the other preparations (the RD, the RPA without endothelium and the RPV) neurokinins may act directly on the smooth muscle fibers. Neurokinins produce their biological effects by activating specific receptors. Three different receptor types, one for each mammalian neurokinin, have been identified by using four groups of natural peptide sequences and some selective agonists. The receptor for SP is particularly sensitive to SP and physalaemin and shows higher affinity for the whole natural peptides (SP, NKA) than for their C-terminal fragments. The receptor for neurokinin A is highly sensitive to NKA and eledoisin: it shows high affinity for heptapeptide fragments such as NKA4-10 and SP5-11. The receptor for NKB is sensitive to NKB and kassinin more than to the other natural peptides and their fragments. The natural peptides show however little selectivity. Synthetic analogues active on a single receptor type (selective agonists) have been used to find out whether the responses of the isolated organs are due to the activation of one or more than one receptor. It has been found that the GPI, the RD and the HUB contain all three or at least two receptors, while the DCA has only the NK1, the RPA has only the NK2 and the RPV only the NK3 type. Binding sites specific for each neurokinin have been identified in brain and peripheral organs with accurate biochemical assays, using labeled neurokinins. Competitive displacement assays have been performed with a variety of neurokinin-related peptides, and their Ki have been determined. By plotting Ki values against the ED50, estimated from biological assays, positive significant correlations have been found for the monoreceptor (DCA, RPA, RPV) but not for the multiple receptor systems (GPI, RD, HUB). This suggests that pharmacological receptors may be identical with the recognition sites which bind the labeled neurokinins. The availability of monoreceptor systems and of selective agonists opens the way for the identification of potential antagonists and accurate estimation of their affinities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Characterization of neurokinin effects and receptor selectivity in human isolated bronchi.

Sensitive afferent nerves and the neurokinins they release upon activation are considered to be important in controlling bronchomotor tone. Human isolated bronchi respond to neurokinin A (NKA), substance P (SP), and neurokinin B (NKB) with dose-dependent contractions. The order of potency of the three natural neurokinins is NKA greater than SP greater than NKB, suggesting the presence of NK-2 receptors. To further characterize the neurokinin receptors in human bronchi, we used selective agonists for each receptor type (i.e., NK-1, NK-2, and NK-3). In fact, NK-1 selective compounds, [Pro9]SP(1-11) sulfone and [beta-ala4,Sar9]SP(4-11) sulfone, did not induce significant contractions up to 10(-5) M. Similarly, the selective agonist for the NK-3 receptor, [MePhe7]NKB(4-10), was almost inactive. However, the NK-2 selective fragment [Nle]NKA(4-10) was a potent stimulant. The negative log of the peptide concentration that caused 50% of maximal effect (pD2) was 6.99 for NKA and 6.12 for [Nle10]NKA(4-10). Removal of the epithelium significantly enhanced the contractile responses to the three neurokinins and also to the NK-2 selective agonist. Phosphoramidon, an enkephalinase inhibitor, was more potent than epithelium removal in enhancing the contractile responses to these agonists. However, epithelium removal and phosphoramidon did not increase the weak responses to the NK-1 and NK-3 selective compounds. In the presence of phosphoramidon, removal of the epithelium slightly enhanced the contractile responses to NKA and [Nle]NKA(4-10) but not to SP and NKB.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗

Effect of thiorphan on tachykinin-induced potentiation of nerve-mediated contractions of the rat isolated vas deferens.

We have assessed the ability of thiorphan, an inhibitor of enkephalinase, to influence the potentiation of the nerve-mediated contractions of the rat isolated vas deferens (pars prostatica) by mammalian tachykinins [substance P, (SP); neurokinin A (NKA); and neurokinin B (NKB)] and selective tachykinin agonists. In the absence of thiorphan, the rank order of potency of mammalian tachykinins was NKA greater than NKB much greater than SP. The maximal response to SP did not exceed 40% of that to NKA or NKB. Thiorphan (10 microM) had no effect on twitches per se, but increased the potency and maximum effect of mammalian tachykinins. [Pro9]-SP sulfone, a selective NK-1 receptor agonist had no effect, either in the absence or presence of thiorphan. [MePhe7]-NKB had some potentiating effect, but only at micromolar concentrations. [Nle10]-NKA (4-10) and [beta-Ala8]-NKA (4-10), two selective NK-2 agonists displayed good activity. [Nle10]-NKA (4-10) was potentiated by thiorphan. On the other hand, the action of [beta Ala8]-NKA (4-10) was completely thiorphan-resistant. These findings indicate that estimate of activity of tachykinins and tachykinin related peptides in this bioassay is influenced markedly by peptide degradation via a thiorphan-sensitive mechanism. NK-2 receptors are the main if not the sole mediators of the response to tachykinins in this bioassay organ.

Animals↗

Bradykinin antagonism: differentiation between peptide antagonists and antiinflammatory agents.

Three non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents were tested for their ability to antagonize bradykinin in the rabbit jugular vein, the dog carotid artery and the guinea pig trachea. The new agents were compared with indomethacin, as well as with [Thi5,8,D-Phe7] bradykinin and [Thi6,9,D-Phe8] kallidin, two B2 receptor antagonists. The antiinflammatory agents did not alter the effects of bradykinin in the two isolated vessels while they completely blocked (like indomethacin) the relaxation induced by bradykinin in guinea pig tracheae contracted with histamine or neurokinin A. The two bradykinin antagonists significantly reduced the contractions of the rabbit jugular vein and the relaxation of the dog carotid artery (with endothelium) in response to bradykinin: these antagonists were however inactive against bradykinin in the guinea pig trachea. The data now reported suggest that B2 receptors are involved in the opposite (stimulant or inhibitor) effects of the kinins in the two isolated vessels while the relaxation of the guinea pig trachea is a prostaglandin-dependent phenomenon which does not involve the activation of B1 or B2 receptors.

Animals↗

NK-1 receptors mediate the tachykinin stimulation of salivary secretion: selective agonists provide further evidence.

The relative contribution of NK-1, NK-2 and NK-3 receptors to the sialogogic response to i.v. tachykinins was investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats. [Pro9,Met(O2)11]substance P (SP), a selective NK-1 receptor agonist, was about 10 times more potent than SP itself and its action was unaffected by atropine pretreatment. On the other hand [Nle10]neurokinin A (NKA)-(4-10) and [MePhe7]neurokinin B (NKB), two selective agonists for NK-2 and NK-3 receptors, respectively, were ineffective.

Animals↗

Histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells by kinin antagonists.

Kinins are known to be potent releasers of histamine. In the present study, the B2 antagonist analogues of bradykinin (BK) and kallidin (KD): [( Thi6,9,D-Phe8]KD, [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]BK) were also found to be potent releasers of histamine from rat mast cells and not to exert any antagonistic effect. Similarly, two B1 receptor antagonists, des-Arg10-[Leu9]KD and des-Arg9-[Leu8]BK, were shown to promote histamine release and acted only as agonists. The order of potency of these analogues was the following: [Thi6,9,D-Phe8]KD greater than [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]BK greater than des-Arg10- [Leu9]KD greater than des-Arg9-[Leu8]BK. The high activity of some of these compounds suggests that (1) the potency of kinins for histamine release from rat mast cells not only increases in parallel with the number of positively charged amino acids (Lys, Arg) but also, because of others factors such as peptide conformation, receptor binding affinity or receptor accessibility, (2) the histamine release by kinins is either a non-specific effect not mediated by receptors or, if receptors are involved, these sites may be different from other kinin receptors (i.e. B1 or B2).

Animals↗

Spinal action of neurokinins producing cardiovascular responses in the conscious freely moving rat: evidence for a NK-1 receptor mechanism.

This study was initiated to characterize the receptors which mediate the cardiovascular responses elicited by the intrathecal (i.th.) administration of neurokinins (NK) in the conscious freely moving rat. The dose response profile for substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) was determined over 0.065-65 nmol doses of the peptides. After i.th. administration at the T8-T10 thoracic level, only SP elicited a dose dependent pressor response. However, all NK elicited a dose dependent increase in heart rate (HR), and the following rank order of potency was observed: SP greater than NKA greater than NKB. SP (6.5 nmol) produced cardiovascular responses markedly greater than an equimolar dose of any of the seven SP fragments which were studied. The C-terminal sequences SP (4-11), [pGlu5]SP (5-11), [pGlu6]SP (6-11), and SP (7-11), as a group were slightly more potent than the N-terminal fragments, SP (1-4), SP (1-7) and SP (1-9) which were almost inactive. The NK-1 receptor selective agonists [Pro9, Met(O2)11]SP and [beta-Ala4, Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP (4-11), produced pressor and positive chronotropic responses equal to or greater in intensity than SP. With up to 6.5 nmol of the NK-2 receptor selective agonist [Nle10]NKA (4-10), no dose dependent cardiovascular response was produced and the NK-3 receptor selective agonist senktide (succinyl-[Asp6, MePhe8]SP (6-11], produced neither a cardiac nor pressor response when 6.5 nmol was administered. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that, receptors of the NK-1 subtype mediate the cardiovascular responses evoked by the spinal action of NK.

Animals↗

Comparison of the effects of epithelium removal and of an enkephalinase inhibitor on the neurokinin-induced contractions of guinea-pig isolated trachea.

1. The influence of epithelium removal and/or thiorphan on the effects of neurokinins (substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neurokinin B (NKB)) and related peptides on airway contractility was investigated on the guinea-pig isolated trachea. 2. Removing the tracheal epithelium significantly enhanced the sensitivity but not the maximum contractile responses to the peptides. 3. After removal of the epithelial layer, the shifts to the left of the log concentration response curves were greater for SP and SP-OMe (1.62 and 1.94 log units, respectively) than for two SP analogues substituted in position 9 namely [Pro9]SP sulfone and [beta-Ala4, Sar9]SP(4-11) sulfone (0.66 and 0.68 log units, respectively). The leftward shifts for compounds related to NKA or NKB lay between 0.58 and 0.73 log units. 4. The leftward shifts of the log concentration-response curves for SP, SP-OMe, [Pro9]SP sulfone, [beta-Ala4, Sar9]SP(4-11) sulfone and NKA were of similar magnitude after removal of the epithelium or after pretreatment with thiorphan (10(-5) M), an enkephalinase inhibitor, in the presence of epithelium. No significant additional shift of the curves to the left was observed with thiorphan plus epithelium removal. 5. The results obtained with the selective agonists for each of the three classes of neurokinin receptor (i.e NK1, NK2, NK3) suggest that the guinea-pig trachea contains receptors for SP and NKA but few if any for NKB. 6. It was concluded that neurokinins and related peptides (especially SP and analogues not substituted in position 9) are degraded by enkephalinase mainly located in the tracheal epithelium and that the addition of thiorphan or epithelium removal results in an inhibition or loss of enkephalinase activity, thereby increasing similarly the potencies of these peptides. It was, therefore, suggested that the supersensitivity to neurokinins produced by epithelium removal was due neither to the elimination of a permeability barrier nor to reduced production of a relaxant factor, but mainly to reduced peptide degradation.

Airway Resistance↗

Characterization of neurokinin receptors in various isolated organs by the use of selective agonists.

The three mammalian neurokinins, substance P, neurokinin A and neurokinin B, as well as some agonists selective for their respective receptors, NK-P, NK-A and NK-B, were tested in a variety of pharmacological preparations in order to evaluate if the biological responses of the various tissues were mediated by single or multiple receptor types. Previous observations that the dog carotid artery, the rabbit pulmonary artery and the rat portal vein are selective preparations respectively for SP, NKA and NKB were confirmed in the present study by showing that only the respective selective agonists were active on these tissues. Multiple functional sites were demonstrated in intestinal tissues (guinea pig ileum, rat duodenum), which apparently contain the three neurokinin receptors. A large number of NK-P, together with some NK-A receptor sites were found in the guinea pig and rat urinary bladder. Similarly, the guinea pig trachea and the rabbit mesenteric vein contain NK-A and NK-P functional sites. Rat and rabbit vas deferens stimulated electrically respond as typical NK-A preparations, since they are almost insensitive to SP or NKB selective agonists. A mixture of NK-A and NK-B receptor sites has been shown to be present in the hamster urinary bladder: dog and human urinary bladder definitely contain NK-A receptors and the dog bladder also some NK-P functional sites.

Animals↗

Relative potencies of neurokinins in guinea pig trachea and human bronchus.

The three endogenous neurokinins, substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB), as well as NKA-(4-10), carbachol, acetylcholine and histamine, were tested in guinea pig tracheae and human bronchi in order to compare the activities of peptides and non-peptide agents and to characterize the neurokinin receptors by means of agonists. Neurokinin A and NKA-(4-10) were potent stimulants of the two preparations: pD2 values for NKA-(4-10) averaged 8.62 in the guinea pig trachea and 7.50 in the human bronchus. The rank order of potency of neurokinins was NKA-(4-10) greater than NKA greater than SP greater than NKB in the human bronchus and NKA-(4-10) greater than NKA greater than NKB greater than SP in the guinea pig trachea. SP was 2-3 orders of magnitude less active than NKA and appears to be a partial agonist. NKB is inactive on the human bronchus. Compared to non-peptide agents, NKA had an affinity 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than acetylcholine and histamine but produced only 75-80% of the maximal effect of acetylcholine. The present results indicate that neurokinins contract the human bronchus by activating a NK-A receptor type which is more sensitive to NKA than to SP and is insensitive to NKB. The guinea pig trachea appears to be a complex preparation containing not only NK-A but also other neurokinin receptors.

Animals↗