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R Michelot

Publications and source records attributed to R Michelot.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[The bronchorelaxant effect of helicidine, a Helix pomatia extract, interferes with prostaglandin E2].

Helicidine is a biological extract prepared from the snail Helix pomatia L. and used in man as an anti-tussive agent. However, its mechanisms of action are not fully defined. In this study, we have investigated a possible relaxant effect of helicidine on guinea-pig airway smooth muscle and evaluated the role of prostanoids and airway epithelium in this relaxation. H. pomatia extract (0.001-1 mg/ml) induced a dose-dependent relaxation of guinea-pig trachea pre-contracted with histamine both in the presence and absence of tracheal epithelium. No significant difference in dose-dependency or magnitude of the relaxation was observed between tracheal segments with or without epithelium (maximal relaxant response of 35 +/- 7 and 25 +/- 7.5%, respectively). Relaxation of the trachea induced by H. pomatia extract (0.001-1 mg/ml) was inhibited by pre-treatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, both in the presence or absence of tracheal epithelium. H. pomatia extract (1 mg/ml) induced a marked and significant increase in prostaglandin E2 release in tracheal segments with and without epithelium. These results indicate that helicidine possesses a broncho-relaxant activity which is independent of epithelium integrity and which is partly mediated by the release of the relaxant prostanoid, prostaglandin E2. The origin of prostaglandin E2 production in the airways remains to be defined.

Animals↗

Design of potent dynorphin A-(1-9) analogues devoid of supraspinal motor effects in mice.

Four analogues of dynorphin (Dyn) A-(1-9) incorporating D-Leu in position 8 alone or in combination with the nonhydrolysable psi [CS-NH] thiopeptide bond surrogate between positions 6 and 7 were tested in vitro for their ability to compete with the binding of selective kappa, mu, and delta opioid ligands, using membrane preparations of guinea pig cerebellum (kappa) and rat brain (mu and delta), for their ability to block the electrically induced contractions of the guinea pig ileum, and for their in vivo antinociceptive (writhing test) and motor (motor dysfunction assay) activities in mice. [D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9) displayed an affinity and a selectivity for the kappa opioid receptor that were comparable with those of Dyn A-(1-9). The potencies of [D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9) in the guinea pig ileum, writhing, and motor dysfunction assays were markedly enhanced (8-12 fold) compared with those of Dyn A-(1-9). [6 psi 7(CS-NH),D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9), [Lys6, 6 psi 7(CS-NH),D-Leu8] Dyn A-(1-9), and [Leu6, 6 psi 7(CS-NH), D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9) were somewhat less potent than [D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9) in all opioid assays. However, the thiopeptides were more potent analgesics than Dyn A-(1-9)(ED50 of 29.5, 23.9, and 15.5 nmol/mouse, respectively, compared with 90.7 nmol/mouse for Dyn A-(1-9)) and caused little or no motor impairment at analgesic doses.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Contractile activity of the N-acylated C-terminal part of substance P7-11 in guinea pig trachea. Effect of epithelium removal.

Substance P, neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and N-acylated pentapeptide X-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 analogs of substance P7-11 were tested for their spasmogenic activities in intact or in epithelium-denuded tracheal strips from guinea pig. Epithelium removal enhanced the efficacies and potencies relative to substance P of all the peptides tested in guinea pig trachea. In epithelium-containing preparations, the presence of a cyclic substituent (o-hydroxyphenyl-acetyl, p-hydroxyphenyl-acetyl, pyroglutamyl) in Phe7 greatly enhanced the potency and efficacy compared to substance P. These substitutions were twice as active as neurokinin A itself. The presence of an aliphatic chain (non-protected and t-butyloxycarbonyl-protected aminopropyl and aminocaproyl) in Phe7 also improved the potency and the efficacy of the synthetic peptides. The aliphatic substituents could favour an increase in local concentration of the peptides in the vicinity of the receptor(s) allowing a more effective ligand-receptor interaction. Thus, lipophilicity could be determinant in the potency of the peptides in intact guinea pig trachea. In epithelium-denuded tracheal strips from guinea pig, all the synthetic peptides were more effective than substance P but less active than neurokinin A which probably reflects the presence of the NK2 receptor subtype, which may be predominant in this type of epithelium-denuded preparation. Our results suggest that hydrophobicity plays a strong role in the interaction of the peptides, namely substance P and its analogues with the membrane and possibly the receptors themselves.

Animals↗

N-acylated pentapeptides antagonists of substance P on guinea-pig ileum.

Pentapeptides X-D.Trp-Phe-D.Trp-Leu-Y-NH2 (X = H, Boc, parahydroxyphenylacetyl, Y = Met,Leu,Nle,Phe) were tested as antagonists against Substance P and against a specific agonist of the muscular receptor of neurokinins on the guinea-pig ileum. Weak antagonist or agonist activities could be observed with the free or the Boc-protected pentapeptides whilst the acylated compounds could be compared favorably with the best antagonists already described.

Acylation↗

Synthesis of (pGlu-5, MePhe-8, Sar-9) substance P (5-11) (DiMe-C7) using a polyacrylamide resin and biological activity on guinea pig ileum and tracheal smooth muscle.

DiMe-C7 (pGlu-Gln-Phe-MePhe-MeGly-Leu-MetNH2), a metabolically stable analogue of Substance P, was prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis using a polyacrylamide resin and a labile anchorage derived from glycolic acid. Myotropic activities in guinea pig ileum (ED50 = 4.0 +/- 1.5 10(-8) M) and guinea pig trachea (ED50 = 8.6 +/- 3.5 10(-8) M) are discussed in comparison with the corresponding activities of Substance P.

Animals↗

Increased levels of Met-enkephalin-like material in the CSF of anaesthetized cats after tooth pulp stimulation.

Tooth pulp stimulation in halothane-anaesthetized cats induced a long lasting (greater than or equal to 3 h) increase in the levels of Met-enkephalin-like material (MELM) in the cisternal CSF. Chromatographic analyses (gel filtration, HPLC) revealed that most of the immunoreactivity was attributable to high molecular weight (mol. wt. greater than or equal to 4000) compounds; in non-stimulated cats, Met-enkephalin (largely in the form of the sulfoxide derivative) only accounted for about 10% of total MELM. In contrast, following tooth pulp stimulation, a large increase in Met-enkephalin (plus Met-Ox5-enkephalin) levels was noted so that the pentapeptide thus represented more than 50% of total MELM. No evidence was obtained for the presence of Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 in the cisternal CSF of halothane-anaesthetized cats. These data strongly suggest that the activity of enkephalinergic neurons was increased following nociceptive stimulation. This indirectly supports the possible physiological role of enkephalinergic systems in modulating nociceptive inputs.

Animals↗

In vivo biosynthesis of 35S-substance P from [35S]methionine in the rat striatum and its transport to the substantia nigra.

Rats with a push-pull cannula implanted in the right striatum were used to study the biosynthesis of 35S-substance P (SP) from [35S]methionine and its transport to the ipsilateral substantia nigra. [35S]Methionine was delivered for 2, 3 or 5 h to the push-pull cannula. 35S-SP in striatal and nigral tissues was estimated after immunoadsorption and HPLC. Higher levels of 35S-SP in striatal homogenates were found after a 5-h labelling period. 35S-P biosynthesis was inhibited when cycloheximide was superfused together with [35S]methionine. The identity of 35S-SP was further checked by its conversion into 35S-SP sulphoxide. After a 5-h labelling period, 35S-SP was also recovered in the substantia nigra. This was not the case after hemisection of striato-nigral fibers. When rats were killed 15 or 24 h after the 5-h labelling period, 35S-SP levels in the substantia nigra were higher than those found just after 5-h labelling period, while the reverse was observed in the striatum.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effects of GABA, L-glutamic acid and nicotine on the potassium-evoked release of substance P in substantia nigra slices of the rat.

Rat substantia nigra slices were superfused with a physiological medium containing a diluted substance P (SP) antiserum, bacitracin and serum albumin to measure SP released in superfusates. As shown by measuring the degradation of a SP-labelled derivative incubated with cerebellar slices, this medium prevented the enzymatic inactivation of SP. Potassium (K+, 50 mM) and veratridine (5 X 10(-5) M) stimulated SP release and these effects were respectively prevented in absence of calcium and in presence of tetrodotoxin (5 X 10(-7) M). GABA (5 X 10(-5) M), nicotine (10(-6) M) and L-glutamic acid (5 X 10(-5) M) reduced the K+ (50 mM)-evoked release of SP. In contrast, glycine (5 X 10(-5) M), oxotremorine (5 X 10(-5) M), D-glutamic acid (5 X 10(-5) M) and serotonin (5 X 10(-5) M) were without effect. Pempidine (10(-5) M) prevented the inhibitory effect of nicotine (10(-6) M) on the K+-evoked release of SP. Glutamic acid diethyl ester (10(-4) M) completely abolished the L-glutamic acid-induced inhibition of the K+-evoked release of SP. Picrotoxin (5 X 10(-5) M) did not influence the L-glutamic acid inhibitory effect excluding the intervention of GABAergic mechanisms.

Animals↗

Irreversible inactivation of beta-adrenergic receptors of C6 glioma cells. Synthesis and study of a thiol derivative of propranolol.

The beta-adrenergic receptor of C6 glioma cells contains a disulfide bridge which can be reduced by dithiothreitol (DTT). On intact cells, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) (5 mM) does not change the affinity of [3H] H2-alprenolol ([3H] DHA) but reduces the total number of beta-adrenergic cell receptors by 21 +/- 3 per cent ; (N = 3). After receptor reduction by DTT, NEM irreversibly blocks the accessibility of the beta-adrenergic receptors to [3H]DHA. On isolated membranes, incubation in the presence of either NEM (5 mM) or isoproterenol (5.10(-7) M) does not significantly modify the total number of beta-adrenergic receptors accessible to [3H]DHA. Incubation of membranes with both NEM and isoproterenol reduces the number of binding sites by 33 +/- 2 per cent ; (N = 3). A thiol derivative of propranolol was synthetized. Its affinity is 10 times lower than that of propranolol. This sulfur derivative reduces the total number of beta-adrenergic receptors by 22 +/- 3 per cent (N = 3) when incubated with the native receptor and by 55 +/- 4 per cent (N = 4) when incubated with the reduced receptor. DTT does not significantly reverse the blockade induced by propranolol-SH. A model is proposed for explaining these results.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Topographical distribution of substance P in the cat substantia nigra.

The substance P (SP) content in cat substantia nigra (SN) was estimated by radioimmunoassay in microdiscs punched on successive frontal sections. Only slight differences were seen in the regional distribution of SP within the SN. The highest content was found in the pars reticulata (20.7 pmol/mg protein) which was two times higher than in the pars compacta and pars lateralis. Identical results were found in the right and left part of the SN. Out of this area, as pedunculus cerebri and zona incerta, very low concentrations were detected.

Animals↗