Neuromedin U stimulates contraction of human long saphenous vein and gastrointestinal smooth muscle in vitro.

The neuropeptide Neuromedin U (NMU) stimulates smooth muscle contraction, and modulates local blood flow and adrenocortical function via two endogenous receptors, NMU1 and NMU2. Although its amino-acid sequence is highly conserved across species, the physiological effects of NMU are variable between species and little is known of its effects on human tissues. We have examined the contractile effects of NMU-25 on human smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (ascending colon, gallbladder) and long saphenous vein (LSV) using in vitro organ bath bioassays.

Advanced qRT-PCR technology allows detection of the cholecystokinin 1 receptor (CCK1R) expression in human pancreas.

Objectives: To help clarify the controversy over the detection of expression of the cholecystokinin 1 receptor (CCK1R; CCKAR) in human pancreas.

Methods: Applied qRT-PCR to detect CCK1R expression using the SYBR green/Smart Cycler II and the QZyme oligonucleotide/ABI PRISM 7500 systems to detect CCK1R expressed message in highly purified cDNAs from human pancreas and other tissues. Samples of normal pancreas were obtained at operation (pancreaticoduodenectomy; Whipple's procedure) and used to ascertain the expression of CCK1R in human tissue and investigate donor individual variability in expression levels by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and scanning densitometry.