Nonadrenergic and noncholinergic arterial dilatation and venoconstriction are mediated by calcitonin gene-related peptide1 and neurokinin-1 receptors, respectively, in the mesenteric vasculature of the rat after perivascular nerve stimulation.

In the present study, selective calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neurokinin (NK) agonists and antagonists were used to characterize the receptors mediating the nerve-induced arterial vasodilation and venous vasoconstriction in the rat mesenteric vasculature. In guanethidine-pretreated preparations, perivascular nerve stimulation (PNS) induced a frequency-dependent vasodilation in the arterial vasculature (precontracted with methoxamine), yet only induced an atropine-resistant contraction in the venous mesenteric vasculature (precontracted with U46619) of the rat. hCGRP alpha induced a marked dose-dependent relaxation of the arterial side, whereas only a slight vasodilation was seen at a high dose on the precontracted venous side.

Characterization of NK-1 receptors in guinea pig and rat brain membranes with NK-1 peptides and a non-peptide antagonist.

The major finding of the present investigation is the demonstration of different NK-1 receptors in rat and guinea pig brain membranes with CP 96345 (non-peptide NK-1 antagonist) and R-544 (NK-1 peptide antagonist). We used [3H][Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP, the highly selective ligand for NK-1 receptor to compare NK-1 binding sites in rat and guinea pig brain membranes. Scatchard analysis revealed the existence of a single population of [3H][Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP binding sites in both preparations.

Use of selective antagonists to dissociate the central cardiovascular and behavioural effects of tachykinins on NK1 and NK2 receptors in the rat.

1. The effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Structure-activity relationship study of R396, an NK2 tachykinin antagonist selective for the NK2B receptor subtype.

We report on a structure-activity study of R396 (Ac-Leu-Asp-Gln-Trp-Phe-Gly-NH2), a linear hexapeptide tachykinin antagonist selective for the putative NK2B receptor subtype. Asp2, Trp4 and the C-terminal glycinamide have been challenged by classical amino acid substitutions with the aim of elucidating the structural requirements responsible for NK2 subtype selectivity. The biological activities indicate that Asp2 has a crucial role for the high affinity of R396 at the NK2B subtype: none of the analogues substituted in position 2 display higher affinity as compared to R396, regardless of the nature of the residue introduced.

Activation of an epithelial neurokinin NK-1 receptor induces relaxation of rat trachea through release of prostaglandin E2.

We studied the type of neurokinin (NK) receptor involved in the epithelium-dependent substance P (SP)-induced relaxation of rat trachea precontracted with serotonin (5-HT). We first compared the relaxant effects of different agonists to the three NK receptors on rat trachea in the presence (E+) and absence (E-) of the epithelium. The three agonists to the NK-1 receptor, SP, SP-O-methylester and [beta Ala4, Sar9, Met(O2)] SP(4-11), at a concentration of 1 microM induced a relaxation of 40 +/- 5, 33 +/- 4 and 31 +/- 6%, respectively in E+ segments.

Renal permeability alteration precedes hypertension and involves bradykinin in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Vascular permeability disorders have been described in experimental models, as well as in human hypertension. We recently described the fact that vascular permeability to albumin is heterogeneous in the normal rat. In the present study, we examine the contents of Evans blue dye (EB) bound to albumin in selected organs of unanesthetized Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at various stages of development of hypertension.

Neurokinin A (NK2) receptor revisited with SR 48968, a potent non-peptide antagonist.

SR 48968, a new non-peptide antagonist of NK2 receptors, has been tested in a variety of isolated smooth muscle preparations from rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters and men, in order to assess its selectivity for NK2 receptors as well as its competitivity and specificity. The compound has been found to be inactive as a stimulant or relaxant in all preparations but to exert a potent, competitive antagonism, particularly in tissues obtained from rabbits (pA2 9.8-10.

Characterization of a novel binding site for 125I-Tyr-D-Arg-[Hyp3,D-Phe7,Leu8]bradykinin on epithelial membranes of guinea pig ileum.

We have recently shown that (a) [125I-Tyr8]bradykinin (BK) recognized bradykinin binding sites in guinea pig epithelium membranes with a Kd value of 1.6 nM and a Bmax of 156 fmol/mg protein, and (b) B2 agonists and some B2 antagonists, such as D-Arg-[Hyp3,D-Phe7,Leu8]BK, inhibited this specific binding with a Ki value of 32 nM. In the present study, we have radioiodinated the B2 antagonist Tyr-D-Arg-[Hyp3,D-Phe7,Leu8]BK and have performed a full characterization of the binding properties of this tracer in the same membrane preparation.

Pharmacological characterization of a new highly potent B2 receptor antagonist (HOE 140: D-Arg-[Hyp3,Thi5,D-Tic7,Qic8]bradykinin).

HOE 140 (D-Arg-[Hyp3,Thi5,D-Tic7,Oic8]bradykinin), a new B2 antagonist, was compared to R-493 (D-Arg[Hyp3-D-Phe7,Leu8]bradykinin) with respect to inhibition of the responses of seven isolated smooth muscle preparations to bradykinin. R-493 was found to exert: (a) high antagonistic activity on the rabbit jugular vein (pA2 of 8.86), (b) moderate activity on the rabbit aorta, guinea-pig ileum, hamster urinary bladder and human urinary bladder (pA2 of 5.

Direct effects of bradykinin on glomerular filtration and proximal tubule reabsorption in rat kidney.

Intrarenal infusion of a low dose of bradykinin devoid of extrarenal action exerts direct vasodilator and diuretic effects on rat kidney. It does not significantly alter glomerular filtration rate and absolute proximal reabsorption but increases the delivery of fluid from the proximal tubule evaluated by the clearance of lithium. None of these effects are observed in kidneys infused with both bradykinin and a specific bradykinin antagonist.

125I-Tyr,D-Arg[Hyp3,D-Phe7,Leu8]BK, a radiolabelled B2 antagonist specifically interacts with two distinct binding sites on epithelial membranes of guinea pig ileum.

Kinins are endogenously formed peptides that have diverse biological actions, including effects on the gastrointestinal tract. In the search of selective ligands, we studied the binding properties of a selective B2 radioiodinated antagonist (Tyr,D-Arg[Hyp3,D-Phe7,Leu8]BK) on epithelial membranes of guinea pig ileum. Equilibrium binding experiments showed that 125I-Tyr,D-Arg[Hyp3,D-Phe7,Leu8]BK specifically labels two different sites.

Kinin receptor classification.

Apparent affinities of kinin agonists and antagonists were determined in terms of pD2 and pA2 respectively, on three isolated smooth muscles: rabbit jugular vein (Rb.J.V.

Characterization of two different affinity B2-kinin binding sites in rat glomeruli.

We have recently characterized a bradykinin (BK) receptor in rat renal mesangial cells (1). Activation of this receptor is associated with PGE2 release and IP3 formation suggesting involvement in cell contraction which can be linked to the control of the glomerular filtration rate (2). Whether this mesangial BK receptor is the unique glomerular BK receptor remains to be elucidated.

Non-selectivity of new bradykinin antagonists for B1 receptors.

Two new B1 receptor antagonists, [Hyp3,Thi5,DTic7,Oic8]desArg9-BK and DArg[Hyp3,Thi5,DTic7,Oic8]desArg9-BK were tested in vitro on the rabbit jugular vein and the guinea pig ileum (preparations containing B2 receptors) and on the rabbit aorta (preparation containing B1 receptors) for pharmacological characterization. The results indicate that both compounds are antagonists on both B1 and B2 receptors, are competitive and discriminate between B2A and B2B receptor subtypes.

The role of B1- and B2-kinin receptors in the renal tubular and hemodynamic response to bradykinin.

Bradykinin (BK) is known to induce diuresis (UV), natriuresis (UNaV), and increased renal blood flow (RPF) with little or no change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In this study, BK is infused alone and concurrently with B1- or B2-kinin receptor antagonists into the left kidney of pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. The intrarenal infusion of BK (bolus: 0.

Involvement of NK1 receptors and importance of the N-terminal sequence of substance P in the stimulation of protein secretion in rat parotid glands.

Recent in vitro studies have shown that the dose-response curve of substance P on [3H]protein secretion from rat parotid glands is biphasic. Such a response could result either from the activation of tachykinin receptors or from the amphiphilic character of substance P, since it has previously been shown that the N-terminal part of substance P may play an important role in the activation of phosphoinositides in rat parotid glands. To investigate these possibilities, we studied the effects of selective NK1, NK2, NK3 receptor agonists and C-terminal fragments of substance P and neurokinin A on protein secretion from rat parotid lobules.

Neurokinins produce selective venoconstriction via NK-3 receptors in the rat mesenteric vascular bed.

The vasoactive properties of the neurokinins (substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neurokinin B (NKB)) and some selective analogues were assessed in the arterial and venous mesenteric beds of the rat. Although both sides of the mesenteric vasculature displayed endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine (ACh) or bradykinin (BK) (1 and 10 nmol), SP and the selective NK-1 analogue, [Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP were inactive. Of the three selective neurokinin agonists used, [Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP (NK-1), [beta-Ala8]NKA-(4-10) (NK-2) and [MePhe7]NKB (NK-3), only the latter induced a dose-dependent pressor effect in the venous mesenteric vasculature.

An investigation of angiotensin II agonist and antagonist analogues with 5,5-dimethylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and other constrained amino acids.

To probe the receptor-bound conformational requirements of angiotensin II (ANG II) octapeptide agonists and antagonists, the synthesis and biological activities of [Sar1]ANG II agonist and [Sar1,X8]ANG II antagonist analogues (X8 = Ile, D-Phe, or Aib) bearing conformational constraints in positions 3, 5, and 7 were investigated and compared with previous literature efforts. The conformational constraints that were examined include Pro, Dtc (5,5-dimethylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid), Aib, Cle, (NMe)Ala, (NMe)Ile, and the lactam modification, L,L-lactam-Phe, previously described by Freidinger et al. (J.

Binding sites for [3H][Sar9, Met(O2)11]substance P in rat brain and guinea pig ileum.

[3H][Sar9,Met(O2)11]substance P (SP) with high specific activity (32 Ci/mmol) was used to study neurokinin-1 (NK-1) binding sites on rat brain and smooth muscle membranes of the guinea pig ileum. The specific binding of [3H][Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP was shown to be saturable, reversible and increased in parallel with the protein concentration. Scatchard analyses of equilibrium binding experiments revealed that [3H][Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP binds to a class of non-interacting binding sites in rat brain membranes (Kd = 2 nM, Bmax = 56 fmol/mg of protein) and ileum muscle membranes (Kd = 2 nM, Bmax = 194 fmol/mg of protein).

Pharmacological evaluation of the angiotensin, kinin, and neurokinin receptors on the rabbit vena cava.

Angiotensin II, bradykinin, and substance P are powerful vasoconstrictors of venous smooth muscle. In this report, we have characterized the receptors and the cellular mechanisms of these vasoactive peptides on a new isolated smooth muscle preparation, the rabbit vena cava. Receptors were characterized using agonists and antagonists and were found to be of the AT, B2, and NK-1 types.

New highly potent bradykinin B2 receptor antagonists.

pA2 values of new B2 receptor antagonists ranging from 7.51 to 8.86 were measured on the rabbit jugular vein, while lower values were observed in the other preparations (for instance, the hamster urinary bladder).

Influence of the replacement of amino acid by its D-enantiomer in the sequence of substance P. 1. Binding and pharmacological data.

The D-enantiomer of residues 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 was introduced in the sequence of Substance P: Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2. The achiral glycine residue was replaced by a D-Ala residue. Regarding NK-1 binding potencies or activities, changing to the D-enantiomer in positions 2, 4 or 5 did not modify the pharmacological patterns of the resulting peptides.

Effect of synthetic tachykinin analogues on airway microvascular leakage in rats and guinea-pigs: evidence for the involvement of NK-1 receptors.

1. The NK-1 selective agonists [beta-Ala4, Sar9]SP-(4-11) sulphone and [pGlu6, Pro9]SP-(6-11) dose-dependently increased vascular permeability in various segments of rat and guinea-pig tracheo-bronchial region, while the NK-2 ([Nle10]NKA-(4-10) and [beta-Ala8]NKA-(4-10)) or NK-3 ([MePhe7]NKB and [MePhe7]NKB-(4-10)) selective agonists were inactive. These findings provide evidence that the inflammatory response of the airway to intravenous tachykinins is exclusively mediated by the NK-1 receptor subtype.

Characterization of bradykinin receptors in peripheral organs.

Bradykinin (BK) and related kinins are potent stimulants of the rabbit jugular vein, the hamster urinary bladder, and the guinea pig trachea. The characterization of kinin receptors in these tissues was made with agonists and antagonists. Results obtained with agonists indicate that bradykinin and kallidin are much more active than des-Arg9-BK and suggest the presence of B2 receptors in the three organs.