Summary
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1.
The mechanical activity of the circular muscle of the isolated guinea-pig ileum in response to various spasmogenic compounds was investigated. Contractions were recorded isotonically.
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2.
Caerulein (>0.1 nM), bombesin (>1 nM), substanceP (>2 nM), 5-hydroxytryptamine and bethanechol (>0.5 μM), and dimethylphenylpiperazinium (>3 μM) induced rhythmic contractions superimposed on an increased tone.
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3.
Tetrodotoxin (0.93 μM) abolished the actions of caerulein, bombesin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and dimethylphenylpiperazinium, partially inhibited the effect of substance P, but did not influence the contractile response to bethanechol.
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4.
The met-enkephalin analogue FK 33-824 (0.17 μM) abolished the action of only those compounds whose action was suppressed by tetrodotoxin, whereas noradrenaline (1.78 μM) blocked the effect of all six spasmogenic compounds studied.
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5.
An indirect action of caerulein, bombesin, substance P, 5-hydroxytryptamine, or dimethylphenylpiperazinium on the circular muscle by excitation of cholinergic neurones could be excluded because of the ineffectivity of tropicamide (3.64 μM).
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6.
Experiments employing tachyphylaxis to either substance P or 5-hydroxytryptamine showed that the contractile response to caerulein may involve release of endogenous substance P and that the action of substance P may be mediated via an indoleaminergic pathway.
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7.
The results imply that excitatory neurotransmitter candidates of the intestine such as cholecystokinin-like peptides (an analogue of which is caerulein), bombesin-like peptides, substance P, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and acetylcholine are able to induce rhythmic, peristalsis-like contractions of the intestinal circular muscle in physiologically relevant concentrations.
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Holzer, P., Lembeck, F. & Donnerer, J. Caerulein, substance P, serotonin, and cholinomimetics induce rhythmic contractions of the intestinal circular muscle. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 312, 131–137 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00569721
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00569721