Extracellular Somatostatin Measured by Microdialysis in the Hippocampus of Freely Moving Rats: Evidence for Neuronal Release

Abstract: Intracerebral microdialysis combined with a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay was used to monitor the neuronal release of somatostatin (somatostatin-like immunoreactivity, SLI) in the dorsal hippocampus of freely moving rats. The sensitivity of the radioimmunoassay was optimized to detect <1 fmol/ml. The basal concentration of SLI in 20-min dialysate fractions (5 μl/min) collected 24 h after probe implantation was stable over at least 200 min. The spontaneous efflux dropped by 54 ± 6.4% ( p < 0.05) when Ca²⁺ was omitted and 1 m M EGTA added to the Krebs-Ringer solution and by 65.5 ± 3.2% ( p < 0.05) in the presence of 1 μ M tetrodotoxin. Depolarizing concentrations of the Na⁺ channel opener veratridine (6.25, 25, 100 μ M ) induced 11 ± 2 ( p < 0.05), 17 ± 2 ( p < 0.05), and 21 ± 5 ( p < 0.01) fold increase in SLI concentration, respectively, during the first 20 min of perfusion. The effect of 100 μ M veratridine was blocked by coperfusion with 5 μ M tetrodotoxin ( p < 0.01) and reduced by 79% ( p < 0.01) in the virtual absence of Ca²⁺. Neuronal depolarization by 20 min of perfusion with Krebs-Ringer solution containing 25 and 50 m M KCl and proportionally lowered Na⁺ increased the dialysate SLI 4.4 ± 1 ( p < 0.05) and 17 ± 3 ( p < 0.01) fold baseline, respectively. Ten micromolar ouabain, a blocker of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, increased the dialysate SLI 15-fold baseline, on average ( p < 0.05), during 80 min of perfusion. The results demonstrate the suitability of brain microdialysis for monitoring the neuronal release of SLI and for studying its role in synaptic transmission.     

Somatostatin

Summary 1. Somatostatin (SRIF) exerts diverse physiological actions in the body including regulation of hormone and neurotransmitter release and neuronal firing activity. Analogs of SRIF are used clinically to treat tumors and cancers and to block the hypersecretion of growth hormone in acromegaly.2. The recent cloning of five SRIF receptor subtypes has allowed for the identification of the molecular basis of the cellular actions of SRIF. The ligand binding domains and regions involved in coupling to G proteins and cellular effector systems are being identified and the processes by which SRIF inhibits cell growth and proliferation are being established. Furthermore, subtype selective agonists have been generated which are being used to investigate the specific biological roles of each SRIF receptor subtypes.3. Such information will be useful in developing a new generation of SRIF drugs that could be employed to treat metabolic diseases, disorders of the gut, cancer and abnormalities in the central nervous system such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease.     

Design and bioactivities of melanotropic peptide agonists and antagonists: Design based on a conformationally constrained somatostatin template

-Melanotropin and ACTH, POMC peptides, initiate biological activity by interaction with the classical pigment cell (-MSH receptor, MC1R) and adrenal gland (ACTH receptor, MC2R) melanocortin receptors, respectively. The recently discovered MC3R, MC4R and MC5R receptors provide new targets and new biological functions for POMC peptides. We have developed conformationally constrained -melanotropin peptides that interact with all of these receptors as agonists and antagonists and are examining new approaches to obtain highly selective ligands for each of these melanocortin receptors. Previously, we had converted somatostatin-derived peptides into potent and highly selective analogues that act as antagonists at the opioid receptors. Using the reverse turn template that came out of these studies, we have designed, de novo, agonist and antagonist peptide analogues that interact with melanocortin receptors.     

Design and bioactivities of melanotropic peptide agonists and antagonists: Design based on a conformationally constrained somatostatin template

Summary α-Melanotropin and ACTH, POMC peptides, initiate biological activity by interaction with the classical pigment cell (α-MSH receptor, MC1R) and adrenal gland (ACTH receptor, MC2R) melanocortin receptors, respectively. The recently discovered MC3R, MC4R and MC5R receptors provide new targets and new biological functions for POMC peptides. We have developed conformationally constrained α-melanotropin peptides that interact with all of these receptors as agonists and antagonists and are examining new approaches to obtain highly selective ligands for each of these melanocortin receptors. Previously, we had converted somatostatin-derived peptides into potent and highly selective analogues that act as antagonists at the μ opioid receptors. Using the reverse turn template that came out of these studies, we have designed, de novo, agonist and antagonist peptide analogues that interact with melanocortin receptors.     

Modulation of acetylcholine-induced secretion of gastric bombesin-like immunoreactivity by cholinergic and histamine H2-receptors, somatostatin and intragastric pH

Recently we have shown the release of bombesin-like immunoreactivity (BLI) from the isolated perfused rat stomach. In these experiments we have shown that BLI secretion is stimulated by acetylcholine. Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) exerts an inhibitory effect which is dependent on the intraluminal pH. The present study was designed to examine further the exact cholinergic mechanisms and to study the interaction between cholinergic and histaminergic mechanisms as well as the effect of the intraluminal pH. Acetylcholine elicited a dose-dependent increase in BLI and gastrin secretion (10(-6) M and 2 X 10(-6)M), whereas somatostatin release was suppressed at luminal pH 7. Blockade of muscarinic cholinergic receptors by atropine (10(-5)M) and nicotinic cholinergic receptors by hexamethonium (10(-5) M) abolished the effect of acetylcholine on all three peptides. Reduction of the intraluminal pH to 2 also abolished acetylcholine-induced stimulation of BLI and gastrin secretion and the inhibition of somatostatin secretion. Changes of intraluminal pH per se had no effect on the secretion of either peptide. Somatostatin (10(-7) M) reduced both BLI and gastrin secretion during stimulation with acetylcholine. The addition of the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine (10(-5) M) abolished the effect of both doses of acetylcholine on BLI and somatostatin secretion and also the effect of the lower dose of acetylcholine (10(-6) M) on gastrin secretion during luminal pH 7. At luminal pH 2 cimetidine did not alter BLI and somatostatin secretion in response to acetylcholine, however, gastrin release was augmented in the presence of cimetidine. These data demonstrate that the effect of acetylcholine on BLI, gastrin, and somatostatin secretion is mediated by muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptors and also by histamine H2-receptors. Somatostatin inhibits cholinergically induced BLI secretion. The cholinergic effects on BLI, somatostatin and gastrin secretion are abolished during an acidic intragastric pH. In this isolated perfused rat stomach model the inhibitory effect of intraluminal acid on gastrin secretion is, at least in part, mediated by H2-receptors. This suggests that the secretion of bombesin, a potential peptidergic neurotransmitter is modulated by neural, endocrine and local tissue factors and also by alterations of intragastric pH.     

Evidence for a role of somatostatin in lipid metabolism of liver and adipose tissue

We have studied the effects of somatostatin on lipid metabolism in liver and adipose tissue of fasted mice. The animals were injected subcutaneously with 8 micrograms somatostatin and killed 5 min after injection. In vivo incorporation of [14C]acetate into triglycerides in both tissues and into hepatic cholesterol was significantly enhanced by somatostatin. Concomitantly, a decrease of triglyceride lipase activity was observed, which corresponds well with the variation undergone by cyclic AMP-protein kinase system. In addition, a marked increase of serum cholesterol levels was observed. Additionally, in vitro experiments were also performed by employing 2.4 X 10(-6) M somatostatin. The results showed that the direct effect of somatostatin on liver seems to be a decrease in acetate uptake. The results obtained with the adipose tissue were similar to those obtained in in vivo conditions. On the other hand, when somatostatin was administered in vivo, the ability to incorporate ortho[32P]phosphate into phospholipids was enhanced in both tissues. Likewise in the in vitro experiments with [14C]acetate, the somatostatin seems to act by decreasing the ortho[32 P]phosphate uptake in liver. While in adipose tissue the somatostatin only caused a strong increase in the specific activity of phosphatidylcholine. These data demonstrate in fasted mice that somatostatin is able to counteract the lipolytic manifestations of the fasted state.     

Carbohydrates modulate opiate receptor mediated mechanisms during postprandial endocrine function

The present study was designed to determine the role of carbohydrates during naloxone-induced opiate receptor blockade upon the postprandial rise of plasma somatostatin (SLI), insulin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) levels in response to protein and fat test meals in conscious dogs. Test meals consisting of 50 g liver extract + 50 g sucrose or 50 g corn oil + 50 g sucrose dissolved in 300 ml water were instilled intragastrically, respectively. Additionally, liver extract and fat meals were given with a concomitant intravenous infusion of glucose. To all test meals either naloxone (4 mg) or saline was added. The addition of sucrose to liver extract or the infusion of i.v. glucose during the liver meal abolished the inhibitory effect of naloxone on the rise of postprandial somatostatin levels which has been described recently. The addition of carbohydrate either orally or intravenously to the fat meal resulted in an even stimulatory effect of naloxone upon the rise of postprandial somatostatin levels. Insulin levels were not changed during liver extract + sucrose or i.v. glucose, respectively. When sucrose or i.v. glucose was administered together with the fat meal the addition of naloxone augmented postprandial insulin secretion. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) release was augmented during the combination of sucrose or i.v. glucose with the fat and liver meal when naloxone was present in the meals. The present data demonstrate that the addition of carbohydrates either orally or intravenously to fat and protein meals modulates the effect of endogenous opiates in the regulation of postprandial somatostatin, insulin and pancreatic polypeptide release in dogs in a way that carbohydrates induce inhibitory mechanisms that are mediated via endogenous opiate receptors.     

Studies of somatostatin-induced barrel rotation in rats

Somatostatin (SRIF) has been reported to induce abnormalities of motor behavior in rats when injected intraventricularly. Following an injection, non-lesioned rats develop unilateral extension of the limbs, a twist about the long axis, and repeated lateral rolling, called "barrel rotation". It has not been clear whether this behavior is due to a pharmacologic action of SRIF, such as an effect of SRIF on systems of motor control. Prior reports observed the response only at high doses of SRIF, and found no dose-response relationship for it. We have investigated whether this response is due to a pharmacologic effect of SRIF. We have also studied where SRIF acts, when injected intraventricularly, to induce this response. We have found that SRIF-induced rotation increases linearly with doses up to 10 micrograms and thereafter declines. Biologically inactive analogues of SRIF did not induce barrel rotation. Dose-response studies of intraventricular and intracerebral microinjections indicated that SRIF acts at the vestibular nuclear complex (VNC) to induce rotation. At VNC, 0.25 micrograms SRIF produced postural abnormalities. We conclude that barrel rotation is due to a pharmacologic action of SRIF, and that SRIF does act upon a system of motor control, the VNC, to induce this response.     

High affinity binding sites for somatostatin to rat pituitary

Binding sites for somatostatin (SS) are described in rat pituitary membranes using either [¹²⁵I-Tyr¹¹]-SS-14 or [Leu⁸, D-Trp²², ¹²⁵I-Tyr²⁵]-SS-28 as radioligands; in each case saturable and high affinity binding sites with K_D's for SS of 1.09 and 0.95 nM respectively have been characterized. The binding capacity is 100 f mols/mg protein. The potencies of various SS analogs measured in the radioreceptor assay are in agreement with the potencies in a bioassay measuring inhibition of growth hormone release; in particular, SS-28 is slightly less potent than SS-14. A comparison of these data with those describing SS binding in brain and pancreas suggests that some pharmacological differences may exist between pituitary, brain and pancreas binding sites for SS.