促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素对人早期胎盘组织绒毛膜促性腺激素释放的调节作用

为探讨人早期胎盘组织产生的促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）的生物学作用及其绒毛膜促性腺激素（hCG）合成和释放的调控机制,在人早期胎盘组织体外孵育模型上研究了CRH及其拮抗剂（α－HelicalCRF9-41）对hCG基础分泌和由GnRH刺激的hCG分泌的影响。结果表明,10-10～10-7mol／L的外源性CRH可明显抑制hCG的基础释放（P＜0.05）,而以10-7mol／L作用最显著（P＜0．001）;加入10-7mol／L的CRH4小时后,hCG释放量开始有所下降,但尚无统计学差异,到加药后8小时,CRH组已明显低于相应的对照组（P＜0．05）,以加药后16小时抑制作用最明显（P＜0．001）,到24小时抑制作用趋于减弱,但与同期对照相比仍有显著差异（P＜0．05）;10-7mol／L和10-5mol／L的α-HelicalCRF9-41可明显刺激hCG的分泌（P＜0.001）;2×10-7mol／L和2×10-6mol／L的α－HelicalCRF9-41可完全逆转CRH对hCG释放的抑制作用;2×10-9～2×10-7mol／L的CRH对由GnRH诱导的hCG释放有明显的抑制作用。这些结果提示,由胎盘的合体滋养层产生的CRH,通过受体介导机制,不仅对hCG基础分泌,且对由GnRH诱导的hCG分泌都有明显的抑制作用,且这种作用具有特定的时间依赖性和剂量依赖性．CRH可能是参与hCG分泌调控的生理性负调节团子之一.     

大鼠内毒素血症不同时期血浆CGRP和背根神经节CGRP mRNA水平的变化

本文采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）方法测定大鼠内毒素血症不同时期胸腰段背根神经节降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）mRNA水平的改变,结合血浆CGRP水平的改变,以期全面了解大鼠内毒素血症不同时期CGRP释放与合成的变化。结果显示：注射内毒素（5mg／kg）后30min时,大鼠血浆CGRP开始增高,而背根神经节CGRPmRNA水平无明显变化;注射内毒素后3h时,血浆CGRP及背根神经节CGRPmRNA均明显增高．分别为142％和32％,8h时则进一步增高,分别为216％和85％。提示内毒素不仅刺激外周组织释放CGRP,而且还能通过某些机制激活背根神经节CGRPmRNA的转录,使CGRP合成增加,以作为CGRP大量释放的重要补充来源。     

肾上腺髓质素和降钙素基因相关肽受体在血管平滑肌细胞的脱敏—受体活性修饰蛋白的作用

新近研究发现,肾上腺髓质素（adrenomedullin,ADM)和降钙素基因相关肽（calcitonin gene-related peptide,CGRP)均能与降钙素受体样受体（calcitoni receptor-like receptor,CRLR)结合,其配体特异性由受体活性修饰蛋白（receptor activity-modifying protein RAMP)调控,本工作在离体培养的大鼠胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞（vsacular smooth muscle cells,VSMCs)上观察ADM和CGRP受体脱敏现象,以探讨CRLR／RAMP假说在心血管组织方面的意义,用无血清培养基（serum-free medium,SFM)和含有10^-8mol/L ADM,CGRP和肾上腺髓素质前体原N－末端20肽（proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide PAMP）的SFM培养,再用10^-8mol/L ADM或 CGRP和磷酸二酯酶的抑制剂异丙基次黄苷（isobutyryl methyxanthine,IBMX)与VSMCs进行第二次孵育,然后收集细胞,测定VSMCs cAMP含量。10^-8mol/LADM,CGRP和PAMP单独与VSMCs孵育,VSMCs cAMP含量分别较SFM组高191％（P＜0．01）,385％（P＜0．01）和67％（P＜0．05）,预先用10^-8mol/L ADM ak CGRP与VSMCs孵育可降低随后的CGRP刺激VSMCs产生cAMP,分别较单次CGRP育少44％（P＜0．05）和48％（P＜0．01）,预先用100nmol/L蛋白激酶A（PKA）抑制剂H－89处理VSMCs,可完全阻断ADM和CGRP预处理诱导的第二次CGRP刺激的VSMCs cAMP含量减少,表明VSMCs对CGRP的脱敏过程是通过PKA途径实现的,预先用ADM,CGRP处理VSMCs后,用ADM第二次孵育,细胞内cAMP含量与单次ADM孵育无明显改变,PKA抑制H－89与VSMCs孵育,无论对欠ADM刺激或对ADM和CGRP处理的第二次刺激的cAMP生成均无影响,用PAMP处理VSMCs后,ADM和CGRP的第二次刺激的VSMCs cAMP水平无明显改变（P＞0．05）。结果提示,在离体培养的大鼠VSMCs,ADM epc wsg i euk txgtdmj CGRP受体对预先用ADM和CGRP处理后的激动剂的第二次刺激都脱敏,表明ADM和CGRP的脱敏现象不一致。     

大黄素影响巨噬细胞升高[Ca2+]i 和释放TNF-α的作用特征

为了研究大黄素（emodin)对正常的和细菌脂多糖（LPS）刺激的大鼠腹腔巨噬细胞（PMφ）释放肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF－α）和升高[Ca^2 ]i的影响,应用L929细胞系和MTT法检测TNF－α量,同时用激光共焦扫描显微术检测单细胞[Ca^2 ]i变化动力学。结果显示大黄素能轻度促进正常PMφ释放TNF－α,并发现大黄素诱发PMφ[Ca^2 ]i变化呈振荡波模式。大黄紫显著抑制LPS刺激PMφ过度释放TNF－α和升高[Ca^2 ]i,10^-5mol/L大黄素抑制了10mg/L LPS刺激的TNF－α峰值的50％和[Ca^2 ]i峰值的68％。LPS诱发MPφ[Ca^2 ]i变化呈现高幅值的“平台期”,大黄素使之转变为低幅值的波动变化。以上结果说明,大黄素对PMφ释放TNF－α和升高[Ca^2 ]i表现出的双向调节作用之间有一定的相关性,大黄素对LPS诱发的[Ca^2 ]i升高的调制,可能是抑制LPS刺激PMφ释放TNF－α的信号传导通路中的重要环节。     

氯离子通道阻断剂对豚鼠耳蜗螺旋动脉平滑肌细胞兴奋性接头电位的影响

血管平滑肌细胞膜上存在氯离子通道,不仅参与调节平滑肌细胞的肌原性紧张,而且参与多种血管床的神经平滑肌细胞之间的信息传递,但氯离子通道及其阻断剂对耳蜗螺旋动脉（spiral modiol arartery,SMA）平滑肌细胞兴奋性接头电位（excitatory junction potential,EJP）是否有影响,尚不清楚。本实验运用细胞内微电极记录技术,在豚鼠耳蜗SMA离体标本上,研究氯通道阻断剂（niflumic acid,NFA,indanyloxyacetic acid 94,IAA-94;disodium 4,4’-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2．2’-disulfonate,DIDS）对去甲肾上腺素（norepinephrine,NE）引起SMA平滑肌细胞去极化反应和平滑肌细胞EJP的影响。结果显示,多数SMA平滑肌细胞在适宜的刺激下,通过神经兴奋传递产生EJP（75％,n=49）。在联合使用α1（prazosin,0．1-1 μmol／L）,α2（idazoxan,0．3-1μmol／L）和P2x（PPADS,10-100μmol／L）受体拮抗剂时,所产生的EJP幅值仅有30％-80％被抑制。在使用上述拮抗剂的基础上,NFA（10-1000μmol/L）能进一步抑制EJP,而且缩短EJP的时程。减少细胞外氯离子浓度（由135．6mmol／L减少到60mmol／L）,在同样刺激强度下激起的EJP的幅度和时程均增加,低氯的这一作用可被IAA-94和DIDS所反转。NFA和IAA-94也可进一步抑制α1、α2和β受体拮抗剂联合使用不能消除的NE（1—50μmol／L）引起的去极化反应。结果提示：NE可能通过激活一类非α、非β肾上腺能受体（可能属于γ肾上腺能受体）引起氯离子通道开放,增加氯离子电导,调节耳蜗SMA平滑肌细胞的生理活动。     

N—硝基精氨酸抑制海马神经元兴奋机制

研究N－硝基精氨酸（L－NNA）在青霉素诱发的培养海马CA1区神经元细胞兴奋过程中的抑制机制。用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察发现4000IU／ ml的青霉素可诱发一氧化氮（NO）的快速合成模式。L-NNA(0-10μmol/L）呈剂量依赖性抑制NO的合成和青霉素刺激15min后谷氨酸水平的二次升高。同时发现1μmol/L和10μmol/L剂量的L－NNA可显著抑制甲硫氨酸脑啡肽的水平,而10μmol/L剂量的L－NNA还显著升高强啡肽－B的水平。对L－NNA抑制谷氨酸水平二次升高效应,100μmol/L的甲硫氨酸脑啡肽受体抑制剂β－funaltrexamine(β-FNA）可显著协同,而100μmol/L的强啡肽－B受体抑制剂norbinaltorphimine(nor-BIN)则显著逆转。以上结果提示：L－NNA抑制4000IU／ml的青霉素诱导的NO合成,并进而通过抑制氨酸脑啡肽水平,升高强啡肽－B水平来抑制谷氨酸水平,调节神经元的兴奋性。     

淋巴细胞合成的内源性儿茶酚胺对T细胞增殖功能的影响

目的：提供淋巴细胞合成儿茶酚胺（CAs）的证据,并探讨淋巴细胞合成的内源性CAs对淋巴细胞自身功能的影响及其受体介导机制。方法：用RT-PCR技术检测CAs合成的限速酶酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）mRNA在大鼠肠系膜淋巴结细胞内的表达。用单胺氧化酶（CAs降解酶）的抑制剂优降宁及α1、α2、β1和β2肾上腺素受体（AR）的拮抗剂作用于淋巴细胞．然后用四唑蓝比色法测定淋巴细胞对刀豆蛋白A（ConA）刺激的增殖反应。结果：大鼠肠系膜淋巴结细胞具有,TH mRNA的表达,并且淋巴细胞在用ConA刺激活化后,其TH mRNA的表达明显上调。10^-6和10^-5mol／L优降宁能显著抑制ConA诱导的T淋巴细胞增殖,而10^-7mol／L优降宁不能明显降低T淋巴细胞的增殖反应。β2-AR拮抗剂ICI 118551（10^-7和10^-6mol／L）可完全阻断优降宁（10^-5mol／L）对T细胞增殖的抑制作用;α1-AR拮抗剂柯喃因和α2-AR拮抗剂育亨宾部分阻断优降宁抑制T细胞增殖的作用;而β1-AR拮抗剂阿替洛尔不能阻断优降宁的抑制作用。结论：淋巴细胞具有合成CAs的能力,这种合成能力随着淋巴细胞的激活而明显增强。淋巴细胞合成的内源性CAs可能通过自分泌或／和旁分泌路径主要激活淋巴细胞上的β2-AR,从而抑制T细胞的增殖反应。     

α7烟碱型胆碱能受体调节胆管癌细胞化疗敏感性的相关探讨

目的：观察尼古丁对胆管癌细胞QBC939化疗敏感性影响,并初步探讨其作用靶点。方法：应用MTT法检测α7烟碱型胆碱能受体激动剂尼古丁及其阻断剂仪银环蛇毒素（α-BTX）干预后的人胆管癌细胞QBC939经5-FU处理后存活增殖能力变化,应用单克隆平板试验观察尼古丁及α银环蛇毒素对5-FU处理后细胞克隆形成率变化。结果：经5-fu处理后,尼古丁刺激组（终浓度分别为10-3g／L、10-4g／L、10-5g／L）细胞存活率分别为128％、124％、118％,细胞存活率较阴性对照组明显升高,并呈一定的浓度依赖性,而α银环蛇毒素刺激组（2ug／mL）、尼古丁α银环蛇毒素联合组细胞存活率分别为92％、94％、93％、92％。尼古丁刺激组（6．2±0．40）的克隆形成能力明显高于α银环蛇毒素刺激组（3．2±0．20）、联合组（3．2±0．20）及对照组（3．4±0．33）;结论：尼古丁可明显降低胆管癌细胞对化疗药物的敏感性,其可能是通过α7烟碱型胆碱能受体发挥化疗抵抗效应。     

虎纹蛙促性腺激素释放激素分泌调节的离体研究

利用离体静态孵育系统和放射免疫测定法,研究了性成熟的虎纹蛙雌蛙离体的视前－下丘脑－正中隆起（P－H－ME）片段促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH)的分泌调节。结果表明：γ－氨基丁酸（GABA）对成熟前期蛙离体P－H－ME片段的哺乳类GnRH（mGnRH)的释放有显著的刺激作用;随着GABA作用浓度的增加,刺激作用逐渐增强。100μmol/L的多巴胺（DA）及1μmol/L和10μmol/L的雌二醇(E2）则显著抑制鸡ⅡGnRH(cGnRH-Ⅱ)的释放。10μmol/L和100μmol/L的睾酮（T）以及10μmol/L的E2显著刺激冬眠期蛙P－H－ME片段mGnRH的释放。这些结果表明,GABA,DA及E2和T对虎蚊蛙GnRH的释放有直接的调节作用。     

NO在CCK—8减轻肿瘤坏死因子诱导兔肺动脉反应性变化中的作用

为探讨八肽胆囊收缩素（CCK－8）缓解内毒素休克时肺动脉高压的作用机制,应用离体血管环张力测定技术及一氧化氮合酶（NOS）检测方法,观察了一氧化氮（NO）在CCK－8减轻肿瘤坏死因子－α（tumor necrosis factor-al-pha,TNF-α）的抑制肺动脉内皮依赖性舒张反应中的作用。结果显示：TNF－α（4000U／ml）孵育2h时,肺动脉对10^-6mol/L苯肾上腺素(phenylephrine,PE）和10^-6mol/L乙酰胆碱（ACh）的收缩反应及内皮依赖性舒张反应均无明显变化。TNF－α孵育7或14h时,肺动脉对10^-6mol/L ACh介导的内皮依赖性舒张反应降低,CCK－8（0.5μg/ml）可逆转TNF－α的上述作用,CCK－8本身对正常肺动脉反应性无明显影响。TNF－α、CCK－8对PE引起的收缩反应无显著影响。L－精氨酸（L－Arg）可使TNF－α7h内皮依赖性舒张作用恢复。氨基胍（AG）不影响各组肺动脉对10^-6mol/L ACh的内皮依赖性舒张反应,而使TNF－α组肺动脉环对10^-6mol/L PE的收缩反应显著增加。L－硝基精氨酸（L－NNA）使各组肺动脉环对10^-6mol/L ACh反应由舒张变为收缩,对10^-6mol/L PE的收缩反应显著增强。检测7h各组NOS活性,TNF－α组、TNF－α＋CCK－8组均较对照组显著增加,CCK－8组与对照组比较无显著差异。上述结果提示,CCK－8可逆转TNF－α对内皮依赖性舒张反应的抑制作用,此作用可能与NO有关。     

Evidence of functional alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in adult-rat adipocytes by using the agonist UK 14304.

The aim of this study was to re-assess whether alpha 2-adrenergic receptors were present in rat adipocytes, by using UK 14304, a new and very selective alpha 2-agonist. The following observations demonstrate the presence of functional alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat adipocytes. (1) Adipocyte lipolysis was dose-dependently inhibited by UK 14304 (maximal effect 80% at 1 microM-UK 14304, 45% at 10 microM-UK 14304, under basal or theophylline-stimulated conditions respectively). (2) UK 14304 bound specifically to purified plasma membranes, with Bmax. = 744 fmol/mg of protein and KD = 9 nM. (3) The effect of UK 14304 was suppressed by alpha 2-antagonists. (4) Adrenaline inhibited lipolysis upon beta-adrenergic blockade (propranolol). (5) The anti-lipolytic effect of UK 14304 was modulated by the age of the rats.     

Characterization and Regional Distribution of α2-Adrenoceptors in Postmortem Human Brain Using the Full Agonist [3H]UK 14304

The full agonist [3H]UK 14304 [5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-yl-amino)-quinoxaline] was used to characterize alpha 2-adrenoceptors in postmortem human brain. The binding at 25 degrees C was rapid (t1/2, 4.6 min) and reversible (t1/2, 14.1 min), and the KD determined from the kinetic studies was 0.48 nM. In frontal cortex, the rank order of potency of adrenergic drugs competing with [3H]UK 14304 or [3H]clonidine showed the specificity for an alpha 2A-adrenoceptor: UK 14304 approximately equal to yohimbine approximately equal to oxymetazoline approximately equal to clonidine greater than phentolamine approximately equal to (-)-adrenaline greater than idazoxan approximately equal to (-)-noradrenaline greater than phenylephrine greater than (+/-)-adrenaline much greater than corynanthine greater than prazosin much greater than (+/-)-propranolol. GTP induced a threefold decrease in the affinity of [3H]UK 14304, with no alteration in the maximum number of binding sites, suggesting that the radioligand labelled the high-affinity state of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor. In the frontal cortex, analyses of saturation curves indicated the existence of a single population of noninteracting sites for [3H]UK 14304 (KD = 0.35 +/- 0.13 nM; Bmax = 74 +/- 9 fmol/mg of protein). In other brain regions (hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum, brainstem, caudate nucleus, and amygdala) the Bmax ranged from 68 +/- 7 to 28 +/- 4 fmol/mg of protein. No significant changes in the KD values were found in the different regions examined. The binding of [3H]UK 14304 was not affected by age, sex or postmortem delay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mechanism of synaptic inhibition by noradrenaline acting at alpha 2-adrenoceptors

The actions of agonists at alpha 2-adrenoceptors were investigated on single cells of the submucous plexus of the guinea pig small intestine. Intracellular recordings were made from neurons in vitro, and noradrenaline and other agonists were applied by adding them to the superfusion solution. The actions of noradrenaline released from terminals of sympathetic nerves was also studied by stimulating the nerves and recording the inhibitory postsynaptic current; this current can be mimicked by brief applications of noradrenaline from a pipette tip positioned within 50 micron of the neuron. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor-bound noradrenaline with an apparent dissociation constant of 15 microM, determined by the method of partial irreversible receptor inactivation: clonidine and 5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-quinoxaline (UK 14304) had dissociation constants of 36 nM and 2.5 microM respectively. Noradrenaline and UK 14304 caused maximal hyperpolarizations, or outward currents; clonidine was a full agonist in only 4 of 35 cells, a partial agonist in 25 cells, and without effect in 4 cells. Clonidine acted as a competitive antagonist of noradrenaline in those cells in which it lacked agonist action; its dissociation equilibrium constant determined by Schild analysis was about 20 nM. The potassium conductance increased by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists, whether they were applied exogenously or released by stimulation of presynaptic nerves, showed marked inward rectification. The neurons showed inward rectification also in the absence of agonist; both types of rectification were eliminated by rubidium (2 mM), barium (3-30 microM) and caesium (2 mM). When the recording electrodes contained the nonhydrolysable derivative of guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP), guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate, GTP-gamma-S), the effects of applied alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists did not reverse when they were washed from the tissue, implying that GTP hydrolysis is necessary for the termination of agonist action. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin abolished the inhibitory synaptic potential (IPSP) and agonist-induced hyperpolarizations. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, forskolin, cholera toxin and sodium fluoride did not affect the responses to alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists. The synaptic hyperpolarization resulting from sympathetic nerve stimulation, or the hyperpolarization evoked by a brief (3-5 ms) application of noradrenaline, began after a latency of about 30 and 60 ms respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Impaired function of alpha2-adrenergic autoreceptors on sympathetic nerves associated with mesenteric arteries and veins in DOCA-salt hypertension

The present study tested the hypothesis that there is impaired function of alpha(2)-adrenergic autoreceptors and increased transmitter release from sympathetic nerves associated with mesenteric arteries and veins from DOCA-salt rats. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the overflow of ATP and norepinephrine (NE) from electrically stimulated mesenteric artery and vein preparations in vitro. In sham arteries, nerve stimulation evoked a 1.5-fold increase in NE release, whereas in DOCA-salt arteries there was a 3.9-fold increase in NE release over basal levels (P < 0.05). In contrast, stimulated ATP release was not different in DOCA-salt arteries compared with sham arteries. In sham veins, nerve stimulation evoked a 2.9-fold increase in NE release, whereas in DOCA-salt veins there was a 8.4-fold increase in NE release over basal levels (P < 0.05). In sham rats NE release, normalized to basal levels, was greater in veins than in arteries (P < 0.05). The alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine (1 microM) increased ATP and NE release in sham but not DOCA-salt arteries. The alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist UK-14304 (10 microM) decreased ATP release in sham but not DOCA-salt arteries. In sham veins, UK-14304 decreased, but yohimbine increased, NE release; effects that were not observed in DOCA-salt veins. These data show that nerve stimulation causes a greater increase in NE release from nerves associated with veins compared with arteries. In addition, impairment of alpha(2)-adrenergic autoreceptor function in sympathetic nerves associated with arteries and veins from DOCA-salt rats results in increased NE release.     

Insulin and glucagon secretion in rats: effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide

Immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been shown to occur in intrapancreatic nerves and islet somatostatin cells in the rat. Therefore, we investigated the effects of CGRP on insulin and glucagon secretion in the rat. CGRP was infused i.v. at one of 3 dose levels (4.3, 17 or 68 pmol/min). Infusion of CGRP alone was found to elevate basal plasma levels of both insulin and glucagon. In contrast, CGRP impaired the plasma insulin responses to both glucose (7 mg/min; P less than 0.001) and arginine (8.5 mg/min; P less than 0.001), and inhibited the arginine-induced increase in plasma glucagon concentrations (P less than 0.001). Since CGRP and somatostatin are colocalized within the D-cells, we also infused CGRP and somatostatin together at equimolar dose levels (17 pmol/min), with glucose (7 mg/min). By that, the increase in plasma insulin concentrations decreased more rapidly than during infusion of either peptide alone. Since alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation is known to inhibit glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, we also infused CGRP together with the specific alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (37 nmol/min). In that way, the plasma insulin-lowering effect of CGRP was prevented. We have shown in the rat: (1) that CGRP stimulates basal insulin and glucagon secretion; (2) that CGRP inhibits stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion; (3) that CGRP and somatostatin more rapidly induce a potent inhibitory action on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion when given together; and (4) that the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine, counteracts the inhibitory action of CGRP on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. We suggest that CGRP is of importance for the regulation of insulin and glucagon secretion in the rat. The mechanisms behind the islet effects of CGRP can not be established by the present results, though they apparently require intact alpha 2-adrenoceptors.     

Functional alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat adipocytes: inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation

Alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation inhibits cyclic AMP accumulation in fat cells from many species. However, the presence of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat adipocytes has been difficult to demonstrate. We observed that alpha 2-adrenergic activation inhibits forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation both in rat and hamster adipocytes; UK 14304, p-amino clonidine and clonidine were the agents with higher efficacy. The effect of UK 14304 was blocked by yohimbine but not by prazosin demonstrating the involvement of alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Pertussis toxin blocked the alpha 2-adrenergic effect. Our results demonstrate the presence in rat fat cells of alpha 2-adrenoceptors coupled to adenylate cyclase via "Gi".     

Alpha2-adrenergic agonist modulation of [35S]GTPgammaS binding to guanine-nucleotide-binding-proteins in human platelet membranes.

Alpha2-adrenoceptor (alpha2-AR)-regulated binding of the labelled GTP analog, guanosine 5'-O-(3-[35S]thiotriphosphate) ([35S]GTPgammaS), to guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) was studied in human platelet membranes. Under optimal conditions, the potent alpha2-AR agonist, 5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-quinoxaline (UK 14304), increased the binding of [35S]GTPgammaS up to approximately 1.8 fold, with half-maximal increase at 60 nM and was competitively inhibited by the alpha2-AR antagonist Rauwolscine. The actions of both UK 14304 and Rauwolscine were modulated by monovalent and divalent cation levels, as well as by the concentrations of GDP. [35S]GTPgammaS binding induced by UK 14304 had a Kd value of 4.5 +/- 0.3 nM and a Bmax value of 4.15 +/- 0.40 pmol/mg protein. The rank order of potencies of adrenergic ligands tested in stimulating [3S]GTPgammaS binding and inhibiting forskolin-stimulated c-AMP accumulation was UK 14304> Guanabenz acetate> Oxymetazoline hydrochloride> B-HT 920 dihydrochloride> p-Aminoclonidine hydrochloride> Clonidine hydrochloride. The data presented indicate that enhancement of [35S]GTPgammaS binding by alpha2-AR in human platelet membranes provides a simple functional measure for receptor activation and can be used for determination of potencies and efficacies of ligands at the alpha2-AR.     

Characterization of the vasorelaxation to methanandamide in rat gastric arteries

In the present study, the relaxant effect of the cannabinoid methanandamide was explored in rat gastric arteries. Since in some vessels cannabinoids have been shown to release calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from perivascular nerves, the influence of methanandamide was compared with that of exogenous CGRP. Methanandamide and CGRP elicited concentration-dependent, endothelium-independent relaxations. Methanandamide-induced relaxations were unaffected by the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251, the CB2 receptor antagonists AM630 and SR144528, and combined pre-exposure to AM251 and SR144528. Pre-exposure to O-1918, an antagonist of a novel nonCB1/nonCB2 cannabinoid receptor, did not influence the relaxations to methanandamide. Capsaicin or capsazepine treatment slightly inhibited methanandamide-induced relaxations. Preincubation with 30 mmol/L extracellular K+ or 3 mmol/L TEA had no significant effect on the responses elicited by methanandamide, but reduced CGRP-induced relaxations. Relaxation to 10(-5) mol/L methanandamide was significantly blunted by Bay K8644 and by preincubation with nifedipine. Furthermore, 10(-5) mol/L methanandamide significantly inhibited CaCl2-induced contractions in norepinephrine-stimulated vessels previously depleted of intra- and extracellular Ca2+. Finally, preincubation with 10(-5) mol/L methanandamide almost completely abolished high K+-induced contractions. These findings suggest that the vasorelaxant action of methanandamide in rat gastric arteries is not mediated by stimulation of known cannabinoid receptors and only partly related to stimulation of TRPV1 receptors on perivascular nerves. At high concentrations, methanandamide might induce relaxation by reducing calcium entry into the smooth muscle cells.     

糖尿病大鼠肠系膜动脉降钙素基因相关肽释放减少以及一氧化氮的作用

我们以前的工作已表明,内毒素可引起降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）从大鼠肠系膜动脉床释放,此作用部分是通过一氧化氮介导的。我们在离体肠系膜动脉床研究了内毒素引起糖尿病大鼠ＣＣＲＰ释放的改变以及一氧化氮所起的作用。采用ＣＣＲＰ放射免疫分析法测定灌流液中ＣＣＲＰ含量,ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ法测定背根神经节ＣＧＲＰｍＲＮＡ水平。结果显示：内毒素累积灌流引起ＣＧＲＰ浓度依赖性地释放增多,此作用在糖尿病大鼠系膜动脉术明显     

Release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from rat enteric nerves is Ca2+-dependent but is not induced by K+ depolarization

The effect of extracellular calcium on the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) induced by electrical field stimulation from enteric nerves of isolated rat ileum was studied; the effect of high potassium, veratridine and caffeine was also examined. Release of endogenous substance P from enteric nerves was also measured for comparison. Electrical field stimulation (10 Hz, 0.3 ms for 2 min) of the ileum preparation caused a significant (P less than 0.001) increase in the release of CGRP and substance P from enteric nerves. The evoked, but not the basal, release of both CGRP and substance P was inhibited in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX). The release of CGRP and substance P induced by electrical stimulation was abolished in Ca2+-free medium containing CDTA and also in normal medium containing the calcium channel blocker cadmium chloride (CdCl2), with no change in the level of the basal release of both peptides. However, potassium depolarization (76 and 110 mM) failed to evoke an increase in the release of endogenous CGRP, although it did cause an increase in the release can be induced by mobilization of calcium from intracellular Ca2+ stores. Veratridine, on the other hand, did not cause an increase in CGRP release, although substance P and VIP release was induced by veratridine from the same preparations. The results of the present study have demonstrated that CGRP release from enteric nerves requires the presence of extracellular calcium but, unlike substance P and most other transmitters reported to show calcium-dependent release, potassium depolarization does not induce CGRP release from enteric nerves of rat ileum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)