Endogenous opiates inhibit gastric acid secretion induced by central administration of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH)

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) administered intraventricularly (ICV) to rats causes a dose-dependent increase in gastric acid secretion over a range of 0.01 μg to 10 μg in the pyloris ligated rat. The maximum increase in gastric acid secretion occurs in the first hour. This effect of TRH is not mediated by its metabolites, histidyl-proline diketopiperazine or pyroglutamyl-histidyl-proline (acid TRH). β-endorphin, D-alanine-methionine-enkephalin and the leucine-enkephalin precursor, dynorphin, all inhibit TRH-induced gastric acid secretion. Bombesin, which reduces basal gastric acid secretion had no effect on TRH-induced secretion.     

Thyrotropin releasing hormone antagonizes beta endorphin hypothermia and catalepsy.

Injection of 30 μg β endorphin intraventricularly (ivt) in rats produced an alteration of body temperature, a state of catalepsy, and an increase in antinociceptive latencies. Subsequent ivt injections of 20 μg of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) reversed the ongoing changes in body temperature and catalepsy produced by β endorphin. Since TRH antagonized these effects in hypophysectomized rats, it is implied that these effects of TRH are independent of pituitary-thyroid involvement. In contrast to the above, TRH did $\text{not}$ alter the antinociception produced by β endorphin in either sham-control or hypophysectomized rats. The failure of TRH to antagonize all three of these opiate effects, as well as the inability of TRH to displace bound dihydromorphine from synaptic plasma membranes, suggests that the level of TRH-β endorphin interaction is not at the opiate receptor.     

Bombesin induces a reduction of somatostatin inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity, Gi function, and somatostatin receptors in rat exocrine pancreas.

To analyze the effect of bombesin on the somatostatin (SS) mechanism of action in the exocrine pancreas, male Wistar rats (250-270 g) were injected intraperitoneally with bombesin (10 microg/kg) three times daily at 8-h intervals for 7 or 14 days. Bombesin attenuated the ability of SS to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in pancreatic acinar membranes. However, it did not decrease the ability of forskolin to stimulate the adenylyl cyclase catalytic subunit. The ability of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] (a nonhydrolyzable GTP analog) to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was diminished in pancreatic acinar cell membranes from bombesin-treated rats. Bombesin administration did not affect the ADP-ribosylation of a 41-kDa G protein catalyzed by pertussis toxin. The maximal SS binding capacity of pancreatic acinar membranes from bombesin-treated rats was decreased when compared with controls at the two time periods studied. The bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide antagonist [D-Tpi6,Leu13psi(CH2NH)Leu14]bombesin (6-14) (RC-3095) (10 microg/kg i.p.), injected three times daily at 8-h intervals for 7 or 14 days, had a similar effect to that of bombesin on the SS mechanism of action. The combined administration of bombesin and its antagonist RC-3095 had a greater effect on the SS receptor-effector system than when administered separately. The present study indicates that the pancreatic SS receptor-effector system may be regulated by bombesin in vivo.     

Centrally administered bombesin modulates gastric motility

Intracerebroventricular bombesin alters arterial pressure and gastrointestinal transit in rats. In order to evaluate the influence of bombesin on arterial and gastric intraluminal pressure in a specific site in the central nervous system, we microinjected bombesin into the medial subnucleus of the nucleus tractus solitarius (mNTS) in 28 rats anesthetized with choralose. Bombesin (78 pmole in 25 nl), but not vehicle, caused an increase of tonic gastric intraluminal pressure (2.6 +/- 0.5 cm H2O) and of phasic gastric intraluminal pressures but did not acutely alter arterial pressure. The effect on tonic and phasic gastric intraluminal pressure was dose-dependent. The threshold dose was 7.8 pmole. Intravenous bombesin caused a similar dose-dependent rise in tonic gastric intraluminal pressure but did not significantly change the mean amplitude of phasic gastric intraluminal pressures. Transection of the cervical spinal cord and both cervical vagus nerves blocked the effect of centrally but not peripherally administered bombesin. We conclude that bombesin microinjected into the mNTS does not influence arterial pressure but does raise tonic and phasic gastric intraluminal pressures. Bombesin may act in the NTS as a central modulator of gastric motility.     

Bombesin microinjected into the dorsal vagal complex inhibits vagally stimulated gastric acid secretion in the rat

Medullary sites of action for bombesin-induced inhibition of gastric acid secretion were investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats with gastric fistula. Unilateral microinjection of bombesin or vehicle into the dorsal vagal complex was performed using a glass micropipet and pressure ejection of 100 nl volume; gastric acid output was measured every 10 min by flushing the stomach. Microinjection of vehicle into the dorsal vagal complex did not alter gastric acid secretion (1.9 +/- mumol/10) from preinjection levels (2.9 +/- 0.8 mumol/10 min). Microinjection of the stable thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analog, RX 77368, at a 77 pmol dose into the dorsal vagal complex stimulated gastric acid secretion for 100 min with a peak response at 40 min (24.1 +/- 3.2 mumol/10 min). Concomitant microinjection of RX 77368 (77 pmol) with bombesin (0.6-6.2 pmol) into the dorsal vagal complex dose dependently inhibited by 35-86% the gastric acid response to the TRH analog. Bombesin (6.2 pmol) microinjected into the dorsal vagal complex inhibited by 17% pentagastrin infusion-induced stimulation of gastric acid secretion (13.2 +/- 0.8 mumol/10 min) whereas intracisternal injection induced a 69% inhibition of the pentagastrin response. These results demonstrate that the dorsal motor complex is a sensitive site of action for bombesin-induced inhibition of vagally stimulated gastric secretion. However, other medullary sites must be involved in mediating the inhibitory effect of intracisternal bombesin on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion.     

Bombesin and the brain-gut axis

Bombesin is the first peptide shown to act in the brain to influence gastric function and the most potent peptide to inhibit acid secretion when injected into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in rats and dogs. Bombesin responsive sites include specific hypothalamic nuclei (paraventricular nucleus, preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus), the dorsal vagal complex as well as spinal sites at T9-T10. The antisecretory effect of central bombesin encompasses a variety of endocrine/paracrine (gastrin, histamine) or neuronal stimulants. Bombesin into the CSF induces an integrated gastric response (increase in bicarbonate, and mucus, inhibition of acid, pepsin, vagally mediated contractions) enhancing the resistance of the mucosa to injury through autonomic pathways. The physiological significance of central action of bombesin on gastric function is still to be unraveled.     

CNS mediated inhibition of gastric secretion by bombesin: independence from interaction with brain catecholaminergic, and serotoninergic pathways and pituitary hormones

The effects of hypophysectomy and pharmacologic manipulation of brain biogenic amines on gastric secretion (volume and titratable acidity) and on CNS-mediated inhibition of gastric secretion by bombesin were studied in pylorus-ligated rats. Bombesin (100 ng), given intracisternally (i.c.), reduced the gastric secretory volume by 61%, raised pH values to 5 and virtually suppressed the titratable acidity of gastric secretion. Hypophysectomy did not modify the volume of secretion, lowered the gastric acid concentration by 37% and did not alter the magnitude of bombesin's suppressive effect, suggesting that pituitary-derived substances do not participate in the expression of bombesin's action. Depletion of brain catecholamines by combined administration of the neurotoxic agent 6-hydroxydopamine (400 μg twice, i.c.) and the catecholamine synthesis inhibitor α-methyl-p-tyrosine (250 mg/kg) or blockade of dopamine receptors by haloperidol (25 μg, i.c.), which induced a rise in plasma prolactin levels (indirect evidence of suppression of dopaminergic inhibitory tonus) neither modified gastric secretion nor the antisecretory effect of bombesin. Depletion of brain serotonin by the indolamine neurotoxin 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (50 μg, i.c.) combined with p-chlorophenylalanine (315 mg/kg), an inhibitor of tryptophane-hydroxylase, did not affect gastric secretion or bombesin's action. Administration of dopamine, serotonin or noradrenaline at 10-μg dose levels i.c. had no effect on gastric secretion. The demonstration that pharmacologic measures designed to interfere with the normal functioning of brain catecholaminergic and serotoninergic systems did not modify gastric secretion is not in favor of their involvement in the brain control of gastric secretion. Moreover, the fact that the potent antisecretory action of bombesin is not mimicked by, nor dependent upon, intact biogenic amine pathways further supports the concept that a direct neuropeptidergic pathway may participate in the CNS regulation of gastric secretion.     

Gastric erosions induced by intracisternal thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in rats

Intracisternal injection of TRH (1 microgram) under light ether anesthesia induced within 4 hr gastric lesions in 24-hr fasted rats maintained unrestrained at room temperature. Saline, ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (oCRF, 10 micrograms), or human pancreatic growth hormone-releasing factor [hpGRF(1-40), 10 micrograms] tested under the same conditions did not modify the integrity of the gastric mucosa. TRH injected intravenously (100 micrograms/kg) proved to be ineffective. The production of gastric erosions elicited by intracisternal TRH (0.1-1 microgram) or by a stabilized TRH analog, RX 77368 [pGlu-His-(3,3'-dimethyl)-ProNH2, (0.01-0.1 microgram)] was dose-dependent. RX 77368 shows an enhanced potency over TRH. TRH action on gastric mucosa was reversed by atropine, omeprazole and cimetidine. These results demonstrate that TRH, unlike the other hypothalamic releasing factors CRF or GRF, is able to act within the brain to cause the formation of gastric erosions probably through mechanisms involving changes in gastric acid secretion. Intracisternal injection of TRH or its potent analog RX 77368 appears also as a new, simple method to produce centrally mediated experimental gastric erosions in 24 hr-fasted rats.     

Bombesin, but not amylin, blocks the orexigenic effect of peripheral ghrelin

The interaction between ghrelin and bombesin or amylin administered intraperitoneally on food intake and brain neuronal activity was assessed by Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) in nonfasted rats. Ghrelin (13 microg/kg ip) increased food intake compared with the vehicle group when measured at 30 min (g/kg: 3.66 +/- 0.80 vs. 1.68 +/- 0.42, P < 0.0087). Bombesin (8 microg/kg) injected intraperitoneally with ghrelin (13 microg/kg) blocked the orexigenic effect of ghrelin (1.18 +/- 0.41 g/kg, P < 0.0002). Bombesin alone (4 and 8 microg/kg ip) exerted a dose-related nonsignificant reduction of food intake (g/kg: 1.08 +/- 0.44, P > 0.45 and 0.55 +/- 0.34, P > 0.16, respectively). By contrast, ghrelin-induced stimulation of food intake (g/kg: 3.96 +/- 0.56 g/kg vs. vehicle 0.82 +/- 0.59, P < 0.004) was not altered by amylin (1 and 5 microg/kg ip) (g/kg: 4.37 +/- 1.12, P > 0.69, and 3.01 +/- 0.78, respectively, P > 0.37). Ghrelin increased the number of FLI-positive neurons/section in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) compared with vehicle (median: 42 vs. 19, P < 0.008). Bombesin alone (4 and 8 microg/kg ip) did not induce FLI neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and coadministered with ghrelin did not alter ghrelin-induced FLI in the ARC. However, bombesin (8 microg/kg) with ghrelin significantly increased neuronal activity in the PVN approximately threefold compared with vehicle and approximately 1.5-fold compared with the ghrelin group. Bombesin (8 microg/kg) with ghrelin injected intraperitoneally induced Fos expression in 22.4 +/- 0.8% of CRF-immunoreactive neurons in the PVN. These results suggest that peripheral bombesin, unlike amylin, inhibits peripheral ghrelin induced food intake and enhances activation of CRF neurons in the PVN.     

Central nervous system action of bombesin to inhibit gastric acid secretion

Bombesin or gastrin releasing peptide injected into the lateral, third, or fourth ventricle, or into the cisterna magna, inhibited gastric acid secretion induced by a wide variety of gastric acid stimulants in several animal models. Studies of bombesin microinfusion into specific hypothalamic nuclei of intact rats, or injection into the cisterna magna of midbrain transected rats, indicated that the peptide can trigger inhibition of gastric acid secretion from both forebrain and hindbrain structures. The neural pathways mediating bombesin action required the integrity of the cervical spinal cord; the vagus did not play an important role. Spantide, a substance P and bombesin receptor antagonist, was not useful in studying the physiological role of bombesin. This was due both to its inability to reverse the central action of bombesin on gastric secretion, and to its in vivo toxicity.     

Direct effect of bombesin on pancreatic and gastric growth in suckling rats.

Bombesin stimulates growth of the stomach and pancreas in adult rats. Part of this effect is thought to be through the release of CCK following bombesin treatment. We studied the effect of long term administration of bombesin on the pancreas and stomach in suckling rats and examined the action of bombesin using specific CCK antagonist (CR-1409) and bombesin antagonists (GRP19-26, D-Phe19, Leu26CH2NHCOCH3 = cpd 17; L-686,095-001C002 = cpd 23). Rat pups (7-days-old) were given bombesin (20 micrograms/kg body wt. twice a day) or vehicle (1% gelatin) for 9 days. Bombesin stimulated pancreatic and gastric growth (tissue weight, total protein and DNA content all increased). Pancreatic trypsinogen concentration and content showed a 2-3-fold increase. CR-1409 at 6 mg/kg body wt., a dose that blocked the trophic action of CCK-33 when given to pups at similar ages, did not affect the bombesin-stimulated growth of the pancreas or the increase in trypsinogen level. At 2.4 mg/kg body wt., cpd 17 partially blocked and cpd 23 completely blocked the trophic effect of bombesin on the pancreas and stomach and the increase in trypsinogen level in the pancreas. RU-486, a type II glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, given at a dose sufficient to block the physiological action of glucocorticoid, had no effect on bombesin-stimulated growth of the pancreas. Thus, in vivo, bombesin acts directly on the neonatal pancreas and stomach.     

Studies on bombesin-induced grooming in rats

The gross behavior induced by centrally administered bombesin in rats was compared to that elicited by ACTH-(1–24) and the somatostatin analog, des AA^{1,2,4,5,12,13}[D-Trp⁸]-somatostatin (ODT8-SS). Bombesin (0.001–1 μg, ICV) caused dose-related excessive scratching which was qualitatively different from that associated with the other two groom-inducing agents. Bombesin-induced grooming was not markedly affected by behaviorally nondepressant doses of haloperidol, morphine, naloxone or neurotensin. Bombesin was active in genetically hypotrichotic (essentially furless) rats; and, again in such animals, even after numbing the area caudal to the shoulders with lidocaine. Tolerance and cross-tolerance studies with bombesin and ODT8-SS indicated that they produce scratching through different mechanisms. Bombesin caused scratching when injected directly into the periaqueductal gray, but not when administered intravenously. Neither hypophysectomy nor adrenalectomy markedly affected bombesin-induced grooming. This behavior appears to be initiated in the central nervous system and is produced independently of the pituitary-adrenal axis.     

Morphine inhibits TRH-induced gastric contractile activity.

This study investigated the effect of centrally and peripherally administered thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) on gastric contractile activity of rats 14, 21, 28 and adult (greater than or equal to 50) days (D) of age, and the effect of morphine pretreatment on that response. Rats were anesthetized with urethane, then a tension transducer was implanted on the anterior gastric corpus. Following baseline recording, rats were pretreated with intraperitoneal morphine (2 mg/kg). TRH (5 micrograms) in saline or saline alone (0.6 microliters) was then injected into the cisternum magnum. Additionally, dose response to TRH was examined in 14- and 50-day-old rats. Intracisternal TRH induced a dose-related increase in gastric contractile activity in both 14- and 50-day-old rats. Higher doses of TRH (10 and 30 micrograms) prolonged the response as compared to low doses. Peripheral morphine pretreatment blocked the TRH-induced increase in gastric contractile activity in all age groups although a higher morphine dose (10 mg/kg) was needed to block the effect in 28D rats. Intravenous TRH (5, 10, 30 micrograms) produced an increase in gastric contractile activity in 14D rats which was blocked by vagotomy.     

Abdominal vagotomy does not block the satiety effect of bombesin in the rat

Bombesin (2-16 microgram-kg-1, intraperitoneally) inhibited food intake in rats after abdominal vagotomy. Since the same vagotomized rats did not respond to the octapeptide of cholecystokinin (1-8 micrograms-kg-1, intraperitoneally), these data are decisive evidence (1) that bombesin does not produce satiety by releasing endogenous cholecystokinin and (2) that vagal afferents are not necessary for the satiety effect of bombesin.     

Bombesin increases dopamine function in rat brain areas

Bombesin is a tetradecapeptide heterogenously distributed in the mammalian brain. Bombesin (45 micrograms) given intracisternally (IC) to unanesthetized rats increased the accumulation of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) in striatum, olfactory tubercles and hypothalamus after DOPA-decarboxylase inhibition, thus indicating an increased dopamine synthesis. A dose-dependent increase in dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), the principal dopamine metabolites, was seen in several brain areas 1 hr after IC injection of bombesin (0-60 micrograms). In striatum and olfactory tubercles HVA increased more than DOPAC with a maximal increase after 30-45 micrograms. In a time-course experiment a biphasic change of dopamine metabolites was observed in the olfactory tubercles with an actual decrease in metabolite levels 4 hr after 60 micrograms IC bombesin injection. Co-administration of bombesin and naloxone (8 mg/kg IP) or ethanol (2.25 g/kg IP) did not affect the increase in dopamine metabolites seen after bombesin alone. The action of IC administered bombesin on dopamine function was most pronounced in hypothalamus indicating a neuroendocrine regulatory of the peptide.     

铃蟾肽(Bombesin)对离体灌流大鼠胃的胃泌素、生长抑素、胰升糖素及胃酸释放的影响

本研究用离体大鼠胃灌流技术来观察铃蟾肽对胃-肠激素及胃酸分泌的影响。2×10~(?)mol/L铃蟾肽以0.3ml/min速度作动脉内输注,可刺激胃酸的分泌,自2.50±0.05×10~(-1)增至5.50±1.50×10~(-1)mEq/min,但与外源性五肽胃泌素无协同作用。铃蟾肽引起两次性的门脉中胃泌索及生长抑素的释放,但抑制胰升糖素释放。这三种激素的基础释放率分别为:胃泌素62±8pg,生长抑素5.9±1.1ng,胰升糖素0.40±0.03ng/min;2×10~(-8)mol/L铃蟾肽以0.3ml/min作动脉内输注,胃泌素及生长抑素的峰值分别为1,000±20pg及12.2±2.0ng/min,胰升糖素的最低值为0.17±0.05ng/min,三种激素的反应均与铃蟾肽的浓度成正比。在胃腔流出液中也可测到上述三种激素,但量要少得多。     

Influence of CCK and bombesin on ACTH and cortisol secretion in the conscious dog

Bombesin and cholecystokinin (CCK) have a variety of similar actions. Previous investigations have demonstrated that IP injections of bombesin and CCK-33 increased corticosterone secretion in conscious, freely-moving, fed rats. In this study bombesin or CCk-8 was administered by continuous, intravenous infusion to conscious, awake, fasted, mongrel dogs. Following a 30-40 minute control infusion, a progressively-increasing, stepwise infusion of either bombesin (0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 micrograms/kg-hr) or CCK-8 (62.5, 125, and 250 ng/kg-hr) was administered. Each drug dose was infused for 40-45 minutes and blood samples were drawn at 20-22.5 minutes intervals. Bombesin caused significant, dose-dependent increases in plasma cortisol (286 +/- 39% of control) and plasma ACTH (176 +/- 33% of control). CCK-8 had no consistent effect on either cortisol or ACTH secretion. Whether the lack of effect of CCK-8 in dogs, as compared to rats, is due to species variations or to the differing experimental designs is unknown.     

Intrathecal bombesin is sympathoexcitatory and pressor in rat

Bombesin, a 14 amino-acid peptide, is pressor when administered intravenously in rat and pressor and sympathoexcitatory when applied intracerebroventricularly. To determine the spinal effects of bombesin, the peptide was administered acutely in the intrathecal space at around thoracic spinal cord level six of urethane-anesthetized, paralyzed, and bilaterally vagotomized rats. Blood pressure, heart rate, splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (sSNA), phrenic nerve activity, and end-tidal CO(2) were monitored to evaluate changes in the cardiorespiratory systems. Bombesin elicited a long-lasting excitation of sSNA associated with an increase in blood pressure and tachycardia. There was a mean increase in arterial blood pressure of 52 ± 5 mmHg (300 μM; P < 0.01). Heart rate and sSNA also increased by 40 ± 4 beats/min (P < 0.01) and 162 ± 33% (P < 0.01), respectively. Phrenic nerve amplitude (PNamp, 73 ± 8%, P < 0.01) and phrenic expiratory period (+0.16 ± 0.02 s, P < 0.05) increased following 300 μM bombesin. The gain of the sympathetic baroreflex increased from -2.8 ± 0.7 to -5.4 ± 0.9% (P < 0.01), whereas the sSNA range was increased by 99 ± 26% (P < 0.01). During hyperoxic hypercapnia (10% CO(2) in O(2), 90 s), bombesin potentiated the responses in heart rate (-25 ± 5 beats/min, P < 0.01) and sSNA (+136 ± 29%, P < 0.001) but reduced PNamp (from 58 ± 6 to 39 ± 7%, P < 0.05). Finally, ICI-216,140 (1 mM), an in vivo antagonist for the bombesin receptor 2, attenuated the effects of 300 μM bombesin on blood pressure (21 ± 7 mmHg, P < 0.01). We conclude that bombesin is sympathoexcitatory at thoracic spinal segments. The effect on phrenic nerve activity may the result of spinobulbar pathways and activation of local motoneuronal pools.     

Neuropeptides as central integrators of autonomic nerve activity: effects of TRH, SRIF, VIP and bombesin on gastric and adrenal nerves

The nerve activity of the gastric ramus of the splanchnic (sympathetic) nerve, gastric ramus of the vagus, adrenal ramus of the splanchnic nerve and the superior laryngeal nerve (laryngeal ramus of vagus) were assessed before and after i.c.v. injection of neuropeptides in the rat. TRH stimulated the vagal branch but attenuated the sympathetic outflow to the stomach. In contrast, the sympathetic outflow to the adrenal was enhanced by TRH. SRIF suppressed the activity of all the nerves studied. VIP did not affect the sympathetic outflow to the stomach while suppressing the gastric branch of the vagus. The adrenal sympathetic branch as well as the superior laryngeal nerve was stimulated by VIP. Bombesin suppressed both vagal and sympathetic outflow to the stomach but markedly stimulated the laryngeal branch of the vagus. The adrenal sympathetic nerve was either stimulated or attenuated slightly by bombesin. These results indicate that centrally administered neuropeptides produce reactions specific for each nerve.     

Bombesin potentiates the effect of acetylcholine on isolated strips of fish stomach.

The interaction between bombesin and acetylcholine acting on smooth muscle of the stomach wall was investigated in two species of teleost fish. Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout) and Gadus morhua (Atlantic cod). Acetylcholine or bombesin alone has an excitatory effect on the stomach muscle. The effect on contraction amplitude of acetylcholine (10(-6)-10(-5) M) alone is about 10-times greater than the effect of bombesin (10(-9)-10(-7) M). In molar terms however, bombesin is more potent than acetylcholine. Bombesin (10(-8)-10(-7) M) added 0.5-3 min prior to acetylcholine potentiates the effect of acetylcholine in a dose-dependent manner. The potentiation is most pronounced in circular muscle preparations, but is present also in longitudinal muscle preparations. Bombesin affects the response to carbachol (10(-6) M) with a similar potentiation, indicating that the potentiation is not caused by inhibition of choline esterase activity. Atropine (10(-6)-10(-5) M) abolishes the response to bombesin plus acetylcholine as well as the response to acetylcholine alone. Tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M) does not block the effect of acetylcholine, bombesin or the combination acetylcholine plus bombesin. Substance P (10(-9)-10(-7) M) which has a similar excitatory effect on the stomach muscle as bombesin, does not potentiate the effect of acetylcholine. Immunohistochemistry has shown the presence of strong bombesin-like immunoreactivity in stomach nerves of the cod and weak bombesin-like immunoreactivity in rainbow trout nerves. In addition, bombesin-like immunoreactivity was demonstrated in endocrine cells in the gastric and intestinal mucosa of both species. It is concluded that bombesin, contained either in nerve fibres or in mucosal endocrine cells, specifically potentiates the effect of acetylcholine in the fish stomach.