Effects of cholinergic drugs on muscle contraction in Moniliformis moniliformis (Acanthocephala)

In whole Moniliformis moniliformis spontaneous muscle contractions were rhythmic; longitudinal contractions were measured with a force transducer. The cholinergic agonists levamisole and nicotine significantly increased muscle tension in whole worms; these contractions were tonic and were antagonised by the ganglionic blocker pentolinium and by piperazine. In addition, levamisole-induced contractions were inhibited by gallamine, hexamethonium, and norepinephrine. In worm segments, where drugs in solution were injected through the worms, acetylcholine (ACh) and nicotinic agonists were effective in causing contractions, whereas muscarinic agonists in concentrations up to 1 mM had no effect. Although muscle contraction in M. moniliformis was induced by nicotinic agonists, these contractions were effectively antagonised by a range of chemicals that block ganglionic, skeletal, and muscarinic sites in vertebrates. The presence of ACh in M. moniliformis and the effects of nicotinic agonists on muscle contraction suggest that ACh is a putative excitatory neurotransmitter.     

Resistance to ivermectin by Haemonchus contortus in goats and calves.

Efficacy of ivermectin on susceptible or resistant populations of the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus was determined in cattle and goats held in a barn. Goats were each infected with 3000 infective, ivermectin-susceptible or -resistant H. contortus larvae on day 0 and reinfected with 2000 infective larvae on day 24. Goats were treated orally with 600 micrograms kg-1 ivermectin on day 31. No significant differences were detected in blood packed cell volume (PCV) or total protein (TP), prepatent period, or epg among the four groups of goats that were each infected with one of four parasite strains (one susceptible, three resistant). There were no differences among the four parasite strains in the numbers of infective larvae that developed to the third larval stage from fecal cultures or in the viability of cultured infective larvae when held in the laboratory at 27 +/- 1 degrees C for 14 weeks. After treatment with ivermectin, there were significant differences among the parasite strains in PCV, TP, and epg. Total worm counts were reduced by 94 to 97% with three times the recommended dose. Immature and adult Skrjabinema ovis were also present in two treated goats. In a second test, one goat infected once with 10,000 infective larvae of a resistant strain of H. contortus and then treated with nine doses of ivermectin, increasing from 500 to 2000 micrograms kg-1 over a period of 133 days, had 35 adult worms at necropsy. In a third test, three calves were readily infected with an ivermectin-resistant strain of H. contortus from goats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Utility of a Haemonchus contortus/jird (Meriones unguiculatus) model for studying resistance to levamisole

Trichostrongylid nematodes of sheep commonly are identified as exhibiting resistance to levamisole. In vitro assays have been developed to study levamisole resistance for Haemonchus contortus, but no in vivo model has been identified for this species. To determine the utility of a H. contortus/jird (Meriones unguiculatus) model for examining levamisole resistance, immunosuppressed jirds were inoculated with approximately 1,000 exsheathed infective larvae of H. contortus (resistant or susceptible to levamisole), treated per os on day 10 postinoculation (PI) with levamisole hydrochloride or analogs of the drug, and killed on day 13 PI. Stomachs were removed, opened longitudinally, incubated in distilled water at 37 C for 5 hr, fixed in formaldehyde solution, and stored for subsequent microscopic examination. Doses of levamisole and its analogs, which elicited percentage clearances of greater than or equal to 93.5 for the susceptible strain, cleared less than or equal to 68.9% of the resistant worms. These data are consistent with activities for the drugs against wild-type and levamisole-resistant strains of Caenorhabditis elegans. Thus, the H. contortus/jird model provides a useful in vivo tool to study resistance to levamisole and possibly other anthelmintics.     

The metabolism of flubendazole and the activities of selected biotransformation enzymes in Haemonchus contortus strains susceptible and resistant to anthelmintics

SUMMARY Haemonchus contortus is one of the most pathogenic parasites of small ruminants (e.g. sheep and goat). The treatment of haemonchosis is complicated because of recurrent resistance of H. contortus to common anthelmintics. The aim of this study was to compare the metabolism of the anthelmintic drug flubendazole (FLU) and the activities of selected biotransformation enzymes towards model xenobiotics in 4 different strains of H. contortus: the ISE strain (susceptible to common anthelmintics), ISE-S (resistant to ivermectin), the BR strain (resistant to benzimidazole anthelmintics) and the WR strain (resistant to all common anthelmintics). H. contortus adults were collected from the abomasums from experimentally infected lambs. The in vitro as well as ex vivo experiments were performed and analysed using HPLC with spectrofluorimetric and mass-spectrometric detection. In all H. contortus strains, 4 different FLU metabolites were detected: FLU with a reduced carbonyl group (FLU-R), glucose conjugate of FLU-R and 2 glucose conjugates of FLU. In the resistant strains, the ex vivo formation of all FLU metabolites was significantly higher than in the susceptible ISE strain. The multi-resistant WR strain formed approximately 5 times more conjugates of FLU than the susceptible ISE strain. The in vitro data also showed significant differences in FLU metabolism, in the activities of UDP-glucosyltransferase and several carbonyl-reducing enzymes between the susceptible and resistant H. contortus strains. The altered activities of certain detoxifying enzymes might protect the parasites against the toxic effect of the drugs as well as contribute to drug-resistance in these parasites.     

Involvement of cyclooxygenase-dependent pathway in contraction of isolated ileum by urotensin II

We previously reported that urotensin II induced biphasic (brief- and long-lasting) contractions and the brief contraction was mediated by acetylcholine release from ganglionic cholinergic neurons in a segment of guinea-pig ileum. In the present work, we studied the mechanism contributing to long-lasting contractions induced by urotensin II. Treatment with 0.1 microM tetrodotoxin, 300 nM omega-conotoxin GVIA (an inhibitor of N-type Ca2+ channels) and 10 microM indomethacin (an inhibitor of cyclooxygenases) markedly inhibited 100 nM urotensin II-induced long-lasting contractions. The addition of 1 microM prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) caused a limited brief contraction following long-lasting contraction, while 1 microM PGE2 induced marked biphasic contractions. Treatment with neurotoxins inhibited the long-lasting contractions induced by PGF2alpha and PGE2 without changing the PGE2-induced brief contractions. Treatment with 1 microM atropine markedly inhibited the urotensin II- and PGF2alpha-induced long-lasting contractions, but was less effective on the PGE2 responses. Treatment with a phospholipase A2 inhibitor decreased the urotensin II-induced contractions. These findings suggest that urotensin II induces, at least partially, long-lasting contractions via PG-sensitive cholinergic neurons and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the ileum.     

Modulation by NO of acetylcholine release in the ileum of wild-type and NOS gene knockout mice

Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits the release of acetylcholine and cholinergic contractions in the small intestine of several species, but no information is available about the mouse ileum. This study examines the effects of NO on the electrically evoked release of [3H]acetylcholine and smooth muscle contraction in myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparations of wild-type mice and of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) knockout mice. The NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) concentration dependently increased the evoked [3H]acetylcholine release and cholinergic contractions in preparations from wild-type mice and from eNOS knockout mice. Effects of L-NNA were specifically antagonized by L-arginine. In contrast, L-NNA and ODQ did not modify the release and contractions in preparations from nNOS knockout mice. The NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine inhibited the electrically evoked release of [3H]acetylcholine and longitudinal muscle contractions in a quantitatively similar manner in wild-type preparations as well as in nNOS and eNOS knockout preparations. We conclude that endogenous NO released by electrical field stimulation tonically inhibits the release of acetylcholine. Furthermore, data suggest that nNOS and not eNOS is the enzymatic source of NO-mediating inhibition of cholinergic neurotransmission in mouse ileum.     

Prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated inhibitory action of clonidine and B-HT 920, but not urapidil in guinea pig ileum

Isolated guinea pig ileal longitudinal muscle was stimulated transmurally with a frequency of 0.1 Hz, duration of 0.5 msec, and supramaximal voltage (80-100 V). Transmural stimulation induces ileal contractions via activation of cholinergic neurons. alpha 2-Adrenergic agonists block the response to transmural stimulation via activation of prejunctional alpha 2 receptors which inhibit release of acetylcholine from cholinergic nerve terminals. Urapidil has been reported to have alpha 2-agonistic actions, and therefore was compared to the prototypic alpha 2 agonists, clonidine and B-HT 920. Clonidine and B-HT 920 depressed responses to transmural stimulation in the guinea pig ileum. Clonidine was the most potent inhibitor of the contractions, followed closely by B-HT 920. Very high concentrations of urapidil were necessary to suppress nerve-induced contractions of the ileum. The effects of clonidine and B-HT 920, but not urapidil, were antagonized by the selective alpha 2 antagonist, yohimbine. In unstimulated preparations, in which exogenous acetylcholine was used to elicit contractions of the ileum, urapidil depressed the response while clonidine and B-HT 920 had no effect. When PGF1 alpha was used to contract the ileum, no inhibitory effects were noted for urapidil, clonidine, or B-HT 920. Therefore urapidil, only in high concentrations, inhibits the contraction to transmural stimulation by depressing the response at a postjunctional cholinergic site. No evidence was found that urapidil can act as an agonist at a prejunctional alpha 2-receptor site.     

Selection for anthelmintic resistance by macrocyclic lactones in Haemonchus contortus.

Two morphologically marked strains of Haemonchus contortus, CAVRS (smooth-macrocyclic lactone resistant) and McMaster (linguiform-macrocyclic lactone susceptible), were used to investigate the selection for anthelmintic resistance following exposure to ivermectin (IVM), a non-persistent anthelmintic. and a more persistent anthelmintic, oral moxidectin (MOX). Three types of selection were investigated: (1) selection of resident worms at the time of treatment (Head selection); (2) selection of incoming-larvae post-treatment (Tail selection); and (3) selection of both resident population and incoming larvae (Head + Tail selection). The experimental animals were adult sheep and lambs. In the controls where there was no anthelmintic selection, the proportion of CAVRS in the adult worm population was the same as the proportion in larvae given to both adults and lambs indicating that CAVRS and McMaster H. contortus were equally infective. There was a significant effect of anthelmintic on total worm numbers in adult sheep with MOX treated adults having less worms, but selection type was non-significant. Anthelmintic type had a significant effect on numbers of resistant worms in adult sheep with less resistant worms in the MOX treated groups, but selection type had no effect. Analysis of variance of arcsine-transformed proportions of resistant worms found that the type of anthelmintic had a highly significant effect, with MOX treated adults having a higher proportion of resistant worms, while type of selection was not significant. In the lambs, nil treated controls and IVM Head + Tail and Tail selected groups had similar geometric mean total worm burdens while Head selected had less total worms. In the MOX treated lamb groups the worm burdens were similar within selection type but less than the IVM treated groups. In the lambs, the types of selection that resulted in more resistant worms were IVM Tail, MOX Head + Tail and MOX Tail. Resistant worm numbers were similar in both adult and lamb groups with Head selection by either MOX or IVM. Moxidectin selected out higher proportions of resistant worms than did IVM in the lambs, with Tail and Head + Tail being stronger selectors than Head. Computer simulations were used to estimate the rate at which resistance developed in the field using the information generated in the present study. The anthelmintic treatments used in the simulation followed a strategic parasite control program for H. contortus in which all sheep receive three Closantel (CLS) treatments in summer. all sheep receive a broad-spectrum (BS) drench or capsule at weaning and lambs receive an additional two BS drenches insummer or no further treatment in the case of the capsule. Moxidectin, IVM-capsule and IVM were the broad spectrum anthelmintics simulated. All simulations were run four times assuming high or low efficacy against resident resistant worms and in the presence or absence of CLS resistance. The simulations indicated that the presence of CLS resistance hastened selection for macrocyclic lactone (ML) resistance. While the IVM-capsule will select most rapidly for ML resistance, IVM oral is expected to be least selective. Moxidectin treatment is intermediate, except in simulations with no CLS resistance and when MOX is assumed to be highly effective against resident ML-resistant worms, in which case MOX can be expected to select more slowly than IVM oral treatments.     

Effects of cholinergic drugs on longitudinal muscle contractions of Fasciola hepatica

Acetylcholine, cholinergic agonists and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors significantly decrease the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous longitudinal muscle contractions in Fasciola hepatica. In order of their effects on the inhibition of muscle contractions, the cholinergic agonists can be ranked as nicotine greater than carbachol greater than acetylcholine. High calcium ion concentration also causes a significant inhibition of contractions. Atropine, a cholinergic antagonist that acts on muscarinic receptors, significantly increases the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous contractions and completely reverses the effects of cholinomimetic drugs, including nicotine. In adult F. hepatica, the levels of acetylcholine and its precursor choline are 3.14 +/- 0.55 and 13.75 +/- 3.72 pmol/mg wet weight, respectively. The activities of choline acetyltransferase, specific acetylcholinesterase and the nonspecific cholinesterase are 1.25 +/- 0.19, 238.0 +/- 13.0, and 83.0 +/- 33.0 nmol/hr/mg protein, respectively.     

Localization of p-glycoprotein mRNA in the tissues of Haemonchus contortus adult worms and its relative abundance in drug-selected and susceptible strains

Membrane transporter P-glycoproteins (Pgps) are present in a number of nematode species, including Haemonchus contortus. Allelic variation in some Pgp genes has been found to be associated with resistance to the anthelmintic ivermectin (IVM), although functional verification of a role for Pgps in IVM resistance has yet to be demonstrated. By in situ hybridization, the distribution of Pgp mRNA was visualized in transverse cryosections of adult H. contortus, using a digoxigenin-labeled cDNA probe encoding the ATP-binding region of an H. contortus Pgp. The probe sequence targeted a conserved ATP-binding region of Pgp-A (97.9% identity). It also shared 49.7-71.1% identity with 11 other Pgp sequences previously identified in H. contortus and may hybridize these sequences to give an overall measure of the total P-glycoprotein mRNA. Staining was predominately localized along the intestinal tract of the worms, with the most intense staining localized in the pharynx and anterior intestine. In the mid- and posterior intestinal regions, staining was restricted to the luminal side of the intestine. Some staining was also associated with the vas deferens and the lateral hypodermal chords anterior to the nerve ring. Using densitometry, the levels of Pgp mRNA in the pharynges of unselected and IVM- and moxidectin (MOX)-selected strains of male and female H. contortus were compared. No differences were detected between the levels of expression of Pgp in the susceptible strain versus the IVM- or MOX-selected strains. Evidence in the literature suggests that not all Pgp homologues are linked to chemical resistance phenotypes. It is thus possible that expression of I of the H. contortus Pgps is altered in IVM-resistant strains but that this phenomenon was undetectable in our experiments.     

Role of depolarization and calcium in contractions of canine trachealis from endogenous or exogenous acetylcholine

The relationships of the electrical to the mechanical responses of the canine trachealis muscle during stimulation of its cholinergic nerves or exposure to exogenous acetylcholine were recorded in the single or the double sucrose gap. At 27 degrees C, the responses to a train of stimuli consisted of a transient depolarization excitatory junction potential of 10-30 mV followed by fading oscillations and contractions. When stimulus parameters were varied in the single sucrose gap, contractions were more closely associated with the occurrence of and varied in duration with the oscillations rather than with the amplitude of the EJP. Acetylcholine superfused at a concentration of 10(-6) M for 30 s caused a prolonged depolarization of 10-20 mV, but a much larger contraction than could be elicited by nerve stimulation. None of the responses to acetylcholine was significantly affected by the Ca channel antagonists, nifedipine, nitrendipine, or verapamil in Ca channel blocking concentrations. When tissues were exposed to a Ca-free medium, the excitatory junction potentials and oscillations rapidly disappeared, but the electrical and mechanical responses to acetylcholine persisted and only gradually disappeared with repetitive exposures. Furthermore, in a medium with normal Ca2+ in the double sucrose gap, depolarization by 10-15 mV with an applied current caused no contraction, and repolarization to the normal membrane potential during acetylcholine-induced contraction caused no relaxation. Tetraethylammonium ion (20 mM) depolarized the membrane, increased membrane resistance, and enhanced the secondary oscillations and contractions after field stimulation. No other K(+)-channel blocker tested (Ba2+, apamin, 4-aminopyridine, glibenclamide, charybdotoxin) had the effect of prolonging secondary oscillations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Muscarinic regulation of neonatal rat bladder spontaneous contractions

In vitro preparations of whole urinary bladders of neonatal rats exhibit prominent myogenic spontaneous contractions, the amplitude and frequency of which can be increased by muscarinic agonists. The muscarinic receptor subtype responsible for this facilitation was examined in the present experiments. Basal spontaneous contractions in bladders from 1- to 2-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were not affected by M2 or M3 receptor antagonists. However, administration of 0.5 microM physostigmine, an anticholinesterase agent that increases the levels of endogenous acetylcholine, or 50-100 nM carbachol, a cholinergic agonist at low concentrations, which did not cause tonic contractions, significantly augmented the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions. Blockade of M2 receptors with 0.1 microM AF-DX 116 or 1 microM methoctramine or blockade of M3 receptors with 50 nM 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide or 0.1 microM 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-(2-chloroethyl)piperidine hydrochloride (4-DAMP mustard) reversed the physostigmine and carbachol responses. M2 and M3 receptor blockade did not alter the facilitation of spontaneous contractions induced by 10 nM BAY K 8644, an L-type Ca2+ channel opener, or 0.1 microM iberiotoxin, a large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel blocker. NS-1619 (30 microM), a large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel opener, decreased carbachol-augmented spontaneous contractions. These results suggest that spontaneous contractions in the neonatal rat bladder are enhanced by activation of M2 and M3 receptors by endogenous acetylcholine released in the presence of an anticholinesterase agent or a cholinergic receptor agonist.     

Mechanism of inhibitory action of peptide YY on cholecystokinin-induced contractions of isolated dog ileum

In isolated canine ileal longitudinal muscle preparations, cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) produced a concentration-dependent contraction, which was suppressed by peptide YY (PYY) and was abolished by tetrodotoxin and atropine. PYY was approximately 2200-times as potent as CR1505, a CCK-receptor antagonist. PYY opposed the action of CCK-8 to a greater extent than that of nicotine and transmural electrical stimulation. Acetylcholine-induced contractions were not influenced by PYY. It seems likely that the CCK-8-induced ileal muscle contraction is associated with an activation of CCK receptors in cholinergic nerves, which generates nerve action potentials and releases acetylcholine, whereas CCK-8 acts on CCK receptors in gallbladder smooth muscle, producing contractions. It may be concluded that PYY inhibits the action of CCK-8 on ileal muscle strips, by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine from cholinergic nerve terminals. On the other hand, in the gallbladder, PYY does not appear to block cholinergic nerve function.     

Antagonists of cholinergic and serotonergic responses of Aplysia buccal muscle

Cholinergic and serotonergic receptors of Aplysia californica buccal muscles were characterized pharmacologically by determining compounds that effectively inhibited contractile responses to acetylcholine (ACh) and modulatory effects of serotonin (5-HT), respectively. pA50 for ACh to elicit contraction averaged 4.7 ± 0.1 (mean ± SE, equivalent to 2 × 10⁻⁵ M). Both hexamethonium bromide and atropine inhibited ACh-elicited contractions, but neither inhibited the response completely, nor were the two together able to antagonize the response completely. Curare caused inhibition only at low ACh doses, and muscarinic antagonists pirenzapine and 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide caused partial inhibition. The most effective blocker of ACh-elicited contractions was the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine. 10⁻⁴M mecamylamine completely blocked the cholinergic response. ACh contractions were inhibited 90% within 10 min and took >40 min to recover from mecamylamine. Specificity was indicated by the lack of effect of mecamylamine on potassium-elicited contraction. NAN-190 blocked the potentiating effect of 5-HT without having inhibitory or potentiating effects by itself on ACh-elicited contractions. NAN-190 blocked the potentiating effect of 8-OH-DPAT. Cholinergic receptors on Aplysia buccal muscles are most effectively inhibited by mecamylamine and may have mixed nicotinic/muscarinic character. Serotonergic receptors have pharmacological similarities to vertebrate 5-HT_1A receptors and may be closely related to the gastropod 5-HTlym receptor.     

Prejunctional alpha 2 adrenoceptors inhibit contraction of tracheal smooth muscle by inhibiting cholinergic neurotransmission

Ring preparations obtained from the guinea pig trachea contracted on short trains of electrical field stimulation. These contractions were mediated by activation of cholinergic nerves since they were abolished by atropine or tetrodotoxin. In the presence of beta blocking drugs noradrenaline and adrenaline dose-dependently inhibited contractions induced by field stimulation. By contrast, contractions on exogenous acetylcholine were left completely unaffected. It is concluded that the adrenergic agonists inhibited cholinergic neurotransmission by a prejunctional action. In order to characterize the noradrenaline receptor the effects of alpha₁ and alpha₂ blockers were evaluated using the Schild plot. For comparison experiments were also conducted on the guinea pig aorta and electrically stimulated guinea pig ileum. The results indicate that in guinea pig trachea and ileum noradrenaline inhibits cholinergic neurotransmission by acting on prejunctional alpha₂ receptors whereas in guinea pig aorta it induces contraction by stimulating alpha₁ receptors.     

Cholinergic receptors in the Aplysia gill

Acetylcholine has been suggested as a neurotransmitter released in the Aplysia gill by peripheral afferents of central neurons and by peripheral neurons within the gill. The perfused gill, isolated from the abdominal ganglion, was examined. At concentrations greater than 1 microM, acetylcholine elicited a slowly developing tonic contraction of the afferent vein that reversed upon washout. This effect was observed on both quiescent and active preparations. At concentrations less than 1 microM, acetylcholine perfusion resulted in a reduction of gill tone. The excitatory effect of acetylcholine was reduced 80 and 60% by the cholinergic antagonists atropine and hexamethonium, respectively. The acetylcholine-evoked contraction was potentiated 2.5-fold when curare was coinfused. Carbachol did not mimic the excitatory effects of acetylcholine. At all concentrations examined (1-100 microM), carbachol infusion reduced baseline tension, the amplitude of spontaneous contractions and contractions evoked by FMRFamide and dopamine. Contractions evoked by perfusion of p-chlorophenylthiocyclic AMP were greatly reduced when carbachol was added to the perfusate. Further addition of curare reversibly blocked carbachol inhibition of the cyclic AMP-evoked contractions. These findings suggest that excitatory and inhibitory cholinergic receptors are involved in the regulation of gill contractile behavior by acetylcholine.     

Excitatory effects of cholinergic,adrenergic and glutaminergic agonists on a buccal muscle of Aplysia

The anterior extrinsic protractors in the buccal mass of Aplysia are symmetrical sheets of branching bundles of muscle fibers which form an electrical syncytium. The addition of potassium or cholinergic, adrenergic, and glutaminergic agonists to the sea water bathing medium produces contracture of the muscle. Strychnine and cholinergic or adrenergic antagonists all block contractures produced by cholinergic and adrenergic agonists but not those produced by potassium or glutamate. Iontophoretic application through microelectrodes of acetylcholine or dopamine anywhere on the muscle surface produced a graded depolarization of the membrane. By contrast, glutamate produces depolarization only at discrete membrane sites. Endogeneous contractions often appeared spontaneously or could be induced by drug exposure. ATP inhibits endogeneous contractions.     

Spasmogenic effect of platelet activating factor (PAF) on isolated rat stomach fundus strip

Platelet activating Factor (PAF) produced an increase in resting tension of isolated rat stomach fundus strips. The spasmogenic effect of a 90 nM dose was equivalent to the contraction to 110 nM acetylcholine (ACh). Tissues exposed once to PAF became refractory to re-challenge with a dose of PAF normally producing maximum contraction (desensitization). PAF desensitized tissues remained responsive to the contraction effects of ACh and KCl (80 mM). Lyso-PAF failed to produce any effect. PAF contraction was dose-dependently antagonized by pretreatment of tissues with the PAF receptor antagonist L-652,731. PAF contractions were not blocked by antagonists of cholinergic, adrenergic, histaminergic, and serotonergic receptors, nor by inhibition of cyclooxygenase. PAF is a potent spasmogen on the isolated rat stomach fundus strip, and this effect is PAF and PAF-receptor specific.