Presynaptic effects of neuropeptide Y on [3H]noradrenaline and [3H]acetylcholine release

The electrically evoked release of radioactivity from mouse vas deferens and rat hypothalamic slices preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline was measured. In addition the release of [3H]acetylcholine from longitudinal muscle strip of guinea-pig ileum was also measured. Neurochemical evidence has been obtained that neuropeptide Y (NPY), although it co-exists and is released with (-)-noradrenaline (NA), it behaves differently as far as its effect on presynaptic modulation of chemical neurotransmission is concerned. It exerts a frequency-dependent presynaptic inhibitory effect on noradrenaline release from mouse vas deferens but has no effect on the electrically evoked release of NA from rat hypothalamus. Unlike NA, NPY does not influence the release of [3H]acetylcholine from the longitudinal muscle strip of guinea-pig ileum and does not potentiate the presynaptic effect of NA. It seems very likely, that the inhibitory effect of NPY is mediated via receptors. Its action is concentration dependent. While exogenous noradrenaline inhibited the release of noradrenaline by 91%, the maximum inhibition reached with NPY was not higher than 60%, indicating that either the intrinsic activity of NPY is lower or much less axon terminals are equipped with NPY receptors. Peptide YY (PYY) also reduced the release of NA from mouse vas deferens.     

The effect of cocaine on kinetics of α<Subscript>1</Subscript>-adrenergic contractile response in different portions of the rat vas deferens

The effect of cocaine (10 μM) on the kinetics of contractile response to noradrenaline (NA) was studied in the rat epididymal and prostatic vas deferens. Cocaine caused an acute increase in vas deferens adrenergic sensitivity primarily due to blockage of NA neuronal capture. The presynaptic action prevailed in the epididymal half: the EC 50 value decreased 32-fold with a slight increase of the maximum adrenergic response more evident in the prostatic half. In the presence of cocaine, the prostatic contraction to NA was mediated not by a single pool of α₁-adrenoceptors like in epididymal vas deferens but by two. Its high affinity pool had the same affinity as α₁-adrenoceptors of the epididymal half, the affinity value of the low one was 36-fold less, and the total maximal response of both pools increased 4.5-fold. The differences in cocaine effect on the rat epididymal and prostatic vas deferens contractions to NA appear to be caused by the different sources of Ca²⁺ involved in these responses.     

Adrenergic component in the mechanism of action of sodium oxybutyrate]

The influence of sodium oxybutyrate on the adrenergic neurotransmitter content in the nerve fibers and the synaptic vesicles and the uptake of exogenous noradrenaline (NA) by the sympathetic nerves of rat Vas deferens was studied by spectrofluorimetry, fluorescent-histochemistry and cytochemical electron microscopy. Sodium oxybutirate failed to influence the stores of the adrenergic mediator, but was capable of blocking the uptake and accumulation of the exogenous NA.     

[3H]Xylamine Accumulation by Two Sympathetically Innervated Tissues

Abstract: The accumulation of [³H]xylamine ([ring-G-³H]- N -2'-chloroethyl- N -ethyl-2-methylbenzylamine; [³H]XYL) by rabbit thoracic aorta and rat vas deferens was studied in vitro . [³H]XYL uptake in both tissues saturated at the same concentrations and displayed the same time course as that for maximal inhibition of [³H]noradrenaline ([³H]NA) accumulation by XYL. Hydrolysis of [³H]XYL or coincubation with Na₂S₂O₃ reduced tissue accumulation of tritium by 80%. In aorta and vas deferens, about 45% and 65%, respectively, of the total [³H]XYL accumulation was blocked by 100 μmol/L desmethylimipramine (DMI), l -NA, or bretylium. In the absence of sodium ion, the uptake of [³H]XYL was reduced by approximately these same amounts. In both tissues nearly 70% of the [³H]XYL taken up was protein bound when measured as trichloroacetic acid-precipitated tritium. Of this radioactivity, the same proportion was sensitive to 100 μmol/L DMI or the absence of sodium ion as found for total tissue accumulation of [³H]XYL. Hydrolysis of [³H]XYL prior to incubation with vas deferens reduced the protein-bound tritium by more than 95%. The studies indicate that [³H]XYL interacts with NA uptake carrier in both rabbit aorta and rat vas deferens and that a substantial portion of the resulting protein-bound radioactivity is carrier-dependent.     

Endogenous prostaglandin formation in the field-stimulated guinea-pig vas deferens: comparison of the inhibitory effects of indomethacin and NS-398

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 inhibited both phases of contraction produced by electrical field stimulation of the guinea-pig vas deferens. PGF2alpha and PGD2 were without effect on this preparation. Carbacyclin (a PGI2) analogue inhibited the first phase of contraction at higher concentrations, whereas U46619 (a thromboxane mimetic) potentiated both phases of contraction. As exogenous arachidonic acid inhibits both phases of contraction of the electrically field-stimulated guinea-pig vas deferens, it is likely that the arachidonic acid is converted to PGE2 in the vas deferens. Indomethacin, a non-specific inhibitor of prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS), attenuated the inhibitory actions of exogenous arachidonic acid when examined on the first phase of contraction. NS-398, a relatively specific inhibitor of PGHS-2, also prevented the inhibitory action of exogenous arachidonic acid. However, NS-398 was much less effective than indomethacin in this respect even though NS-398 and indomethacin inhibit PGHS-2 with similar potencies. Consequently, the findings suggest that exogenous arachidonic acid is converted to PGE2 in the guinea-pig vas deferens by the actions of PGHS-1 and, to a lesser extent, by PGHS-2.     

Actions of dopamine and related amines on reserpinized and chronically denervated vasa deferentia of the rat

1. Reserpine, chronic guanethidine denervation and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists were used to distinguish between presynaptic and postsynaptic actions of exogenous dopamine (DA), octopamine (OA), tyramine (TA) and noradrenaline (NA) on the rat vas deferens. 2. TA has only a presynaptic action while DA and OA have mixed presynaptic actions (releasing endogenous NA) and postsynaptic actions. 3. The postsynaptic actions of DA and OA are likely to be mediated by alpha-adrenoceptors rather than by specific receptors.     

The calcium-magnesium interaction in the process of release of noradrenaline by nicotine

The calcium-magnesium (Ca2+-Mg2+) interaction in the process of nicotine-induced release of [3H]noradrenaline ([3H]NA) from rat isolated vas deferens was studied. Increasing extracellular concentrations of Mg2+ caused a dose-dependent depression of release of [3H]NA by nicotine, and this inhibitory effect of Mg2+ was overcome by raising the concentration of CA2+. It is concluded that Mg2+ antagonizes the nicotine-induced increase in the Ca2+ influx into the adrenergic nerve terminals, and that nicotine acts on adrenergic neuronal membrane rather than intraneuronally to cause release of NA.     

L-NAME pre-treatment partially inhibits the agmatine-evoked depression of the electrically induced twitch contraction of isolated rat vas deferens

The effect of the putative endogenous ligand for alpha(2)-adrenoceptors and imidazoline receptors agmatine was studied in sympathetic neurotransmission in the rat epididymal vas deferens. Tissues were obtained from N(varpi)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)-treated or normal animals and were contracted by electrical stimulation or by exogenous adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). In the electrically stimulated epididymal end, agmatine produced an inhibitory effect on twitch contraction that was partially reversed in l-NAME-treated animals, whereas the inhibition produced by clonidine was not affected by l-NAME treatment. The nitric oxide (NO)-donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) also inhibited twitch contraction. Neither agmatine nor SNAP interfered with the responses induced by exogenous ATP in the epididymal end. Removal of the epithelium of the preparation did not modify the agmatine response. We conclude that a nitrergic pathway activated by agmatine plays a role in its inhibitory effect in rat vas deferens, but it remains to be investigated whether it results from a direct action on the enzyme NO-synthase or a receptor-mediated mechanism.     

Testosterone stimulates prostanoid production by rat vas deferens.

The rat isolated vas deferens produces and releases prostanoids into an incubation medium. Production of these substances from the exogenous precursor 14C arachidonic acid was studied in prepubertal, pubertal and adult animals. Synthesis of prostaglandin F, prostaglandin E, prostaglandin D and thromboxane B2 is lower in prepubertals arid increases significantly in pubertals, with no further modifications in adults. Castration of pubertals and adults dramatically reduces the production of all measured arachidonic acid metabolites but does not modify it in prepubertals. Replacement therapy with testosterone propionate significantly enhances prostanoid production in pubertal and adult castrated rats. Similar treatment on normal prepubertals also increases synthesis, indicating that androgens could be modulators of prostanoid synthesis in vas deferens. The lower effects obtained treating castrated adults with progesterone and with 17-beta estradiol suggest an action, at least partially specific for androgenic steroids. It is concluded that prostanoid production by the rat vas deferens from an exogenous precursor is closely related to the presence of androgens.     

Interaction of xylamine with peripheral sympathetic neurons

Xylamine (XYL) administered to intact rats caused a 70-80% reduction in norepinephrine (NE) uptake by the vas deferens but had little or no effect on NE content in that tissue. The vas deferens accumulates 3H-XYL in vitro by a desmethylimipramine (DMI)-sensitive mechanism. Vasa deferentia from 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) pretreated animals exhibited a 80% reduction in both NE content and XYL uptake activity. These results indicate that XYL is taken up by sympathetic nerve terminals and can reduce NE uptake activity without depleting terminals of neurotransmitter.     

Characterization of alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes mediating noradrenaline-induced contraction of rat epididymal vas deferens in calcium-free medium.

The alpha1-adrenoceptor subtype mediating noradrenaline (NA)-induced contractions of rat epididymal vas deferens in Ca2+-free/EGTA (1 mM) medium was studied using competitive antagonists. The effects of chloroethylclonidine (CEC) was investigated in Ca2+-free and normal Krebs' medium and RT-PCR was used to identify alpha1-adrenoceptor specific mRNA in epididymal vas deferens. In Ca2+-free medium, NA evoked sustained contractions but was less potent (pD2, 5.9) than in normal Krebs' medium (pD2, 7.3). The contractions in Ca2+-free medium were inhibited by prazosin (pA2, 9.3), 5-methylurapidil (pA2, 8.4), spiperone (pA2, 7.6) and BMY 7378 (pK(B), 6.8) consistent with activation of alpha1A-subtype. Repeated pretreatment with CEC (100 microM) reduced the potency of NA and maximum contractions in normal and Ca2+-free media. CEC-sensitivity in normal Krebs' medium was enhanced by prior treatment with phenoxybenzamine. mRNA for alpha1a- and alpha1d- but not alpha1b-adrenoceptors were detected in epididymal vas deferens. These results suggest that NA contracts the tissue in Ca2+-free medium by the stimulation of alpha1A-adrenoceptors. Two factors affecting CEC-sensitivity of NA-induced contractions in this tissue are discussed.     

A pharmacological investigation of the biphasic nature of the contractile response of rabbit and rat vas deferens to field stimulation

It has been demonstrated previously with the vas deferens of the guinea-pig that the first and second phases of the contractile response to motor nerve stimulation are preferentially antagonized by the P₂-purinoceptor antagonist arylazido aminopropionyl ATP (ANAPP₃), and the α₁-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin, respectively. We have now investigated the effect of the two antagonists on the biphasic contraction in the vas deferens of two other species; rabbit and rat. ANAPP₃, in a concentration which antagonized responses to exogenously applied ATP but not those to exogenous norepinephrine, preferentially reduced the initial phasic response of the rabbit vas deferens to motor nerve stimulation without significantly reducing the secondary, tonic phase of the response. Prazosin had the opposite effect; antagonizing the response to norepinephrine but not to ATP and reducing the tonic response to motor nerve stimulation without significantly reducing the initial phasic response. Results obtained with the rat vas deferens were similar. The present results combined with previous findings suggest that ATP and norepinephrine act as cotransmitters in the vas deferens of several species.     

Long-term treatment with fluoxetine associates with peripheral effects on rat vas deferens contractility

The aim of this work was to study whether long-term treatment with fluoxetine could induce peripheral effects by modifying vas deferens contractile activity. For this purpose the contractile response to NE, and 5-HT of vas deferens isolated from male Wistar rats that received fluoxetine 10 mg/kg/day i.p., during 21 days, was studied using the isolated organ bath technique. Results show that vas deferens of treated rats presented spontaneous activity, an effect that was abolished by prazosin and isoproterenol and that was not affected by nitroprusside or indomethacin. In addition, fluoxetine did not modify the response to calcium suggesting that spontaneous activity was not a consequence of an abnormal calcium movement. Fluoxetine induced a significant increase in the response of vas deferens to 5-HT and to low NE concentrations while NE maximal effect was unaffected. Fluoxetine treatment did not modify the binding parameters of [3H]-prazosin to vas deferens. It is concluded that long-term treatment with fluoxetine modifies vas deferens contractile activity. This effect could be the result of an alteration of adrenergic neurotransmission and could account for some of the untoward effects observed during clinical course with fluoxetine.     

Pharmacomechanical coupling in rat vas deferens: effects of agents that modulate intracellular release of calcium and protein kinase C activation.

The effects of agents that modulate intracellular release of calcium and protein kinase C (PKC) activation on noradrenaline (NA)-induced contractions of epididymal vas deferens in calcium-free/EGTA (1 mM) medium were investigated. NA (100 microM) or methoxamine (100 microM) evoked repeatable contractions. Clonidine (100-300 microM) was ineffective. The contractions to NA were reduced by procaine (1-10 mM) but not by thapsigargin (0.1-30 microM), ryanodine (1-30 microM) or TMB-8 (1-30 microM). Contractions to cumulative additions of NA (1-100 microM) were enhanced in the presence of cyclopiazonic acid (10 & 30 microM) but not ryanodine (10 & 30 microM). Sequential contractions to NA were not blocked by PKC inhibitors, calphostin C (1 microM) or Ro 31-8220 (1-30 microM) but were reduced by H-7 (1-30 microM), a broad spectrum protein kinase inhibitor. Although RT-PCR experiments detected mRNA for some Ca2+-dependent/DAG-activated and Ca2+-independent/DAG-activated PKC isoforms in epididymal vas deferens, the PKC activators, phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (100 microM) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (100 microM) failed to activate the tissues in calcium-free medium but enhanced subsequent contractions to NA. These results indicate a limited role for intracellular calcium stores and phorbol ester/DAG-sensitive PKC isoforms in NA-induced contraction of epididymal rat vas deferens in calcium-free medium. The results suggest that pharmacomechanical coupling triggered by NA may involve the sensitization of contractile myofilaments to Ca2+ or a Ca2+-independent mechanism. The possible involvement of Ca2+-independent/DAG-insensitive PKC isoforms and agonist-dependent but PKC-independent sensitization pathway is discussed.     

Morphine-like activity of the enkephalin analog Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-NH2

The analgetic activity of the tetrapeptide enkephalin analog, its influence on the interneuronal transmission of excitation in various areas of the central nervous system and on opiate receptors of vas deferens were studied. The tetrapeptide was found to have a marked analgetic effect during intravenous injection to mice but to be less active than morphine. The tetrapeptide as well as morphine inhibited the impulse summation in rabbits and both spontaneous and bradykinin-induced neuronal activity in the rat sensory motor cortex. The tetrapeptide inhibited the contractions of isolated vas deferens in mice. The opiate antagonist naloxone eliminated both analgetic effect of the tetrapeptide and its inhibitory effect on the impulse summation, neuronal activity and contractions of vas deferens.     

Stereospecific effects of d- and l-pentazocine on contractions of the mouse vas deferens

The effects of the d- and l-isomers of pentazocine were compared to that of racemic pentazocine on contractions of the mouse isolated vas deferens. L-pentazocine inhibited electrically evoked contractions of the mouse vas deferens (MVD) in a dose-dependent manner (ID50 0.37 +/- 0.04 microM). In contrast, d-pentazocine augmented field stimulated contractions dose-dependently; per cent increases in contractions at 10 and 30 microM were 57.8 +/- 18.0 and 98.0 +/- 15.1%, respectively. Racemic pentazocine produced an intermediate effect between the two isomers. The effect of 1-pentazocine was antagonized by naloxone, whereas that of d-pentazocine was not. L-pentazocine did not effect the response of the MVD to exogenous norepinephrine at any concentration tested, while d-pentazocine depressed the response of the MVD to exogenous norepinephrine at one dose (0.3 microM). These findings demonstrate that d- and l-pentazocine produce opposite effects on the MVD. The effects of l-pentazocine are opioid mediated, while those of d-pentazocine are not. In the racemic mixture the opposing effects of the two isomers modulate each other, resulting in a diminished effect.     

Effect of carbidine on the process of adrenergic neurotransmission]

Methods of physiological analysis were applied to a study of the effect of an original psychotropic agent--carbidine--on the process of adrenergic neurotransmission on a model of an isolated rat Vas deferens. The noradrenaline (NA) content was determined in the same ductus spectrofluorimetrically; the capacity of the neuroleptic to block the consumption of the exogenous NA by the tissue was also investigated. Carbidine proved to possess an adrenomimetic effect caused by it capacity to release NA, leading to a reduction of endogenous neuromediator stores.     

Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes and insulin on calcium responsiveness of the rat vas deferens

In the present study, effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes and insulin treatment on the reactivity of rat vas deferens to KCl and calmidazolium, a calmodulin antagonist, were evaluated and calmodulin levels in vas deferens tissue from diabetic and insulin-treated rats were determined. Diabetes was induced in rats by a single injection of streptozotocin. Five weeks after the induction of diabetes, one group of diabetic rats was injected with insulin for 3 weeks. After 8 weeks, vas deferens tissues on one side of diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats and their controls were mounted in organ bath to measure isometric tension, while the tissues on the other side of rats were homogenized to determine calmodulin levels by radioimmunoassay. Concentration-response curves to KCl were obtained in vas deferens tissues in the absence and presence of calmidazolium. The effects of KCl and calmidazolium on vas deferens isolated from 8-weeks diabetic rats were decreased. Calmodulin levels were also found to be decreased in vas deferens from diabetic rats. Decreased calmodulin levels in diabetic rat vas deferens were not corrected by insulin treatment. Only a partial correction following insulin treatment was observed in contractile effect of KCl on diabetic rat vas deferens, whereas insulin treatment increases the affinity of calmodulin in this muscle. Experimental diabetes causes an impairment in calcium/calmodulin-dependent contractile process of vas deferens, which is correctable partially following insulin therapy. The changes in the function of rat vas deferens due to streptozotocin diabetes seem to be related to impaired sexual functions in human diabetes.     

Comparative study on the effect of morphine and the opioid-like peptides in the vas deferens of rodents: species and strain differences, evidence for multiple opiate receptors

The effect of an opiate alkaloid and an opioid-like peptide was studied on the electrically evoked twitching of the vas deferens of 3 common laboratory rodents. Normorphine and the synthetic opioid peptide D-Alanine₂ methionine enkephalinamide (D-Ala₂) produced dose dependent inhibitions of the twitching response in the mouse vas deferens. In the rat vas, while β-endorphin (β-EP) caused an inhibitory effect in three strains of rats to a similar degree, morphine produced a dose related enhancement of the twitching. In the guinea pig, both morphine and β-EP caused an increased in the muscular twitch. The results are interpreted in terms of an heterogenous mixture of opiate receptors present in the vas deferens from these rodents. The mouse appears to contain mainly δ receptors while the rat has mostly ε receptors characterized by their specificity and sensitivity to the action of β-EP. The guinea pig vas deferens has apparently lost the sensitivity to the inhibitory influence of the opioids, suggesting the absence of μ or δ opiate receptors in this tissue.     

The effects of adenosine and adenine nucleotides on the guinea-pig vas deferens: evidence for existence of purinergic receptors.

The effect of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) and its congeners on the alpha-adrenergic neuroeffector transmission in the isolated vas deferens of the guinea pig was evaluated. Both intracellular activity and contractile response of the smooth muscle of the vas deferens were recorded by using the sucrose-gap method. Adenosine, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) influenced alpha-adrenergic receptor-mediated excitatory responses by depolarizing the cell membrane potential. ATP, on the other hand, produced action potentials rather than sustained depolarization, and its activity was blocked by theophylline and 2, 2′-pyridylisatogen, an ATP antagonist, but not blocked by either phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine, which inhibit alpha-adrenoreceptor responsiveness caused by norepinephrine or phenylephrine. Furthermore, dipyridamole, an adenosine uptake blocker, potentiated both ATP and adenosine activities. These findings indicate that adenosine and adenine nucleotides may exert their action at an extracellular site. From these results, it may be speculated that alpha adrenoreceptors and purinergic receptors do indeed exist on the smooth muscle of the vas deferens.