The rat submaxillary gland contains predominantly P-type tachykinin binding sites

The specific binding of the ¹²⁵I-Bolton-Hunter labeled tachykinins substance K (BHSK), eledoisin (BHE), and substance P (BHSP) was examined in crude membrane suspensions and by autoradiography in rat submaxillary gland. All three ligands at 0.1 nM concentrations exhibited binding that was inhibited by tachykinins in a potency rank order of substance P > physalaemin > substance K > eledoisin > kassinin > neuromedin K with slope factors essentially equal to unity. All tachykinins were 5 to 10 times more potent in inhibiting BHSK and BHE binding compared to BHSP binding. Autoradiographic visualization of BHSK and BHSP binding sites in the gland revealed extensive labeling of mucous and serous acini. The intensity of labeling was much less for BHSK than for BHSP. The results indicate that the rat submaxillary gland contains predominantly P-type tachykinin binding sites.     

Establishment of highly specific radioimmunoassays for neurokinin A and neurokinin B and determination of tissue distribution of these peptides in rat central nervous system

Highly specific radioimmunoassays (RIAs) for neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) were developed. Antisera were produced by the procedure which involved immunization with NKA or NKB, both conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and treatments with a tolerogenic conjugate of kassinin and a copolymer of D-glutamic acid and D-lysine (D-GL) to inhibit the production of cross-reactive antibodies against common C-terminal region of tachykinins. Cross-reactivities of anti-NKA antiserum (R704), thus produced, with NKB, kassinin, eledoisin were 12.6%, 10.6% and 11.5%, respectively. This was in sharp contrast with those of antiserum obtained from the rabbit not treated with kassinin-D-GL, these values corresponding to 129.0%, 42.5% and 94.4%, respectively. The cross-reactivities of R704 with substance P and physalaemin were 0.3% and 1.5%, respectively. This antiserum also bound 35.6% of neuropeptide K which contains NKA at its C-terminal. More importantly, anti-NKB antiserum (R707) obtained by the above tolerizing regimen was highly specific for NKB and the cross-reactivities with NKA, neuropeptide K, kassinin and other tachykinins were all less than 0.001%. RIAs using these specific antisera allowed us to measure directly NKA and NKB in tissue extracts without their fractionation by chromatography prior to RIAs. Measurements of immunoreactive NKA and NKB in different rat brain regions and spinal cord revealed that they are present with various ratios (NKA/NKB: 1.1-9.9) depending on the region.     

Antisera raised against eledoisin and kassinin detect elevated levels of immunoreactive material in plasma and tumor tissues from patients with carcinoid tumors

Radioimmunoassays based on antisera raised against the tachykinins eledoisin (antiserum E7) and kassinin (antiserum K12) were used to measure the concentration of tachykinin-like immunoreactivity (TKLI) in plasma from 52 healthy subjects. 65 patients with carcinoid tumors (of which 46 had symptoms of both flushing and diarrhoea), and 6 patients with endocrine pancreatic tumors. The antisera did not crossreact with substance P (SP). Elevated concentrations of TKLI, as compared with healthy subjects, were found in 75% of the carcinoid patients, but in none of the patients with pancreatic tumors. Tumor metastases from 8 of the carcinoid patients all contained TKLI. Ion-exchange chromatography of plasma samples and tumor tissue extracts indicated the presence of several immunoreactive molecular forms. The elution patterns of the immunoreactivity detected by antisera E7 and K12 were similar, indicating that the same molecular species are measured by these antisera. None of the components coeluted with synthetic SP. One of the immunoreactive components in carcinoid tumor extracts coeluted with synthetic NKA. The major immunoreactive components in plasma from the patients eluted in a position different from that of all currently known mammalian tachykinins. Tachykinin immunoreactive material detected in tumor tissue and plasma of patients with carcinoid tumor may play a role in the symptomatology of the carcinoid syndrome.     

Substance K: a novel mammalian tachykinin that differs from substance P in its pharmacological profile

The primary structure of one of the bovine brain substance P precursors has shown the existence of a second mammalian tachykinin sequence, named substance K, that is remarkably homologous to that of the amphibian peptide kassinin. In this study, three substance K sequences were chemically synthesized and were submitted to parallel bioassays with kassinin, substance P and physalaemin. The results show that the three substance K peptides all possess biological activities characteristic of the tachykinin family and that their biological activities more closely resemble those of kassinin than those of substance P or physalaemin. This suggests that substance K may have a physiological role which is related to but different from that of substance P in mammalian organisms.     

Differential Effects of Tachykinins Injected Intranigrally on Striatal Dopamine Metabolism

The effects of intranigral injection of kassinin, eledoisin, and substance P on striatal dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) contents as well as circling behavior were studied in rats. Kassinin and eledoisin produced a marked dose-dependent increase of DOPAC concentrations in the ipsilateral striatum, as well as in the number of contralateral circlings. Substance P produced a similar but weaker effect. At the larger dose (5 nmol), the three tachykinins also induced an increase of DA concentrations in the ipsilateral striatum. The rank order of activity was kassinin greater than eledoisin greater than substance P. These results suggest that tachykinins stimulated the nigro-striatal dopaminergic system by accelerating the dopamine metabolism in striatum.     

Demonstration of two distinct tachykinin receptors in rat brain cortex

Eledoisin and substance P are members of a class of peptides termed tachykinins. They share a similar spectrum of biological activities but their relative potencies in various pharmacological assays differ. We have investigated whether there is more than one receptor for these tachykinins in rat brain cortex membranes. 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin specifically binds to rat brain cortex membranes with high affinity. The binding is inhibited over 95% by unlabeled eledoisin (6.6 microM). Scatchard analysis of the binding of this ligand is curvilinear suggesting that there are two binding sites with KD values of 0.9 +/- 0.7 nM and 20 +/- 10 nM. We tested various analogs and fragments of substance P and eledoisin for their ability to inhibit the binding of 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin and 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated substance P to these membranes. The following peptides are more potent as inhibitors of the 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin binding site than of the 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated substance P binding site: nonradioactive Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin (greater than 100-fold), eledoisin (12-fold), kassinin (22-fold), neuromedin K (greater than 58-fold), and pyroglutamyl substance P(6-11)hexapeptide (4-fold). In contrast, substance P (21-fold), physalaemin (8-fold), and substance P methyl ester (1200-fold) were more potent as inhibitors of 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated substance P binding. These results suggest that these two ligands may bind to distinct receptors. 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated substance P binds specifically to rat parotid cell receptors, but 125I-Bolton Hunter-conjugated eledoisin does not, indicating that parotid cells contain only one of the receptor subtypes. The cortex membrane binding of both ligands is stimulated by low concentrations of MnCl2 (ED50 = 0.05 mM) and is inhibited by guanylyl-5'-(beta, gamma-imido)diphosphate (IC50 = 0.5 microM).     

Specific substance P binding sites in rat thymus and spleen: in vitro autoradiographic study

Substance P binding sites were localized in rat thymus and spleen by incubation of tissue sections with [125I]Bolton-Hunter substance P, [3H]Ultrofilm autoradiography with image analysis coupled to computerized microdensitometry and comparison with 125I standards. The tissue localization of the binding sites was determined with emulsion autoradiography. A single type of specific, saturable, high affinity binding sites was found associated with the vasculature in the medulla of the thymus and the marginal sinus of the spleen, with a Kd of 0.10 and 0.14 nM, respectively. Of all the unlabeled tachykinins tested (substance P, physalaemin, substance K, eledoisin, kassinin, and neuromedin K) substance P was the most potent inhibitor of [125I]Bolton-Hunter substance P binding, with an IC50 of approximately 0.5 nM, indicating the presence of substance P-P binding sites. Our results support the hypothesis of a role for substance P in the modulation of the immune system.     

Luminal tachykinin receptors on canine tracheal epithelium: functional subtyping

Luminal addition of tachykinins to the open-circuited canine tracheal epithelium produces a biphasic response in the transmucosal potential difference (PD). A rapid, transient decrease is followed by a subsequent rise, both phases being associated with changes in conductance. Concentration-response curves demonstrated the following orders of potency: substance P greater than physalaemin greater than eledoisin = kassinin for the tachykinins, and substance P greater than substance P-(4-11) greater than substance P-(6-11) using the C-terminal fragments. Both sequences are similar to those reported for the dog carotid artery. These observations were confirmed by cross-tachyphylaxis experiments. SP-O-methyl ester, a selective agonist for the SP-P (or NK-1) receptor, elicited identical responses, and exhibited cross-tachyphylaxis to substance P. Bradykinin produced similar luminal responses, though different receptors are involved, since no cross-tachyphylaxis was observed between bradykinin and the tachykinins.     

Multiple tachykinins (neurokinin A, neuropeptide K and substance P) in capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons in the guinea-pig

The occurrence of tachykinins in sensory neurons of the guinea-pig was studied by means of radioimmunoassay combined with ion-exchange and high-performance liquid chromatography as well as by immunohistochemistry. Antisera raised against kassinin (antiserum K12), neurokinin A (NKA) (antiserum NKA2) and substance P (SP) (antisera SP25 and SP2) were used. Antiserum K12 detected NKA, neuropeptide K (NPK) and a component eluting in the position of eledoisin (ELE) in extracts of the lung and ureter. Neurokinin B (NKB) was, however, not found. Neutral water extraction favored recovery of NKA and of the ELE-like component, while NPK was found only in acid extracts. The SP antisera detected two immunoreactive components of which the major form coeluted with synthetic SP. Capsaicin pretreatment depleted all these various forms of immunoreactivity in several peripheral organs including the ureter and lung. The immunoreactivity detected by antisera K12 or SP25 in radioimmunoassay had a similar regional distribution pattern in peripheral tissues. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that antiserum NKA2 stained the same spinal ganglion cells as the SP2 antiserum. The distribution of capsaicin-sensitive nerve fibers stained by these two antisera was also identical in peripheral organs such as the ureter, inferior mesenteric ganglion, heart and lung. It is concluded that multiple tachykinins, including SP, NKA, NPK and an ELE-like peptide, are present in capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves in the guinea-pig. This finding can most likely be related to the origin of SP, NKA and NPK from the same precursor molecule, subsequent posttranslational tissue processing and axonal transport to terminal regions.     

Effect of kassinin, neurokinin A and neurokinin B on drinking behaviour in the pigeon

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of kassinin produced a prompt and copious drinking response at doses of 10-1000 ng/pigeon, in the absence of other behavioural alterations or of changes in core temperature. Neurokinin A and B evoked drinking, but they were respectively 10 and 100 times less potent than kassinin. Intraperitoneal injection of kassinin elicited drinking, but at doses about 1000 X larger than the i.c.v. ones. The angiotensin antagonist [Sar1, Leu8]angiotensin II did not reduce drinking induced by i.c.v. kassinin, suggesting that its effect is not due to interaction with the central renin-angiotensin system. Moreover, the effect is apparently independent of the mechanisms controlling hypovolaemic and hyperosmotic thirst since exact additivity was found in the dipsogenic response when i.c.v. kassinin was administered in the presence of a hypovolaemic (subcutaneous (s.c.), polyethylene glycol) or hyperosmotic (s.c. hypertonic NaCl) dipsogenic stimulus. The present findings show that kassinin, neurokinin A and B share with the tachykinins already tested (eledoisin, physalaemin, substance P) a common dipsogenic action in pigeons. However, marked differences exist in their dipsogenic potency. This order of potency, eledoisin = kassinin = physalaemin greater than neurokinin A = substance P greater than neurokinin B, is not consistent with the tachykinin receptor subtypes so far proposed.     

Regional distribution of neuromedin K and neuromedin L in rat brain and spinal cord

Neuromedin K and neuromedin L are novel mammalian tachykinins isolated from porcine spinal cord. We have developed a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay for neuromedin K. Since the radioimmunoassay for neuromedin K has significant crossreactivity with neuromedin L and substance P, we can simultaneously determine the tissue concentrations of neuromedin K, neuromedin L and substance P after separation of the tissue extracts by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Substance P is found to be the most abundant mammalian tachykinin in every brain region. The ratio of the concentration of substance P to neuromedin K is small in cerebral cortex and large in medulla-pons, while that of substance P to neuromedin L is rather constant in a range of 2.0–2.5. In spinal cord, dorsal half contains more neuromedin K and L than ventral half as is the case with substance P. These results indicate that both neuromedin K and L are endogenous mammalian tachykinins with specific physiological functions.     

Pharmacologic characterization and autoradiographic distribution of binding sites for iodinated tachykinins in the rat central nervous system

P-type, E-type, and K-type tachykinin binding sites have been identified in the mammalian CNS. These sites may be tachykinin receptors for which the mammalian neuropeptides substance P, neuromedin K, and substance K are the preferred natural agonists, respectively. In the present investigation, we have compared the pharmacology and the autoradiographic distribution of CNS binding sites for the iodinated (¹²⁵I-Bolton-Hunter reagent) tachykinins substance P, eledoisin, neuromedin K, and substance K. Iodinated eledoisin and neuromedin K exhibited an E-type binding pattern in cortical membranes. Iodinated eledoisin, neuromedin K, and substance K each labeled sites that had a similar distribution but one that was considerably different from that of sites labeled by iodinated substance P. CNS regions where there were detectable densities of binding sites for iodinated eledoisin, neuromedin K, and substance K and few or no sites for iodinated substance P included cortical layers IV–VI, mediolateral septum, supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, interpeduncular nucleus, ventral tegmental area, and substantia nigra pars compacta. Binding sites for SP were generally more widespread in the CNS. CNS regions where there was a substantial density of binding sites for iodinated substance P and few or no sites for iodinated eledoisin, neuromedin K, and substance K included cortical layers I and II, olfactory tubercle, nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen, globus pallidus, medial and lateral septum, endopiriform nucleus, rostral thalamus, medial and lateral preoptic nuclei, arcuate nucleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, dorsal parabrachial nucleus, parabigeminal nucleus, cerebellum, inferior olive, nucleus ambiguus, retrofacial and reticular nuclei, and spinal cord autonomic and somatic motor nuclei. In the brainstem, iodinated substance P labeled sites in both sensory and motor nuclei whereas iodinated eledoisin, neuromedin K, and substance K labeled primarily sensory nuclei. Our results are consistent with either of two alternatives: (1) that iodinated eledoisin, neuromedin K, and substance K bind to the same receptor site in the rat CNS, or (2) that they bind to multiple types of receptor sites with very similar distribution.     

Action of the newly discovered mammalian tachykinins, substance K and neuromedin K, on gastroduodenal motility of anesthetized dogs

The present experiments examined the local effects of two new mammalian tachykinins isolated from porcine spinal cord, substance K and neuromedin K, on gastroduodenal motility of anesthetized dogs. Tachykinins were injected through the gastroepiploic and cranial pancreaticoduodenal arteries at concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 ng/ml. Substance K, neuromedin K and substance P increased gastroduodenal smooth muscle contractions in a dose-dependent manner. The contractile response of the gastric antrum to newly discovered tachykinins was not as long-lasting as that to substance P. The potencies of various tachykinins on contractile responses showed the following rank order of potencies: physalaemin = eledoisin = substance P greater than substance K = neuromedin K in gastric smooth muscle; physalaemin = substance P = eledoisin greater than substance K = neuromedin K in the duodenal smooth muscle. Administration of atropine (100-200 micrograms/kg) inhibited the effect of tachykinins both in the gastric antrum and in the proximal duodenum. These results indicate that substance K and neuromedin K could act as transmitters or as modulators of neuronal activity influencing gastroduodenal motility.     

Enzyme Immunoassay for Tachykinin-Like Immunoreactivity in the Guinea Pig Spinal Cord

A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for quantitation of tachykinin-like immunoreactivity (TK-LI) is presented. Because the antiserum K-12 recognizes various tachykinins, such as neurokinin A (100%), kassinin (103%), eledoisin (51%), neurokinin B (18%), physalaemin (0.7%), and substance P (0.7%), the immunoreactivity detected in this enzyme immunoassay has been termed TK-LI. The assay was performed on 96-well microtiter plates coated with a mouse monoclonal second antibody. After preincubation of soluble neurokinin A or samples and K-12 antiserum for 3 h at room temperature, acetylcholinesterase-labelled neurokinin A was allowed to react overnight at 4 degrees C. Samples were finally incubated with Ellman's reagent for 2 h and the absorbance was measured at 414 nm. The threshold for detection of TK-LI was 2 fmol/well. TK-LI release from guinea pig dorsal spinal cord slices was evoked by capsaicin or high K+ medium. The capsaicin-evoked TK-LI release was increased in the presence of thiorphan, but not in that of captopril.     

Identification and Characterization of Multiple Tachykinin Immunoreactivities in Bovine Retina: Evidence for the Presence of a Putative Oxidative Inactivation System for Substance P

Tachykinin immunoreactivity has been quantified and characterized in extracts of bovine retinae by combining radioimmunoassay, gel permeation chromatography, and reverse-phase HPLC. Using an antiserum specific for the C-terminal hexapeptide amide of substance P, levels of 3.43 +/- 0.33 ng g-1 and 12.45 +/- 0.76 ng g-1 (mean +/- SD, n = 5) were measured in extracts prepared by acidified ethanol and boiling 0.5 M acetic acid, respectively. Levels of neurokinin A immunoreactivity, assayed using an antiserum cross-reacting with neurokinin A (100%), neurokinin B (50%), neuropeptide K (85%), and substance P (less than 0.1%) were 12.46 +/- 0.47 ng g-1 and 7.20 +/- 0.37 ng g-1 in the same extracts. Gel permeation chromatography identified a single substance P immunoreactant eluting with substance P standard, whereas two neurokinin A immunoreactants were resolved eluting with neuropeptide K and neurokinin A standards. Reverse-phase HPLC analysis resolved immunoreactivity eluting with substance P, neurokinin A, neuropeptide K, and neurokinin B and their respective methionine sulphoxides. The amount of immunoreactive material co-eluting with the respective sulphoxides was higher in acidified ethanol extracts, and substance P was most susceptible to oxidative modification. Subsequent incubation of synthetic substance P with dispersed bovine retinal cells resulted in rapid conversion to three metabolites identified and isolated by reverse-phase HPLC. Each had an amino acid composition identical to that of substance P, and the major product had the same retention time as substance P sulphoxide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antisera raised against eledoisin and kassinin detect immunoreactive material in rat tissue extracts: tissue distribution and chromatographic characterization

Radioimmunoassays were developed for the tachykinins eledoisin (ELE) and kassinin (KAS) using antisera raised in rabbits. The antisera exhibited low (less than 0.1%) cross-reactivities to substance P (SP) and physalaemin (PHY), but crossreacted (with one exception, antiserum K7) to varying extents with neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB). In the rat, the tissue distribution of the immunoreactive material detected by antiserum (E7) raised against ELE and by another antiserum (K1) raised against KAS both resembled that previously described for SP. Using the highly KAS-specific antiserum K7, no or only very low levels of immunoreactivity could be detected in extracts of various rat tissues. Gel permeation chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography of tissue extracts indicated that all antisera (except K7) detected the same population of immunoreactive molecules. One of the components was chromatographically indistinguishable from NKA. The tissue distribution of this component also resembled that of SP. Another immunoreactive component co-chromatographed with NKB at cation exchange chromatography. Acid tissue extracts, but not neutral tissue extracts, were found to contain immunoreactive components which appeared more basic than NKA and NKB. The total levels of immunoreactivity were higher in neutral than in acid tissue extracts. However, the ratio between the amounts of immunoreactivities in the two types of extracts varied considerably between tissues, indicating that tachykinin immunoreactive components may be present in different relative proportions in various tissues.     

Tachykinins protect against ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats

Subcutaneous pretreatment of rats with neurokinin (NK) A or the fragment NKA(4-10) reduced the degree of gastric lesions induced by oral administration of 96% ethanol. The protective effect of NKA(4-10) was dose-dependent. Arg-NKB, the water soluble derivative of NKB, was less effective than NKA or NKA(4-10) while [Me-Phe7]NKB, substance P (SP) and SP-methyl-ester were inactive. The NKA(4-10) antilesion effect was reversed by pretreatment with N-ethyl-maleimide, suggesting a possible involvement of sulphydryls in its action. Among the nonmammalian tachykinins, kassinin significantly reduced ethanol-induced lesions while eledoisin and physalaemin at equivalent molar doses were inactive. These results provide, for the first time, evidence that tachykinins and their derivatives exert gastroprotective activity toward ethanol-induced haemorrhagic lesions. Assuming a receptor-mediated mechanism, NK-2 sites could be involved.     

Immunochemical characterisation of tachykinin immunoreactivity in the nervous system of the garden snail,Helix aspersa

1. Circumoesophageal ganglia and foot muscle of the garden snail. Helix aspersa, were subjected to immunocytochemistry using antisera to the tachykinins, substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), kassinin (KAS) and eledoisin (ELE).2. Immunoreactivity in neuronal somata and fibres was detected only with the SP antiserum.3. SP and NKA radioimmunoassays were performed on extracts of Circumoesophageal ganglia. In common with immunocytochemistry, immunoreactivity was only detected with the SP antiserum.4. Gel permeation chromatography of extracts resolved a single peak of immunoreactivity eluting slightly later than synthetic mammalian SP. Reverse-phase HPLC of immunoreactive fractions resolved two immunoreactive peptides representing oxidised and reduced forms of a single peptide.5. These data suggest that the nervous system of H. aspersa contains a single tachykinin with C-tenninal structural characteristics similar to mammalian SP.     

Tachykinin production in granulomas of murine schistosomiasis mansoni

Preprotachykinins, the products of one gene, are the precursor molecules of three mammalian tachykinins called substance P (SP), substance K (SK), and neuropeptide K. An additional mammalian tachykinin, neurokinin B, has also been described. SP and possibly other tachykinins may modulate immunologic responses. Granulomas that form around parasite ova in murine schistosomiasis were examined for tachykinins. Tachykinins were extracted from granulomas by boiling or with detergent. Extracts examined by RIA and HPLC contained only immunoreactive SP. Granulomas were dispersed with collagenase and cultured in vitro for up to 4 h. Only immunoreactive SP appeared in the culture medium. SP immunoreactivity localized solely to granuloma eosinophils as demonstrated by a sensitive immunohistochemical technique. An antiserum that recognized SK, neuropeptide K, and neurokinin B, but which possessed low reactivity to SP, also stained these cells. Only prior absorption of each antiserum with the appropriate synthetic neuropeptide would abrogate the immunostaining. This suggested that tachykinins other than SP were present within these cells. However, results of in situ hybridization experiments intimated that eosinophils produced predominantly preprotachykinin mRNAs which encode SP but are devoid of the SK/neuropeptide K sequence. It is concluded that granuloma eosinophils make predominantly SP in deference to other tachykinins, and that tachykinins other than SP are unlikely to be important in the regulation of the early granulomatous response of murine schistosomiasis.     

Mammalian tachykinin-induced hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids in rat brain slices

The mammalian tachykinins substance K, neuromedin K and substance P stimulated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in paired coronal sections through the rat brain. In contrast, none of these peptides had any effect on either basal or forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP levels. The present results therefore implicate inositol phospholipid hydrolysis as a possible second messenger system mediating the effects of substance K and neuromedin K in addition to substance P.