Effects of some autonomic drugs and neuropeptides on the mechanical activity of longitudinal and circular muscle strips isolated from the carp intestinal bulb (Cyprinus carpio)

1. The mechanical responses to some autonomic drugs and neuropeptides of longitudinal muscle (LM) and circular muscle (CM) strips isolated from the carp intestinal bulb were investigated in vitro. 2. Acetylcholine and carbamylcholine caused concentration-dependent transient contraction of both LM and CM strips. Tetrodotoxin had no effect, but atropine selectively decreased the contractile responses to acetylcholine and carbamylcholine. 3. Excitatory alpha-2 and inhibitory beta adrenoceptors were present in both LM and CM strips. 4. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) caused concentration-dependent contraction of both LM and CM strips. Tetrodotoxin, atropine and methysergide decreased the contractile responses to 5-HT. 5. Some neuropeptides (angiotensin I, angiotensin II, bombesin, bradykinin, neurotensin, somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) did not cause any mechanical response (contraction or relaxation) in either smooth muscle strip. 6. Substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) caused contraction of both LM and CM strips. However, the time course of the contraction in LM was different from that in CM. The order of potency was NKA greater than SP greater than NKB in LM strips and NKA greater than SP much greater than NKB in CM strips. In LM strips, the contractile responses to tachykinins were unaffected by spantide and methysergide, but partly decreased by tetrodotoxin and atropine. On the other hand, the contractile responses of CM strips were unaffected by tetrodotoxin, atropine, methysergide and spantide. 7. Dynorphin (1-13) (DYN), leucine-enkephalin (L-Enk) and methionine-enkephalin (M-Enk) caused concentration-dependent contraction of both LM and CM strips. The order of potency was DYN greater than M-Enk greater than L-Enk. Naloxone selectively decreased the responses to opiate peptides. 8. The present results indicate that acetylcholine, carbamylcholine, catecholamines, 5-HT, tachykinins (SP, NKA and NKB) and opiate peptides (DYN, L-Enk and M-Enk) affect the mechanical activity of LM and CM strips isolated from the carp intestinal bulb through their specific receptors.