Original Article

Effect of tachykinins on ascending and descending reflex pathway in rat small intestine.

Andreas HAHN, Martin STORR, Hans-Dieter ALLESCHER

Abstract

AIM: To examine the effect of tachykinins on the ascending reflex pathway in rat
small intestine, we used different selective neurokinin (NK) receptor antagonists
(RA): a) NK1-RA: GR-82334 and CP-96.345, b) NK2-RA: MEN-10.376 and L-659.877. The
aim was further to investigate the effect of substance P (SP) on the ascending
excitatory and descending inhibitory reflex pathway.
METHODS: The whole segments of rat ileum (10 cm in length) were studied in an
organ bath. Ascending contraction of circle muscle was elicited by anal
electrical stimulation (3 Hz, 1 ms, 20 V) and measured as change of intraluminal
pressure by a perfused manometric system 2 cm and 4 cm orad of the stimulation
site.
RESULTS: GR-82334 and CP-96.345 (NK1-RA) caused a significant dose-related
inhibition of the oral contraction at a distance of 4 cm: GR-82334 [area: -10 %
+/- 8 % (10 nmol/L); -29 % +/ -10 % (1000 nmol/L). P < 0.05, n = 10], CP-96.345
[area: -2 %+/- 6 %(0.1 nmol/L); -14 % +/- 10 % (10 nmol/L). P < 0.01, n = 8],
whereas the contractile response at a distance of 2 cm was unaltered (n = 8). In
contrast, MEN-10.376 and L-659.877 (NK2-RA) did not alter the amplitude or the
area under the curve (n = 10). Neither the NK1- nor the NK2-receptor antagonists
had a significant effect on the latency of the reflex response. SP showed a
significant increase in the ascending contraction and the descending relaxation
(n = 6, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that blockade of NK1-receptors decreases
the oral reflex response. Latency of the reflex response remains unchanged,
indicating that the effect is not due to an action on interneurons. NK2-receptors
do not take part in the ascending reflex in rat small intestine. SP increases the
descending relaxant reflex response and ascending contraction.
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