Eledoisin-Related Peptide

Response of splanchnic-driven neurons to substance P and eledoisin-related peptide.[Pubmed:2420861]

J Auton Nerv Syst. 1986 Mar;15(3):269-74.

The effects of iontophoretically applied substance P (SP) and Eledoisin-Related Peptide (ERP) on the extracellularly recorded activity of spontaneous or D,L-homocysteic acid (DLH)-driven thoracic (T7-T8) spinal neurons, identified by orthodromic activation by the greater splanchnic nerve, were examined in chloralose/urethane anesthetized cats. Of 24 neurons tested, SP and/or ERP (18-120 nA) produced a weak (ca 30%) excitatory effect on 5 neurons, a weak inhibitory effect on 9 neurons, and no effect on the remaining neurons. When compared to the action of either DLH or GABA, we found both the excitatory and inhibitory effects of SP and/or ERP were delayed and prolonged. These data do not support a role for SP as a major neurotransmitter in spinal circuits in which visceral (splanchnic) afferents participate.

Effects of glutamate, substance P and eledoisin-related peptide on solitary tract neurones involved in respiration and respiratory reflexes.[Pubmed:2581174]

Neuroscience. 1985 Mar;14(3):863-73.

Recent studies have implicated glutamate and substance P in synaptic transmission in the nuclei tractus solitarii and in central regulation of cardiorespiratory functions. Consequently, in chloralose-anaesthetized cats that were artificially ventilated, we examined the effects of the microiontophoretic application of both chemicals (and the substance P homologue, Eledoisin-Related Peptide) on single neurones of the nuclei tractus solitarii implicated in the control of respiration and respiratory tract reflexes. These neurones were functionally identified as either respiratory neurones or presumed reflex interneurones, and showed functional properties comparable to those previously documented for each of these two types. The iontophoretic application of glutamate produced an excitation of rapid onset in 23 or 25 reflex interneurones tested, but the respiratory neurones showed a differential sensitivity: one type (n = 32) was "glutamate-sensitive" and showed rapid excitation with glutamate applications of less than 30 nA, the other type of respiratory neurone (n = 26) was termed "glutamate-insensitive" since it either showed excitation only with applications of 60 nA or more or showed no response even with currents up to 94 nA. Each neurone studied was clearly of one type or the other. Glutamate could increase the number of spikes per rhythmic burst and the burst duration of respiratory neurones, it facilitated evoked activity in the reflex interneurones and in those respiratory neurones having a superior laryngeal nerve or vagus nerve afferent input, and the magnitude of the excitatory responses to glutamate varied directly with the amount of ejecting current. Substance P and Eledoisin-Related Peptide also had excitatory effects on respiratory neurones and reflex interneurones, but compared with glutamate-induced effects the excitation was slower in onset and more prolonged in after-discharge. Both rhythmic and evoked activity could be facilitated, and the magnitude of the effect varied directly with the magnitude of the ejecting current. In showing that both glutamate and substance P (and its analogue, Eledoisin-Related Peptide) have excitatory effects on the activity of respiratory neurones and reflex interneurones, this study provides evidence suggesting that these neurones have receptors for these neural chemicals, supportive of a role for each chemical in the regulation of respiration and respiratory tract reflexes.

The effect of calcium ions on the responses to motoneurons to substance P and eledoisin-related peptide in the toad and rat spinal cord.[Pubmed:6205323]

Neuroscience. 1984 Jun;12(2):629-35.

The effects of changes in the external calcium ion concentration [Ca2+]0 on segmental reflexes and the responses of motoneurons to bath applied agonists have been studied in the toad and rat spinal cords in vitro. Reducing [Ca2+]0 enhanced polysynaptic reflexes in the toad, with maximal discharges occurring at 0.3 mM. Monosynaptic reflexes in the rat were reduced by lowering [Ca2+]0. Responses of toad motoneurons to substance P and Eledoisin-Related Peptide were enhanced by lowering [Ca2+]0, maximum responses occurring at 0.3 mM. Lowering [Ca2+]0 also enhanced responses to L-glutamate but the effect was smaller and less consistent. This effect of Ca2+ was abolished by the addition of tetrodotoxin to the bathing solution. Toad motoneuron responses to gamma-aminobutyrate and glycine were not affected by alterations in [Ca2+]0. Rat motoneuron responses to substance P and Eledoisin-Related Peptide were also enhanced by reductions in [Ca2+]0 but the effect was more pronounced in younger (less than 5 days post partum) than older (5-10 days post partum) animals. These results are consistent with the idea that motoneuron responses to peptides in normal solutions result from activation of receptors on both motoneurons and interneurons: enhancement of the responses by lowering [Ca2+]0 results from the potentiation of the transynaptic component.

Pharmacological characterisation of two tachykinin binding sites in the rat cerebral cortex.[Pubmed:2581167]

Neuropeptides. 1985 Mar;6(1):59-70.

The pharmacological properties of two types of tachykinin receptor were characterised on rat cortical synaptosomes using 125I-Bolton Hunter substance P (125I-BHSP) or with 125I-Bolton Hunter eledoisin (125I-BHE). Shorter SP C-terminal fragments, such as SP (6-11) or (pGlu)-SP (6-11), were more potent than SP itself or longer SP C-terminal fragments in competing for 125I-BHE binding; their efficacy was comparable to that of eledoisin. In contrast, longer SP C-terminal fragments exhibited a higher affinity than shorter ones for the 125I-BHSP binding sites as previously reported. SP N-terminal fragments were devoid of activity on either type of binding sites. SP methyl ester inhibited 125I-BHSP binding but was without effect on 125I-BHE binding whilst, DiMe-C7, a metabolically stable tachykinin analog, had the opposite selectivity. Eledoisin related peptide (ERP) was less effective than either SP or eledoisin on 125I-BHSP and 125I-BHE binding sites respectively. Finally, the undecapeptide or octapeptide SP antagonists, which are weak inhibitors of 125I-BHSP binding, had negligable activity on 125I-BHE binding sites.

Relative activities of substance P-related peptides in the guinea-pig ileum and rat parotid gland, in vitro.[Pubmed:6194840]

Br J Pharmacol. 1982 Feb;75(2):341-51.

The relative potencies of a series of substance P analogues have been determined for spasmogenic activity in the guinea-pig ileum in vitro and for the release of 86Rb and alpha-amylase activity from rat parotid gland slices in vitro. Equipotent molar ratios (EMR), relative to substance P, were determined for all the compounds. In the rat parotid gland, EC50 values for amylase release were, on average, 35.5 times greater than those for 86Rb release. Analysis of Hill plots suggests that spare receptors exist for 86Rb release but not for amylase release and it is suggested that the stimulus-response coupling for amylase release may be less efficient than that for 86Rb release. In the parotid gland, the octapeptide and [less than Glu6]-hexapeptide C-terminal fragments of substance P were less active than substance P itself, whereas in the ileum, the octapeptide was as active as substance P. Substitutions at the Phe7 or Phe8 positions in general reduced activity relative to substance P. This effect was particularly apparent in C-terminal hexapeptide analogues. Substitutions at the Phe7 and Phe8 positions in C-terminal hexapeptide analogues produced a greater reduction in activity in the parotid gland than in the ileum. The most marked difference was observed with Eledoisin-Related Peptide for which the ratio of EMRs for ileum and 86Rb release was 18.1. The unsubstituted C-terminal octapeptide fragment similarly showed a discrepancy between the two assay systems (EMR ratio, ileum: 86Rb release = 7.75). It is suggested that the results may indicate the presence of sub-populations of 'substance P receptors' which are represented at least in different proportions in the two tissues studied, although alternative explanations such as differences in metabolism of agonists are possible.