Biomaterial Database

Tachykinins as transmitters of ascending contractile component of the peristaltic reflex. 1989

J R Grider

Department of Physiology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0711.

The role of tachykinin neurons of the myenteric plexus in the regulation of the intestinal peristaltic reflex was examined in rat colonic segments that enable separate measurement of ascending contraction and descending relaxation. Release of immunoreactive substance P (SP) and substance K (SK) increased (68% for SP; 70% for SK) during ascending contraction and decreased (37% for SP; 13% for SK) during descending relaxation. Exogenous SP and SK augmented ascending contraction and inhibited descending relaxation. Neither SP antiserum nor SK antiserum had any effect on descending relaxation. The antisera had no effect also on ascending contraction induced by low grades of stretch (2 g), but they inhibited significantly contraction induced by high grades (6-10 g) of stretch (52 +/- 8% inhibition with SP antiserum and 48 +/- 8% with SK antiserum). A combination of both antisera abolished ascending contraction induced by high grades of stretch. Atropine inhibited only partially ascending contraction at high grades of stretch. The pattern of inhibition by both antisera and by atropine implied that ascending contraction induced by high grades of stretch was mediated by tachykinin neurons acting directly on smooth muscle cells as well as indirectly via release of acetylcholine from cholinergic motor neurons.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007106	Immune Sera	Serum that contains antibodies. It is obtained from an animal that has been immunized either by ANTIGEN injection or infection with microorganisms containing the antigen.	Antisera,Immune Serums,Sera, Immune,Serums, Immune
D010528	Peristalsis	A movement, caused by sequential muscle contraction, that pushes the contents of the intestines or other tubular organs in one direction.	Peristalses
D005769	Gastrointestinal Motility	The motor activity of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.	Intestinal Motility,Gastrointestinal Motilities,Intestinal Motilities,Motilities, Gastrointestinal,Motilities, Intestinal,Motility, Gastrointestinal,Motility, Intestinal
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013373	Substance P	An eleven-amino acid neurotransmitter that appears in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is involved in transmission of PAIN, causes rapid contractions of the gastrointestinal smooth muscle, and modulates inflammatory and immune responses.	Euler-Gaddum Substance P,Hypothalamic Substance P,SP(1-11),Euler Gaddum Substance P,Substance P, Euler-Gaddum,Substance P, Hypothalamic
D015288	Neurokinin A	A mammalian neuropeptide of 10 amino acids that belongs to the tachykinin family. It is similar in structure and action to SUBSTANCE P and NEUROKININ B with the ability to excite neurons, dilate blood vessels, and contract smooth muscles, such as those in the BRONCHI.	Substance K,Neurokinin alpha,Neuromedin L
D015320	Tachykinins	A family of biologically active peptides sharing a common conserved C-terminal sequence, -Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2, where X is either an aromatic or a branched aliphatic amino acid. Members of this family have been found in mammals, amphibians, and mollusks. Tachykinins have diverse pharmacological actions in the central nervous system and the cardiovascular, genitourinary, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems, as well as in glandular tissues. This diversity of activity is due to the existence of three or more subtypes of tachykinin receptors.	Tachykinin
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus
D066298	In Vitro Techniques	Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism.	In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In