Effect of cyclopiazonic acid on contractions produced by tachykinin NK1 and NK2 receptor agonists in the circular muscle of guinea‐pig colon
Authors: Patacchini R. , Santicioli P. , Maggi C.A. 
Published: November 2003

1 This study aimed to assess the effect of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), an inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium (Ca) pump, against contractile responses produced by selective tachykinin NK1 and NK2 receptor agonists, [Sar9]substance P (SP) sulfone and[βAla8]neurokinin A (NKA) (4–10), respectively, on the circular muscle of guinea‐pig colon. All experiments were performed in the presence of atropine (1 μm) and indomethacin (10 μm).

2 In organ bath experiments, a submaximally equieffective concentration of the two agonists (10 nm) was selected: [Sar9]SP sulfone (10 nm) produced a biphasic contraction, the two amplitudes averaging 75 ± 2 and 43 ± 3% of the maximal response to KCl (80 mm) at 1 and 15 min from application of the agonist, respectively. CPA (3 μm for 60 min) slightly reduced the phasic response to [Sar9]SP sulfone (16 ± 4% inhibition) and markedly suppressed the tonic component (89 ± 3% inhibition).

3 The contraction produced by [βAla8]NKA (4–10) (10 nm) was more sustained than that induced by the NK1 receptor agonist: it averaged 69 ± 5 and 73 ± 4% of the response to KCl at 1 and 15 min from application of the agonist, respectively. CPA slightly and evenly depressed the response to [βAla8]NKA (4–10) (18 ± 7 and 21 ± 5% inhibition at 1 and 15 min).

4 In the presence of tachykinin NK1 and NK2 receptor antagonists (SR 140333 and MEN 10627, respectively, 1 μm each) and of l‐nitroarginine (100 μm), KCl (40 mm) produced a distinct phasic and tonic contraction which was suppressed by 1 mm nifedipine. CPA (3 μm) did not affect the phasic contraction to KCl but abolished the tonic component of the response.

5 In the presence of 1 μm nifedipine, the response to [βAla8]NKA (4–10) was slightly depressed (32 ± 6% inhibition) in its early component only, while the response to [Sar9]SP sulfone was abolished. CPA produced a slight inhibition (15 ± 9 and 33 ± 10% at 1 and 15 min, respectively) of the nifedipine‐resistant response to [βAla8]NKA (4–10), an effect similar to that observed in the absence of nifedipine. Therefore, a large part of the response to [βAla8]NKA (4–10) persisted in the presence of both CPA and nifedipine.

6  In the sucrose gap, a prolonged superfusion with [Sar9]SP sulfone (0.1 μm for 5 min) produced sustained depolarization with superimposed spikes and contraction. CPA (3 μm) produced transient depolarization and contraction. In the presence of CPA, the initial responses (depolarization, spikes and contraction) to [Sar9]SP sulfone were unaffected but the sustained component of contraction was absent; the latter effect was accompanied by a suppression of spikes while the sustained depolarization was present.

7 We conclude that, during sustained depolarization produced by the NK1 receptor agonist, blockade of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca pump by CPA produces a faster Ca‐dependent inactivation of Ca channels, thereby eliminating spikes and abolishing the tonic component of contraction. Ca mobilization/reuptake from a CPA‐sensitive store seems to be of minor importance for regulating the NK2 receptor‐mediated contractile responses.