Substance P: its pharmacology and physiological roles.
The recent identification and synthesis of the endecapeptide substance P has renewed interest in this naturally occurring compound. The original substance P of Euler and Gaddum was a mixture of biologically active substances, some of which were peptides. The peptide component was responsible for gut-contracting, hypotensive and sialogogic properties attributed to substance P. For almost 40 years following its discovery, substance P resisted isolation and purification. Even the most highly active preparations were heterogeneous and there was a divergence of results from experiments using preparations which were partially purified by different techniques. Nevertheless much of the early work on the distribution and pharmacology of crude substances P has been confirmed using the synthetic endecapeptide and has stimulated research towards the elucidation of a possible functional role for substance P. Most proposed functions have been highly speculative but, at present, evidence is accumulating in support of a physiological role for substance P as a neurotransmitter in sensory pathways.
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology
D013373:Substance P