title: Postnatal changes in receptor-mediated rabbit gastric smooth muscle relaxation.
abstract: The aims of this study were to identify mediators of relaxation in rabbit proximal gastric circular smooth muscle and to assess age-dependent changes in tissue response. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), adenosine, and norepinephrine induced tetrodotoxin-insensitive, concentration-dependent relaxation in bethanechol-precontracted (3 microM) gastric muscle strips from newborns and weanlings. Maximally effective concentrations of 10 microM VIP induced complete relaxation in newborns, but only 30% relaxation in weanlings (p < 0.01). Maximally effective concentrations of adenosine induced complete relaxation at both ages. Adenosine (ED50 3 microM) was more potent than adenosine triphosphate, indicating the presence of P1 purinergic receptors. In newborns norepinephrine induced complete relaxation (ED50 0.5 microM). The response to norepinephrine changed in age-dependent increments from relaxation in newborns to strong contraction in weanlings. In weanlings phentolamine inhibited norepinephrine-stimulated contraction, revealing persistent propranolol-sensitive relaxation. Tetrodotoxin and atropine had no effect on norepinephrine-stimulated contraction. In summary, in rabbit gastric circular smooth muscle: (1) VIP, adenosine, and norepinephrine induce relaxation; (2) VIP loses efficacy with age; (3) there is a beta-adrenergic receptor mediating relaxation in the newborn which persists, and (4) an alpha-adrenergic receptor mediating contraction emerges early in postnatal life. Age-dependent changes in response to VIP and norepinephrine may contribute to the postnatal maturation of the gastric motility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance 90502.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hyman
authors.forename: H X
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willenbucher
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Snape
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomomasa
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology*; D013270:Stomach / Q000502:physiology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D000241:Adenosine; D009638:Norepinephrine