title: Substance P enhances electrical field stimulation-induced mast cell degranulation in rat trachea.
abstract: We previously demonstrated in an ex vivo rat tracheal model that chymotryptic activity is an index of mast cell degranulation and that substance P (SP) and electrical field stimulation (EFS) synergistically degranulate mucosal and connective tissue mast cells. In the current study, we found that the facilitatory effect of SP was apparent at concentrations as low as 10(-9) M. This effect was mimicked by 10(-7) M neurokinin A or by 10(-6) M capsaicin and was blocked by the NK1 receptor antagonist CP-96,345. SP + EFS-induced mast cell secretion was significantly attenuated by 10(-6) M tetrodotoxin. The response was also attenuated in tracheas from rats in which sensory nerves had been depleted by systemic pretreatment with capsaicin or in which sympathetic nerves had been depleted by systemic pretreatment with 6-hydroxy-dopamine. Atropine (10(-6) M) or indomethacin (10(-5) M) also attenuated SP + EFS-induced mast cell secretion. Our findings suggest the importance of a sensitizing rather than a direct stimulating effect of SP on mast cell degranulation. SP may increase the sensitivity of mast cells to EFS-discharged mediators or facilitate the release of mast cell-stimulating mediators from autonomic nerves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, La Jolla 92093, USA.
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015550:Cell Degranulation; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D013373:Substance P; D015288:Neurokinin A; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D002211:Capsaicin; C066892:CP 96345; D007213:Indomethacin