Nociceptin effects in the airways.
The opioid-like heptadecapeptide nociceptin (NC) has the following effects in the airways (investigated in isolated tracheae and bronchi from guinea pig or rat): the electric field stimulation (EFS)-induces release of acetylcholine (ACh), the tachykinin substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is reduced after pretreatment with NC, and EFS-induced tachykinergic nonadrenergic-noncholinergic (NANC) bronchoconstriction is inhibited by NC. Both the NC-mediated inhibition of neurotransmission and of smooth muscle contraction occurred in a concentration-dependent manner. Because these effects were naloxone-insensitive, were blocked by the NC receptor antagonist [F/G]NC(1-13)NH(2), and could be mimicked by the NC analogs, NCNH(2) and NC(1-13)NH(2), it is thought that they are distinct from the classic opioid receptors. That these pharmacological actions of NC are of relevance for airway physiology is highly probable given the presence of NC-immunoreactivity in the nerve fibers of the airways and of opioid-like receptor (ORL-1) transcripts in the jugular ganglia, from where the tachykinin-containing afferents arise.
Peiser
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Humboldt University, Charité, Virchow Clinic, Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Berlin, Germany. christian.peiser@charite.de
Undem
B J
BJ
Fischer
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A
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000097629:Nociceptin
D000109:Acetylcholine; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D009270:Naloxone; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D013373:Substance P; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000097629:Nociceptin