title: Altered prejunctional modulation of intestinal cholinergic and noradrenergic pathways by alpha2-adrenoceptors in the presence of experimental colitis.
abstract: 1 This study investigates the influence of intestinal inflammation on: (1) the control of intestinal neurotransmission and motility by prejunctional alpha(2)-adrenoceptors and (2) the expression of intestinal alpha(2)-adrenoceptors. Experimental colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (DNBS) to rats. 2 UK-14,304 inhibited atropine-sensitive electrically evoked contractions of ileal and colonic longitudinal muscle preparations. UK-14,304 acted with similar potency, but higher efficacy, on tissues from DNBS-treated animals; its effects were antagonized with greater potency by phentolamine than rauwolscine. 3 Electrically induced [(3)H]noradrenaline release from ileal preparations was reduced in the presence of colitis. Tritium outflow was decreased by UK-14,304 and stimulated by rauwolscine or phentolamine: these effects were enhanced in preparations from animals with colitis. 4 Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assay demonstrated the protein expression of alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors in mucosal and muscular tissues isolated from ileum and colon. The induction of colitis increased alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor expression in both ileal and colonic muscular layers, without concomitant changes in mucosal tissues. 5 Induction of colitis reduced gastrointestinal propulsion of a charcoal suspension in vivo. In this setting, the gastrointestinal transit was inhibited by intraperitoneal (i.p.) UK-14,304 and stimulated by i.p. rauwolscine. After pretreatment with guanethidine, the stimulant action of rauwolscine no longer occurred, and UK-14,304 exerted a more prominent inhibitory effect that was antagonized by rauwolscine. 6 The present results indicate that, in the presence of intestinal inflammation, prejunctional alpha(2)-adrenoceptors contribute to an enhanced inhibitory control of cholinergic and noradrenergic transmission both at inflamed and noninflamed distant sites. Evidence was obtained that such modulatory actions depend on an increased expression of alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors within the enteric nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy, Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 55, Pisa 56126, Italy.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blandizzi
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fornai
authors.forename: Rocchina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baschiera
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Giorgio
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Ponti
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Breschi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Tacca
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000818:Animals; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007082:Ileum / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; C045305:2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene sulfonic acid; D015016:Yohimbine; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; D000109:Acetylcholine; D009638:Norepinephrine