title: Effects of cannabinoids on non-adrenergic non-cholinergic-mediated relaxation in guinea-pig trachea.
abstract: The effects of cannabinoid receptor agonists on the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory responses to electrical field stimulation in guinea-pig trachea were assessed. R-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholilinyl) methyl]pyrrolo [1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-(1-naphthalenyl)methanone mesylate (WIN 55,212-2; 10(-5) M) significantly enhanced the frequency-dependent response to electrical stimulation. The same concentration of R-(N)-(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenamide (R(+)methanandamide) and 1-propyl-2-methyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-015) did not affect significantly the electrically induced inhibitory NANC responses. The effect of WIN 55,212-2 was not modified by the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor-selective antagonists, N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride (SR141716A; 10(-5) M) and N-(1S)-endo-1,3,3-trimethyl bicyclo [2.2.1] heptan-2-yl]-5-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR 144528; 10(-5) M), respectively. Moreover, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NG-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10(-4) M), but not the peptidase, alpha-chymotrypsin (2 U/ml), blocked the effect of WIN 55,212-2. Postsynaptically, WIN 55,212-2 did not produce any change of tracheal smooth muscle tone, either basal or histamine-induced, and did not interfere with the relaxant activity of the nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (10(-8)-10(-4) M). In conclusion, our results suggest that (a) cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor stimulation does not alter the inhibitory NANC transmission in guinea-pig trachea, and (b) WIN 55,212-2 potentiates the NO-mediated component of the NANC relaxant response to electrical stimulation through a cannabinoid receptor-independent mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy. paola.nieri@farm.unipi.it
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nieri
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Testai
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Breschi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048588:Benzoxazines; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000502:physiology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D048588:Benzoxazines; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D002186:Cannabinoids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone