Neuropeptide Y receptor in pig spleen: binding characteristics, reduction of cyclic AMP formation and calcium antagonist inhibition of vasoconstriction

Pharmacological characterization of neuropeptide Y and noradrenaline mechanisms in sympathetic control of pig spleen

The mechanisms underlying the functional effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity (LI) and noradrenaline (NA) and their release evoked by nerve stimulation were studied with the blood-perfused pig spleen in vivo. Infusion of selective agonists and antagonists suggested the presence of alpha 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors mediating vasoconstriction and vasodilatation, respectively. NPY caused a slight inhibition of stimulation-evoked [3H]NA release and a clearcut non-adrenergic vasoconstriction. Local pretreatment with phentolamine and prazosin as well as with clonidine and UK 14304 reduced the perfusion pressure response to nerve stimulation. Phentolamine, yohimbine and idazoxan enhanced while clonidine and UK 14304 decreased the output of [3H]NA or NA and NPY-LI. The subsequent addition of propranolol to the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists was followed by reappearance at a considerable portion of the perfusion pressure response while the output of [3H]NA or NA and NPY-LI was slightly reduced. It is concluded that NPY exerts pre- and post-junctional actions in pig spleen that regulate both NA release and vascular tone. alpha 1-Adrenoceptors are mainly involved in vasoconstriction, and prejunctional alpha 2 mechanisms inhibit both NA and NPY release at a low frequency of stimulation. beta 2-Adrenoceptors mediate vasodilatation when NA release is enhanced with a minor effect on mediator secretion.

Y1 and Y2 receptors for neuropeptide Y

By using monoiodinated radioligands of both intact neuropeptide Y (NPY) and of a long C-terminal fragment, NPY13-36, two subtypes of binding sites, which differ in affinity and specificity, have been characterized. The Y1 type of binding site, characterized on a human neuroblastoma cell line, MC-IXC, and a rat pheochromocytoma cell line, PC-12, binds NPY with a dissociation constant (Kd) of a few nanomolar but does not bind NPY13-36. The Y2 type of binding site, characterized on porcine hippocampal membranes and on another human neuroblastoma cell line, SMS-MSN, is of higher affinity and binds both NPY and NPY13-36. None of the binding sites distinguish between NPY and the homologous peptide YY (PYY). It is concluded that NPY/PYY-binding sites occur in two subtypes which may represent two types of physiological receptors.

Neuropeptide Y mobilizes Ca2+ and inhibits adenylate cyclase in human erythroleukemia cells

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a peptide often coreleased with catecholamines, appears to be an important component of the sympathetic nervous system, but little is known about the molecular basis of its action. We introduce here human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells as a new model system for studies of NPY action. NPY inhibited adenosine 3,5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation in HEL cells with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 3 nM. Additionally NPY increased intracellular Ca2+, as assessed by fura-2 fluorescence, with a similar EC50. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin blocked both responses, suggesting the involvement of one or more G proteins. Chelating extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA did not reduce the Ca2+ signal, demonstrating mobilization from intracellular stores rather than influx. Experiments with various agents demonstrated that the Ca2+ mobilization was not secondary to lowering of cAMP levels, formation of arachidonic acid products, or Na+-H+ exchange. Ca2+ mobilization also did not appear to be associated with inositol phosphate generation. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that NPY, in addition to inhibiting adenylate cyclase, also can elevate intracellular Ca2+. HEL cells should prove useful in further studies of the molecular basis of NPY action.

Neuropeptide Y antagonises secretagogue evoked chloride transport in rat jejunal epithelium

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) inhibits electrogenic Cl secretion in rat jejunal epithelium under voltage clamp conditions. This effect is dependent upon endogenous eicosanoid formation since it is blocked by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, piroxicam, which itself has an inhibitory action upon chloride secretion. A number of chloride secretagogues have been examined for their ability to restore the antisecretory effects of NPY. Data presented here shows that NPY responsiveness is restored, in piroxicam pretreated tissues, by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), forskolin, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX) and dibutyryl cAMP added prior to the neuropeptide. While all these agents cause chloride secretion by elevating intracellular cAMP, NPY is also effective in inhibiting the secretory effects of carbachol (CCh) and substance P (SP), agents believed to act by raising intracellular calcium (Cai). Although there is evidence that NPY can inhibit adenylate cyclase, its ability to attenuate chloride secretion brought about by secretagogues acting through both adenylate cyclase and calcium mechanisms, implies that NPY has either a more general fundamental mechanism or has multiple interactions with different second messenger systems.

Potentiation by neuropeptide Y of vasoconstriction in rat resistance arteries

1. The effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on resistance arteries were investigated on 3rd generation mesenteric arterioles of the rat. 2. Contractions were elicited by noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), depolarization (KCl substituted for NaCl) and by the calcium agonist Bay K 8644, in the absence and in the presence of NPY (100 nM), a concentration which by itself did not induce vasoconstriction. 3. NPY produced a leftward shift of the concentration-response curves to the agonists and to KCl, without any alteration of maximal contractions. 4. NPY also potentiated contractions elicited by addition of CaCl2 to KCl-depolarized vessels, but its effect on calcium-induced contractions decreased with increasing KCl concentrations (from 20 to 100 mM). 5. Calcium-induced contractions were inhibited by the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine, both in the presence and absence of NPY (100 nM). NPY increased slightly (but significantly) the sensitivity to nitrendipine (the apparent KB increased from 2.9 x 10(-10) M to 1.6 x 10(-10) M). 6. The KCl concentration necessary for the maximal effect of Bay K 8644 was decreased in the presence of NPY, and the sensitivity to the calcium channel agonist was increased. 7. Elevating the KCl concentration in the bath from 5 to 20 mM (which gives the same displacement to the left of the KCl concentration-effect curve seen in the presence of NPY) induced a parallel leftward shift of NA and 5-HT concentration-response curves. This shift was identical to the one induced by NPY on 5-HT-evoked contractions, but it was significantly smaller (P less than 0.001) than the shift of the NA concentration-response curve observed in the presence of NPY. In the latter case, NPY enhanced more markedly the contractions induced by low NA concentrations (between 10(-9) and 3 x 10(-8 M) than those induced by high concentrations (up to 3 x 10(-7) M), thus giving a shallow concentration-response curve. 8. The results strongly suggest that NPY partially depolarizes the arterioles and induces an increase in calcium entry through voltage-dependent channels, thus enhancing contractions elicited by agonists or by KCl-depolarization. In addition, they support the view that another mechanism also plays a part in the potentiation by NPY of the effects of low concentrations of NA.