Arginine vasotocin relaxation of gar (Lepisosteous spp.) hepatic vein in vitro

Cortisol modulates vasotocinergic and isotocinergic pathways in the gilthead sea bream

In the present study, we assessed the responses of the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems to chronic stress induced by cortisol administration in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Pituitary and plasma arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT) levels, as well as hypothalamic pro-vasotocin (pro-VT) and pro-isotocin (pro-IT) mRNA expression levels, were analysed. In addition, the mRNA levels of three receptors, AVTR type V1a2, AVTR type V2 and ITR, were analysed in several target organs associated with the following physiological processes: (i) integration and control (hypothalamus), (ii) metabolism and its control (liver and hypothalamus), (iii) osmoregulation (gills) and (iv) stress response (head kidney). Specimens were injected intraperitoneally with slow-release implants (5 μL g(-1) body mass) containing coconut oil alone (control group) or with cortisol (50 μg g(-1) body mass; cortisol group). Both AVT and IT synthesis and release were correlated with plasma cortisol values, suggesting a potential interaction between both hormonal systems and cortisol administration. Our results suggest that the activation of hepatic metabolism as well as the hypothalamic control of metabolic processes provide the energy necessary to overcome stress, which could be partly mediated by AVTRs and ITR. Upregulation of branchial AVT and IT receptor expression following cortisol treatment suggests an involvement of the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems in the regulation of ion channels/transporters during stressful situations. Finally, changes in AVT and IT receptor mRNA expression in the head kidney suggest these nonapeptides participate in feedback mechanisms that regulate the synthesis/release of cortisol. Our results indicate a relationship between cortisol and both the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems during simulated chronic stress in S. aurata.

Molecular cloning and characterization of V2-type receptor in two ray-finned fish, gray bichir, Polypterus senegalus and medaka, Oryzias latipes

In tetrapods, vasopressin (VP) and vasotocin (VT) are involved in various aspects of physiology and behavior including osmoregulation, cardiovascular function, reproduction, stress response and social behavior. Pharmacological and molecular studies have identified three types of VP/VT receptors, V1a-type (V1aR), V1b-type (V1bR) and V2-type (V2R). On the other hand, only V1aR has so far been identified in teleosts. In the present study, we successfully cloned V2Rs from two ray-finned fish, gray bichir and medaka. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the cloned receptors belong to the V2R group of lobe-finned fish and tetrapods. The amino acid sequences of bichir V2R and medaka V2R were high identity (60-65.5% and 53.2-80.9%, respectively) with other known V2R members, respectively. Reverse transcriptase PCR revealed that ray-finned fish V2R transcripts have been detected in various tissues including brain, gill, heart, liver, kidney and reproductive organs, suggesting that ray-finned fish V2R might mediate multiple functions of VT. In functional analysis, the cells transfected with the cloned receptors responded with the accumulation of intracellular cAMP in a concentration-dependent manner following VT stimulation, but not respond with [Ca(2+)]i. Furthermore, pretreatment with mammalian V2R antagonist (OPC-31260) to the cells transfected with medaka V2R significantly inhibited an increase of the VT-induced intracellular cAMP. These results suggest that ray-finned fish possess a functional V2R linked to adenylate cyclase and the cAMP signaling pathway as well as V2Rs of lobe-finned fish and tetrapods. Thus, the present study suggests that functional V2R evolved prior to the divergence of the ray- and lobe-finned fish lineages.

Different sensitivities of arteries and veins to vasoactive drugs in a hagfish, Eptatretus cirrhatus

We used myography on five different arteries and three veins of the hagfish, Eptatretus cirrhatus, to test the response of vessels to vasoactive drugs. Concentration-response curves were generated for carbachol, endothelin-1, arginine vasotocin and the adrenergic agonists, phenylephrine and isoprenaline. pEC50 values indicated that veins were more sensitive to endothelin-1 than were arteries, but the arteries were more sensitive to the cholinergic agonist, carbachol. Segmental arteries did not react to arginine vasotocin, but all other vessels did, and on a molar basis it was the most potent agonist tested. That ventral and dorsal aortas were more sensitive to arginine vasotocin than smaller vessels might indicate that this neurohypophysial peptide has the potential to exert a profound influence on branchial vascular resistance and cardiac output in hagfishes. The results also demonstrate the potential for a variety of endogenous peptides to contribute to central venous tone.

Oxytocin stimulates cerebral blood flow in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through a nitric oxide dependent mechanism

Our knowledge of the regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in ectothermic vertebrates is still very limited. In endothermic vertebrates several peptides have been shown to affect CBF through nitric oxide (NO) dependent mechanisms. Using epi-illumination microscopy in rainbow trout in vivo, we have examined the effects of topically administered oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, substance P and bradykinin on the CBF (measured as erythrocyte velocity in venules on the optic lobes). Of these peptides, only oxytocin induced a dose dependent increase in CBF velocity. Blood pressure remained unchanged and the effect was suppressed by the NOS inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine. This indicates that oxytocin causes NO mediated vasodilation in rainbow trout brain.

Pharmacological characterization of arginine vasotocin vascular smooth muscle receptors in the trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in vitro

Arginine vasotocin (AVT) is present in the neurohypophysis of all nonmammalian vertebrates and it appears to be the antecedent of the neurohypophysial nonapeptide hormones. Relatively little is known about AVT receptors in lower vertebrates, especially fish, and the present study was designed to examine AVT receptor interactions in trout vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle in vitro. AVT produced dose-dependent contraction of isolated rings from celiacomesenteric, coronary, and efferent branchial arteries, ventral aorta, anterior cardinal vein, and strips of ductus Cuvier. The greatest efficacy (magnitude of contraction per unit tissue weight) and sensitivity (effective concentration for half-maximal response, EC50) to AVT was found in the efferent bronchial artery (EBA) and its receptors were characterized further. Other neurohypophysial peptides, including arginine vasopressin (AVP), lysine vasopressin (LVP), isotocin (IST), and oxytocin (OXY), contracted EBA with an efficacy order of (most to least) AVT = AVP = OXY > LVP > IST and a sensitivity order of AVT > OXY >/= AVP > IST > LVP. Neither Desmopressin, an AVP V2-receptor agonist, nor the AVP ring fragment, AVP4-9, contracted EBA nor did they inhibit AVT contraction. Pretreatment of EBA rings with the selective AVP V1-receptor antagonists (deamino-Pen1, O-Me-Tyr2, Arg8-vasopressin and deamino-Pen1, Val4, Arg8-vasopressin), the selective V2-receptor antagonist (adamantaneacetyl1, O-Et-D-Tyr0, Val4, aminobutyryl6, Arg8,9-vasopressin), or the combined V1-oxytocin receptor antagonist (d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2, Orn8-AVT]) competitively inhibited AVT contractions without affecting AVT efficacy. Receptor affinity constants (pA2) determined by Schild analysis were in the range of 6.8-7.3, with slightly higher constants for the AVP V1-/oxytocin receptor antagonists than for the selective V2-receptor antagonist. Endothelium removal had no effect on EBA sensitivity to AVT. EBA rings were an order of magnitude more sensitive to AVT than nonvascular gastrointestinal and urinary bladder smooth muscle rings or strips. However, AVT (10(-7) M) was as efficacious as acetylcholine (10(-5) M) in gastrointestinal, gallbladder, and urinary bladder smooth muscle. It is concluded that trout EBA possess an AVT smooth muscle receptor that shares a similar pharmacological profile with the mammalian vascular AVP V1a-receptor and the OXY-receptor, but it is distinct from the previously reported gill epithelial cell receptor.