Tripeptides acting on opioid receptors in rat colon

Intestinal gluconeogenesis and protein diet: future directions

High-protein meals and foods are promoted for their beneficial effects on satiety, weight loss and glucose homeostasis. However, the mechanisms involved and the long-term benefits of such diets are still debated. We here review how the characterisation of intestinal gluconeogenesis (IGN) sheds new light on the mechanisms by which protein diets exert their beneficial effects on health. The small intestine is the third organ (in addition to the liver and kidney) contributing to endogenous glucose production via gluconeogenesis. The particularity of glucose produced by the intestine is that it is detected in the portal vein and initiates a nervous signal to the hypothalamic nuclei regulating energy homeostasis. In this context, we demonstrated that protein diets initiate their satiety effects indirectly via IGN and portal glucose sensing. This induction results in the activation of brain areas involved in the regulation of food intake. The μ-opioid-antagonistic properties of protein digests, exerted in the portal vein, are a key link between IGN induction and protein-enriched diet in the control of satiety. From our results, IGN can be proposed as a mandatory link between nutrient sensing and the regulation of whole-body homeostasis. The use of specific mouse models targeting IGN should allow us to identify several metabolic functions that could be controlled by protein diets. This will lead to the characterisation of the mechanisms by which protein diets improve whole-body homeostasis. These data could be the basis of novel nutritional strategies targeting the serious metabolic consequences of both obesity and diabetes.

[Nutrient sensing by the gastro-intestinal nervous system and control of energy homeostasis]

The gastrointestinal nerves are crucial in the sensing of nutrients and hormones and its translation in terms of control of food intake. Major macronutrients like glucose and proteins are sensed by the extrinsic nerves located around the portal vein walls, which signal to the brain and account for the satiety phenomenon they promote. Glucose is sensed in the portal vein by neurons expressing the glucose receptor SGLT3, which activates the main regions of the brain involved in the control of food intake. Proteins indirectly act on food intake by inducing intestinal gluconeogenesis and its sensing by the portal glucose sensor. The mechanism involves a prior antagonism by peptides of the μ-opioid receptors present in the portal vein nervous system and a reflex arc with the brain inducing intestinal gluconeogenesis. In a comparable manner, short chain fatty acids produced from soluble fibers act via intestinal gluconeogenesis to exert anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. In the case of propionate, the mechanism involves a prior activation of the free fatty acid receptor FFAR3 present in the portal nerves and a reflex arc initiating intestinal gluconeogenesis.

Crosstalk between gastrointestinal neurons and the brain in the control of food intake

Recent data have emphasized that the gastrointestinal nervous system is preponderant in the sensing of nutrients and hormones and its translation in terms of control of food intake by the central nervous system. More specifically, the gastrointestinal neural system participates in the control of hunger via the sensing of at least two major macronutrients, e.g. glucose and protein, which may control hunger sensations from the portal vein. Protein are first sensed by mu-opioid receptors present in the portal vein walls to induce intestinal gluconeogenesis-via a reflex arc and next portal glucose sensing. The gastrointestinal nervous system may also account for the rapid benefits of gastric bypass surgeries on energy homeostasis (hunger and body weight) and glucose homeostasis (insulin sensitivity). This knowledge provides novel mechanisms of control of body weight, which might be useful to envision future approaches of prevention or treatment of obesity.

Intestinal glucose metabolism revisited

It is long known that the gut can contribute to the control of glucose homeostasis via its high glucose utilization capacity. Recently, a novel function in intestinal glucose metabolism (gluconeogenesis) was described. The intestine notably contributes to about 20-25% of total endogenous glucose production during fasting. More importantly, intestinal gluconeogenesis is capable of regulating energy homeostasis through a communication with the brain. The periportal neural system senses glucose (produced by intestinal gluconeogenesis) in the portal vein walls, which sends a signal to the brain to modulate hunger sensations and whole body glucose homeostasis. Relating to the mechanism of glucose sensing, the role of the glucose receptor SGLT3 has been strongly suggested. Moreover, dietary proteins mobilize intestinal gluconeogenesis as a mandatory link between their detection in the portal vein and their effect of satiety. In the same manner, dietary soluble fibers exert their anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects via the induction of intestinal gluconeogenesis. FFAR3 is a key neural receptor involved in the specific sensing of propionate to activate a gut-brain reflex arc triggering the induction of the gut gluconeogenic function. Lastly, intestinal gluconeogenesis might also be involved in the rapid metabolic improvements induced by gastric bypass surgeries of obesity.

Metabolic effects of portal vein sensing

The extrinsic gastrointestinal nerves are crucial in the sensing of nutrients and hormones and its translation in terms of control of food intake. Major macronutrients like glucose and protein are sensed by the extrinsic nerves located in the portal vein walls, which signal to the brain and account for the satiety phenomenon they promote. Glucose is sensed in the portal vein by neurons expressing the glucose receptor SGLT3, which activate the main regions of the brain involved in the control of food intake. Proteins indirectly act on food intake by inducing intestinal gluconeogenesis and its sensing by the portal glucose sensor. The mechanism involves a prior antagonism by peptides of the μ-opioid receptors present in the portal vein nervous system and a reflex arc with the brain inducing intestinal gluconeogenesis. In a comparable manner, short-chain fatty acids produced from soluble fibre act via intestinal gluconeogenesis to exert anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. In the case of propionate, the mechanism involves a prior activation of the free fatty acid receptor FFAR3 present in the portal nerves and a reflex arc initiating intestinal gluconeogenesis.

Nutrient control of energy homeostasis via gut-brain neural circuits

Intestinal gluconeogenesis is a recently described function in intestinal glucose metabolism. In particular, the intestine contributes around 20-25% of total endogenous glucose production during fasting. Intestinal gluconeogenesis appears to regulate energy homeostasis via a neurally mediated mechanism linking the enterohepatic portal system with the brain. The periportal neural system is able to sense glucose produced by intestinal gluconeogenesis in the portal vein walls, which sends a signal to the brain to modulate energy and glucose homeostasis. Dietary proteins mobilize intestinal gluconeogenesis as a mandatory link between the sensing of these proteins in the portal vein and their well-known effect of satiety. Comparably, dietary soluble fibers exert their antiobesity and antidiabetic effects via the induction of intestinal gluconeogenesis. Finally, intestinal gluconeogenesis might be involved in the rapid metabolic improvements in energy homeostasis induced by gastric bypass surgeries of obesity.

An in vitro rat model of colonic motility to determine the effect of β-casomorphin-5 on propagating contractions

Measurement of contractions that propagate along the length of the isolated large intestine as anin vitromodel for effects of food substances on gastro-intestinal transit.

Satiety and the role of μ-opioid receptors in the portal vein

Mu-opioid receptors (MORs) are known to influence food intake at the brain level, through their involvement in the food reward system. MOR agonists stimulate food intake. On the other hand, MOR antagonists suppress food intake. MORs are also active in peripheral organs, especially in the small intestine where they control the gut motility. Recently, an indirect role in the control of food intake was ascribed to MORs in the extrinsic gastrointestinal neural system. MORs present in the neurons of the portal vein walls sense blood peptides released from the digestion of dietary protein. These peptides behave as MOR antagonists. Their MOR antagonist action initiates a gut-brain circuitry resulting in the induction of intestinal gluconeogenesis, a function controlling food intake. Thus, periportal MORs are a key mechanistic link in the satiety effect of protein-enriched diets.

Nutrient control of hunger by extrinsic gastrointestinal neurons

The neural sensing of nutrients during food digestion plays a key role in the regulation of hunger. Recent data have emphasized that the extrinsic gastrointestinal nervous system is preponderant in this phenomenon and in its translation to the control of food intake by the central nervous system (CNS). Nutrient sensing by the extrinsic gastrointestinal nervous system may account for the satiation induced by food lipids, the satiety initiated by food protein, and for the rapid benefits of gastric bypass surgeries on both glucose and energy homeostasis. Thus, this recent knowledge provides novel examples of the mechanisms that control food intake and body weight, and this might pave the way for future approaches to the prevention and/or treatment of obesity.

Mu-opioid receptors and dietary protein stimulate a gut-brain neural circuitry limiting food intake

Intestinal gluconeogenesis is involved in the control of food intake. We show that mu-opioid receptors (MORs) present in nerves in the portal vein walls respond to peptides to regulate a gut-brain neural circuit that controls intestinal gluconeogenesis and satiety. In vitro, peptides and protein digests behave as MOR antagonists in competition experiments. In vivo, they stimulate MOR-dependent induction of intestinal gluconeogenesis via activation of brain areas receiving inputs from gastrointestinal ascending nerves. MOR-knockout mice do not carry out intestinal gluconeogenesis in response to peptides and are insensitive to the satiety effect induced by protein-enriched diets. Portal infusions of MOR modulators have no effect on food intake in mice deficient for intestinal gluconeogenesis. Thus, the regulation of portal MORs by peptides triggering signals to and from the brain to induce intestinal gluconeogenesis are links in the satiety phenomenon associated with alimentary protein assimilation.

Excitatory effect of morphine and opioid peptides in the rat isolated colon

Morphine and the opioid peptides cause isolated segments of rat colon to contract and relax rhythmically. This study re-examines two hypotheses to explain this phenomenon: Release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)/acetylcholine by morphine or inhibition of a tonically active non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory mechanism. Rhythmic contractions induced by morphine (5 x 10(-6) M) were naloxone sensitive (10(-6) M) but unaffected by methysergide (10(-6) M), atropine (10(-6) M) or pretreatment of rats with p-chlorophenylalanine (200 mg kg-1 i.p. for four days) which lowered the 5-HT level in the colon from 3.73 +/- 0.83 mg g-1 in controls to 0.41 +/- 0.06 mg g-1 (P less than 0.001). The pattern of rhythmic contractions produced by morphine was unlike those produced by 5-HT (5 x 10(-6) M), acetylcholine (5 x 10(-6) M) or potassium chloride (30 mM). Tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M), apamin (10(-8) M), clonidine (2 x 10(-8) M), phentolamine (10(-5) M) or oxprenolol (10(-5) M) caused rhythmic contractions which were unaffected by naloxone. Clonidine contractions were inhibited by yohimbine (10(-7) M) but not by prazosin (10(-6) M). Electrical field stimulation at the peak of a contraction induced by morphine, apamin or clonidine, produced an inhibitory response which was unaffected by atropine, phentolamine, propranolol and guanethidine (all 10(-5) M). It persisted in colon segments from the rats with reserpine or 6-hydroxydopamine. These results suggest that neither the 5-HT/acetylcholine hypothesis nor inhibition of the NANC mechanism adequately explains the excitatory effect of morphine in the rat colon.

Action of opiates on gastrointestinal function

Opioid peptides and opioid receptors are distributed along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, indicating endogenous opiates released peripherally may modulate GI motor and secretory functions. Animal studies have revealed that the effects of opiates on gut motility depend on the nature of the subclasses of receptor involved, the species and the part of bowel. Most opiates that have a selective or predominant mu agonist activity inhibit gastric motility and delay gastric emptying by acting centrally; delta and kappa agonist are inactive when injected systemically. The effect of opiates in delaying intestinal transit observed in man, rat and other species is related to an inhibition (rat) or a stimulation (dog and man) of intestinal contractions as premature phase III-like sequences. The constipating effects of morphine probably result mainly from its action on colonic motility. Morphine stimulates colonic motility in humans by action on both central and peripheral sites. This increase in colonic motility and the delay in colonic transit is associated with a reinforcement of tonic contractions and reduced propulsive waves. Opioid peptides have been shown to participate in the colonic motor response to eating in man and animals. Both delta and mu receptors are involved in the stimulatory effects of opiates on colonic motility, while kappa receptors inhibit colonic contractions, mainly by acting centrally. The effects of opiates on gastric acid secretion are still controversial but it has been well demonstrated that opiates act centrally to reduce pancreatic secretion in rats. Opiates also inhibit intestinal secretions via an action on the enteric nervous system as well as in the CNS. All these results reinforce the hypothesis that opioid peptides have a major physiological role in the control of gut motility and secretions, and these actions explain most of the pharmacological effects of opiate substances on the digestive tract.

Opioid receptor types on adrenergic nerve terminals of rabbit ear artery

Methionine enkephalin, leucine enkephalin, [D-Ala2, D-Leu5] enkephalin, alpha-neoendorphin, beta-endorphin, dynorphin (1-13) and ethylketocyclazocine inhibited the contractions of rabbit ear artery ring segments elicited by transmural nerve stimulation at 8 Hz. Ethylketocyclazocine, dynorphin (1-13) and leucine enkephalin produced partial inhibition, their apparent intrinsic activities (alpha) being 0.57, 0.75 and 0.66, respectively. Morphine and normorphine, which are agonists at mu-receptors, did not inhibit the response of the artery. Naloxone antagonized the actions of opioids and ethylketocyclazocine, and was more effective against methionine enkephalin, leucine enkephalin and [D-Ala2, D-Leu5] enkephalin than against alpha-neoendorphin, ethylketocyclazocine and dynorphin (1-13). The pA2 values of naloxone against so-called delta-agonists were approx. 8.5, and against so-called kappa-agonists were approx. 7.7. The supposed kappa-antagonist, Mr2266, was more effective than naloxone in antagonizing the actions of alpha-neoendorphin, and the kappa-agonists dynorphin (1-13) and ethylketocyclazocine. The pA2 values of Mr2266 against kappa-agonists were 8.5-9.0, and against delta-agonists were 7.8 or less. The opioid peptides and opioids tested did not cause dilatation of the artery previously contracted with histamine. These results suggest that the opioid peptides and ethylketocyclazocine acted on opioid receptors at adrenergic nerve terminals in the ear artery. The opioid receptors appear to be of the delta- and kappa-types, not the mu-type.

Vagally mediated reflex and cardiac slowing induced by loperamide in rats

The intravenous injection of loperamide induced an immediate fall in blood pressure and heart rate in anaesthetized rats. Both effects were inhibited by the opiate antagonists naloxone and MRZ 2266 BS. Bilateral vagotomy also inhibited both effects whereas atropine only reduced the bradycardia, but the combination of atropine and tertatolol suppressed the bradycardia. A high dose of loperamide induced bradycardia in pithed rats. This effect was prevented by MRZ 2266 BS but not by naloxone. It is concluded that loperamide can elicit a vagally mediated reflex involving vagal and sympathetic mechanisms and could stimulate cardiac opiate receptors, probably kappa, both effects leading to bradycardia.