Adrenergic and cholinergic interactions in rat gastric somatostatin and gastrin release

The identification of neuronal control pathways supplying effector tissues in the stomach

The stomach acts as a buffer between the ingestion of food and its processing in the small intestine. It signals to the brain to modulate food intake and it in turn regulates the passage of a nutrient-rich fluid, containing partly digested food, into the duodenum. These processes need to be finely controlled, for example to restrict reflux into the esophagus and to transfer digesta to the duodenum at an appropriate rate. Thus, the efferent pathways that control gastric volume, gastric peristalsis and digestive juice production are critically important. We review these pathways with an emphasis on the identities of the final motor neurons and comparisons between species. The major types of motor neurons arising from gastric enteric ganglia are as follows: immunohistochemically distinguishable excitatory and inhibitory muscle motor neurons; four neuron types innervating mucosal effectors (parietal cells, chief cells, gastrin cells and somatostatin cells); and vasodilator neurons. Sympathetic efferent neurons innervate intramural arteries, myenteric ganglia and gastric muscle. Vagal efferent neurons with cell bodies in the brain stem do not directly innervate gastric effector tissues; they are pre-enteric neurons that innervate each type of gastric enteric motor neuron. The principal transmitters and co-transmitters of gastric motor neurons, as well as key immunohistochemical markers, are the same in rat, pig, human and other species.

Gastric Peptides-Gastrin and Somatostatin

Gastric acid secretion (i) facilitates digestion of protein as well as absorption of micronutrients and certain medications, (ii) kills ingested microorganisms, including Helicobacter pylori, and (iii) prevents bacterial overgrowth and enteric infection. The principal regulators of acid secretion are the gastric peptides gastrin and somatostatin. Gastrin, the major hormonal stimulant for acid secretion, is synthesized in pyloric mucosal G cells as a 101-amino acid precursor (preprogastrin) that is processed to yield biologically active amidated gastrin-17 and gastrin-34. The C-terminal active site of gastrin (Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH₂ ) binds to gastrin/CCK₂ receptors on parietal and, more importantly, histamine-containing enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells, located in oxyntic mucosa, to induce acid secretion. Histamine diffuses to the neighboring parietal cells where it binds to histamine H₂ -receptors coupled to hydrochloric acid secretion. Gastrin is also a trophic hormone that maintains the integrity of gastric mucosa, induces proliferation of parietal and ECL cells, and is thought to play a role in carcinogenesis. Somatostatin, present in D cells of the gastric pyloric and oxyntic mucosa, is the main inhibitor of acid secretion, particularly during the interdigestive period. Somatostatin exerts a tonic paracrine restraint on gastrin secretion from G cells, histamine secretion from ECL cells, and acid secretion from parietal cells. Removal of this restraint, for example by activation of cholinergic neurons during ingestion of food, initiates and maximizes acid secretion. Knowledge regarding the structure and function of gastrin, somatostatin, and their respective receptors is providing novel avenues to better diagnose and manage acid-peptic disorders and certain cancers. Published 2020. Compr Physiol 10:197-228, 2020.

The autonomic nervous system regulates gastric ghrelin secretion in rats

Plasma ghrelin levels are responsive to short- and long-term nutrient fluctuation, but the mechanisms of its regulation are largely unknown. To explore the role of the autonomic nervous system in the regulation of ghrelin secretion, we measured plasma ghrelin levels after administration of cholinergic and adrenergic agents in rats under normally fed and 48-h fasting conditions. To assess the short- and long-term effects of vagotomy on ghrelin secretion, plasma ghrelin levels and stomach ghrelin levels and gene expressions were measured in rats subjected to fed or fasting. Additionally, we investigated whether plasma ghrelin levels were affected by the anorexigenic gastrointestinal peptides cholecystokinin and somatostatin. In the pharmacological study, plasma ghrelin levels were increased by a muscarinic agonist, an alpha-adrenergic antagonist, and a beta-adrenergic agonist, and decreased by a muscarinic antagonist and an alpha-adrenergic agonist. Vagotomy inhibited ghrelin secretion acutely, but promoted ghrelin release from the stomach at later time points. Stomach ghrelin mRNA levels were unchanged after fasting, but were significantly upregulated in vagotomized rats. The change of plasma ghrelin levels in nutrient fluctuation was independent of the endogenous effects of cholecystokinin and somatostatin. This study demonstrates that stomach ghrelin secretion is modulated by both the cholinergic and adrenergic arms of the autonomic nervous system. The dissociation between the short- and long-term effects of vagotomy on plasma ghrelin level indicates that an additional neural control mechanism might be involved in the regulation of ghrelin secretion.

Role of adenosine A1 receptor in the regulation of gastrin release

Adenosine has been demonstrated to inhibit gastric acid secretion. In the rat stomach, this inhibitory effect may be mediated indirectly by the inhibition of gastrin release. Results show that the A(1) receptor agonist N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) suppressed immunoreactive gastrin (IRG) release in a concentration-dependent manner. CPA significantly inhibited IRG release at 0.001 microM and maximally inhibited IRG release at 1 microM. At concentrations of 0.001 to 0.1 microM, the A(2A) receptor-selective agonist 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine and A(3) receptor-selective agonist 1-deoxy-1-[6-[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purin-9-yl]-N-methyl-beta-d-ribofuranuronamide, had no effect on IRG release, suggesting the involvement of A(1) receptors. In agreement, the A(1) receptor-selective antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine abolished adenosine-induced inhibition of IRG release. Results of immunohistochemistry experiments reveal the presence of A(1) receptor immunoreactivity on mucosal G-cells and D-cells, and the gastric plexi, but not parietal cells, suggesting that adenosine may act directly on G-cells or indirectly on the gastric plexi to modulate IRG release. The structure of the mucosal A(1) receptor was found to be identical to that in the rat brain. Alternative splicing within the coding region of this receptor did not occur. A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay was developed to measure gastric A(1) receptor gene expression. The highest level of gastric A(1) receptor mRNA was found in the corporeal muscle. However, this level was significantly lower in comparison with the striatum. In conclusion, this study shows that adenosine may suppress IRG release, at least in part, by activating A(1) receptors localized on G-cells and may consequently result in an inhibition of gastric acid secretion.

Exclusão gastroduodenal e vagotomia troncular: repercussão no peso corporal e gastrinemia- estudo experimental em ratos

OBJETIVO: A obesidade mórbida é uma doença crônica que se acompanha de várias complicações médicas e de uma menor esperança de vida, prejudicando o aspecto físico, emocional, econômico e social. As pesquisas clínicas e experimentais são amplamente justificadas nesta doença, considerando-se que a opção de tratamento operatório é recente. As gastroplastias e as derivações gástricas são algumas das modalidades terapêuticas propostas e produzem uma grande câmara gástrica remanescente, que em algumas técnicas fica totalmente excluída do trânsito alimentar. As possíveis alterações deste segmento, transformado em apêndice do sistema digestório, representam um vasto campo para pesquisa. Tivemos como objetivo avaliar o peso e as alterações da dosagem de gastrina sérica do rato, após denervação vagal troncular subdiafragmática, com exclusão da câmara gástrica e duodeno do trânsito alimentar do animal. MÉTODO: Foi realizada vagotomia troncular e exclusão gastroduodenal em cem ratos, dos quais trinta puderam ser estudados. Eram ratos machos adultos (Rattus Norvegicus Albinus), da linhagem Wistar, com peso médio de 378,67 g. Este estudo foi complementado pela dosagem sérica de gastrina por radioimunoensaio com I125 e duplo anticorpo para gastrina. RESULTADOS: O peso de todos os ratos estudados diminuiu em média de 378,67 g para 285,83 g. Os trinta animais perderam em média 92,83 g (-24,52%). Houve diferenças significativas entre o peso inicial dos animais e o peso final (p< 0,001). A gastrina sérica também diminuiu em vinte e um dos trinta ratos operados, caindo de 59,68 pg/ml para 46,77 pg/ml em média, correspondendo a uma diminuição de 12,91 pg (-19,73%) entre as duas médias (p< 0,001). A análise estatística teve como objetivo avaliar se houve diminuição nas médias das variáveis: peso e gastrina, medidas antes e depois da operação proposta. Para avaliar as diferenças entre as médias, utilizou-se o teste estatístico do T-Student. CONCLUSÕES: Houve uma diminuição significativa do peso e da dosagem de gastrina sérica do animal.

Concurrent elevation of fundic somatostatin prevents gastrin stimulation by GRP

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) can stimulate both gastrin and somatostatin (SOM) secretion, but, as gastrin increases SOM and SOM in turn inhibits gastrin, the overall endpoint in terms of gastrin output is variable. To examine the mechanisms involved, we compared the effects of GRP on gastrin secretion in normal sheep and sheep chronically immunized against SOM. In the normal animal, GRP had no effect on either plasma gastrin or SOM. However, in sheep immunized against SOM, GRP stimulated gastrin secretion, suggesting that the concurrent stimulation of SOM prevents the increase in gastrin secretion. To determine the local source of SOM, GRP was then infused into nonimmunized sheep with cannulas draining blood from the fundus and antrum. GRP stimulated fundic SOM output but inhibited antral SOM and gastrin secretion, demonstrating that the fundus was the source of the SOM. Because cholinergic interactions have a major influence on the effects of GRP, a cholinergic stimulus was administered, and we found that the responses were different: SOM output was inhibited in both the antrum and fundus, and antral gastrin secretion was increased. The present study demonstrates two further instances of the differential regulation of SOM from the antrum and fundus. GRP fails to stimulate gastrin because of an increase in fundic SOM, whereas gastrin levels increase following a cholinergic stimulus because of inhibition of both antral and fundic SOM secretion.

Interaction of nicotine and a H2-receptor antagonist, famotidine, on gastrin and chromogranin A expression

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of nicotine on famotidine-induced hypergastrinemia in the rat. In addition, the effects of nicotine on gene expression for gastrin and chromogranin A (CGA) in the stomach were examined. Famotidine treatment alone (20 mg/kg. 2 x/day for 14 days) increased serum gastrin levels significantly (P < 0.05) but not antral levels of gastrin mRNA and peptide. Nicotine treatment (12 mg/kg/d) alone did not affect serum gastrin levels; however, nicotine potentiated the hypergastrinemic action of famotidine. The hypergastrinemic action of nicotine was not mediated by a downregulation of stomach somatostatin (SRIF) since stomach SRIF mRNA levels were unaffected by nicotine treatment. Administration of nicotine and famotidine also upregulated stomach CGA gene expression (i.e., mRNA and protein levels) significantly.

Proximal gastric vagotomy: effects of two surgical modifications on oral and intravenous glucose tolerance in the conscious rat

Vago-vagal nervous links between different splanchnic organs, the stomach included, may modulate glucose metabolism. Therefore, the effect of highly selective (HSV, cutting nerve fibers and vessels) and superselective vagotomy (SSV, cutting nerve fibers only) on oral and intravenous (IV) glucose tolerance was studied in the rat. Gastric emptying was normal in HSV and SSV. After oral glucose, cumulative blood glucose and insulin were significantly lower in SSV than in controls, whereas in HSV, both parameters tended towards lower values. After IV glucose, cumulative blood glucose was significantly lower than in controls following both vagotomies, whereas cumulative insulin was lower in HSV and significantly higher in SSV. The former effect may be insulin-independent. The latter reflects enhanced insulin sensitivity in HSV and increased glucose-stimulated insulin release in SSV. The improvement of oral and IV glucose tolerance by both procedures may reflect the abolition of physiological vagal (SSV) or partial abolition of sympathetic (HSV) nervous links between the stomach and the pancreas, which modulate insulin secretion or organ sensitivity to insulin.

Functional characterization of a muscarinic receptor stimulating gastrin release from rabbit antral G-cells in primary culture

In previous studies carbachol-induced stimulation of gastrin release from antral G-cells in primary culture suggested the presence of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on this cell type. Therefore, we attempted to pharmacologically characterize the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype involved. Enzymatically isolated rabbit antral mucosal cells (0.8% G-cells) were separated by counterflow elutriation yielding a fraction (1.7% G-cells) that was placed in culture on collagen-coated well plates. After 24-36 h of culture 13.0 +/- 2.4% of total adherent cells were immunoreactive for gastrin as shown by immunocytochemical staining using the avidin-biotin complex method. In this preparation basal gastrin release ranged from 3.3 +/- 0.3 to 4.1 +/- 0.3% of total cellular content. Maximal gastrin release in response to the acetylcholine receptor agonist carbachol (10(-4) M) or the selective muscarinic receptor agonist arecaidine propargyl ester (10(-4) M) was 8.5 +/- 0.4% and 7.6 +/- 0.4% of total cellular content, respectively. The EC50 values were 3.7 +/- 0.5 x 10(-6) M carbachol and 1.8 +/- 0.4 x 10(-6) M arecaidine propargyl ester. At a concentration of 10(-6) M the non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine and the muscarinic M3 receptor preferring antagonist hexahydro-sila-difenidol (HHSiD; M3 > or = M1 > M2) completely inhibited gastrin release in response to carbachol (Ki values: 52 x 10(-9) M atropine and 29 x 10(-9) M HHSiD) and arecaidine propargyl ester (Ki values: 11 x 10(-9) M atropine and 13 x 10(-9) M HHSiD).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alpha2-receptor-mediated inhibition of intraluminal release of gastric somatostatin in anaesthetized rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate how the sympathetic nervous system affects the vagally induced intragastric release of somatostatin and gastrin. Experiments were performed on anaesthetized rats in which the stomach was perfused with a dextrane solution (pH approximately 5.9) or dextrane buffer (pH 7.4). pH as well as gastrin and somatostatin levels were measured in the gastric perfusate when it had passed the stomach. Vagal stimulation caused a decrease in perfusate pH and an increase of the intraluminal output of gastrin and somatostatin when the stomach was perfused with the dextrane solution pH 5.9. Pretreatment with phentolamine (1 mg kg-1) significantly increased and pretreatment with clonidine (60 micrograms kg-1 h-1) significantly decreased somatostatin release caused by vagal stimulation, whereas gastrin levels remained largely unchanged. The effect of clonidine persisted in rats pretreated with indomethacin (5 mg kg-1), which per se potentiates the vagally induced luminal somatostatin release. When the stomach was perfused with the dextrane buffer pH 7.4, basal gastrin levels were significantly higher than during perfusion with the solution pH 5.9, whereas somatostatin levels remained unchanged. Neither somatostatin nor gastrin levels increased following vagal stimulation during gastric perfusion with the dextrane buffer pH 7.4. However, following pretreatment with phentolamine somatostatin levels increased during these conditions.

Vagally induced release of gastrin, somatostatin and bombesin-like immunoreactivity from perfused rat stomach. Effect of stimulation frequency and cholinergic mechanisms

The isolated stomach of rats was vascularly perfused to measure the secretion of gastrin, somatostatin (SLI) and bombesin-like immunoreactivity (BLI). The gastric lumen was perfused with saline pH 7 or pH 2, and electrical vagal stimulation was performed with 1 ms, 10 V and 2, 5 or 10 Hz, respectively. Atropine was added in concentrations of 10(-9) or 10(-7) M to evaluate the role of cholinergic mechanisms. In control experiments, vagal stimulation during luminal pH 2 elicited a significant increase of BLI secretion only at 10 Hz but not at 2 and 5 Hz. Somatostatin release was inhibited independent of the stimulation frequency employed. Gastrin secretion at 2 Hz was twice the secretion rates observed at 5 and 10 Hz, respectively. At luminal pH 7 BLI rose significantly at 5 and 10 Hz. SLI secretion was decreased by all frequencies. Gastrin secretion at 2 and 5 Hz was twice as high as during stimulation with 10 Hz. Atropine at doses of 10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7) and 10(-6) M had no effect on basal secretion of BLI, SLI and gastrin. At luminal pH 2, atropine increased dose-dependently the BLI response at 2 and 5 but not at 10 Hz. The decrease of SLI during 2 and 5 Hz but not 10 Hz was abolished by atropine 10(-9) M. SLI was reversed to stimulation during atropine 10(-7) M at all frequencies. The rise of gastrin at 2 Hz was reduced by 50%. At luminal pH 7, atropine had comparable effects with a few differences: the BLI response at 10 Hz was augmented and the gastrin response to 2 and 5 Hz was reduced. In conclusion the present data demonstrate a frequency and pH-dependent stimulation of BLI and gastrin release. The stimulation of BLI is predominantly due to atropine-insensitive mechanisms while muscarinic cholinergic mechanisms exert an inhibitory effect on BLI release during lower stimulation frequencies (2 and 5 Hz) independent of the intragastric pH and also during higher frequencies at neutral pH. Both, atropine sensitive and insensitive mechanisms are activated frequency dependent. The atropine-sensitive cholinergic mechanisms but not the noncholinergic mechanisms involved in regulation of G-cell function are pH and frequency dependent. Somatostatin is regulated largely independent of stimulation frequency and pH by at least two pathways involving cholinergic mechanisms of different sensitivity to atropine. These data suggest a highly differentiated regulation of BLI, gastrin and SLI secretion and the interaction between these systems awaits further elucidation.

Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid on bombesin-evoked release of somatostatin and gastrin from isolated rat stomach

The effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on basal and bombesin (BBS)-stimulated release of somatostatin (SLI) and gastrin from isolated perfused rat stomach was examined. In the control study, BBS at a dose of 10 nM significantly stimulated release of SLI and gastrin. Infusion of GABA (1-1000 nM) caused a depression of SLI release induced by BBS (10 nM) in a dose-dependent fashion. However, at doses used in this study GABA had no effect on either basal level of SLI and gastrin or BBS-elicited gastrin release. These results indicate that GABA can specifically modulate BBS-induced SLI release from rat stomach.

Interaction between endogenous opioids, cholinergic and adrenergic mechanisms during vagally-induced gastrin release in rats

Endogenous opioids are present in neurons of the vagus and the intrinsic nervous system and they are colocalized with gastrin in antral G-cells. This raises the possibility that endogenous opioids modulate gastrin release. Stimulation of both cervical vagi (10V, 5Hz, 5ms) elicited an increase of arterial plasma gastrin levels at intragastric pH7 or pH2. The response at pH2 was 30% of that at luminal pH7. Atropine reduced vagally stimulated gastrin levels substantially. At luminal pH2 the small residual noncholinergic response was mediated neither by adrenergic mechanisms nor by endogenous opioids. At luminal pH 7 adrenergic blockade with phentolamine and propranolol reduced vagally stimulated gastrin by 60%. In the presence of atropine adrenergic blockade elicited only a small inhibitory effect suggesting that vagal activation of adrenergic mechanisms depends on atropine-sensitive cholinergic pathways. Blockade of opiate receptors by naloxone had no effect on vagal gastrin release, however, the noncholinergic gastrin response was reduced significantly by naloxone, suggesting that cholinergic mechanisms normally restrain activation of endogenous opioids during vagal stimulation. Naloxone had no effect on the noncholinergic, nonadrenergic stimulation of gastrin levels. These data suggest that endogenous opioids can contribute to vagal gastrin release provided the cholinergic restraint is blocked and adrenergic mechanisms stimulate endogenous opioids. In conclusion a major role of endogenous opioids in the regulation of vagal gastrin release can not be detected.

Beta-adrenergic stimulation of gastrin release mediated by gastrin-releasing peptide in rat antral mucosa

The present studies were directed to examine the effects of beta-adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation on gastrin release and to assess the potential role of gastrin-releasing peptide in exerting these effects, utilizing incubated rat antral mucosa. Rat antral mucosa was incubated at 37 degrees C in Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer, pH 7.4, continuously gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2. After 1 h media were sampled for radioimmunoassay measurement of gastrin content. Inclusion of carbachol (2.5 X 10(-6) M) in culture medium increased medium gastrin concentration by 106 +/- 28% (P less than 0.01); addition of specific antibodies to gastrin-releasing peptide to the culture medium did not affect carbachol-stimulated gastrin release. Inclusion of isoproterenol (10(-9) M) in culture medium did not affect somatostatin release into the medium, but increased medium gastrin by 234 +/- 24% (P less than 0.001). However, in contrast to carbachol, addition of antibodies to gastrin-releasing peptide to culture medium decreased isoproterenol-stimulated gastrin release by 67 +/- 9% (P less than 0.001). Results of these studies indicate that, under the conditions of these experiments, beta-adrenergic, but not muscarinic, stimulation of gastrin release may be mediated, at least in part, through gastrin-releasing peptide.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide stimulates rat gastric somatostatin release in vitro

The influence of rat calcitonin gene-related peptide (rCGRP) on the secretion of gastric somatostatin and gastrin was studied in vitro using the isolated, vascularly perfused rat stomach preparation. rCGRP stimulated somatostatin secretion dose-dependently reaching 3-fold stimulation at 1 microM. The kinetics of somatostatin response were characterized by a sharp increase in the initial phase of rCGRP perfusion followed by sustained elevated levels. Gastrin secretion was moderately suppressed at 1 nM to 100 nM CGRP. Somatostatin responses to half-maximal stimulation with 100 nM CGRP were not affected by concomitant perfusion of atropine, propranolol, and tetrodotoxin. It is concluded that increases in somatostatin release in response to CGRP are probably due to a direct effect on the gastric somatostatin-producing D-cell and may be important for the potent acid-inhibitory activity of CGRP.

Influence of chronic drug-induced achlorhydria by substituted benzimidazoles on the endocrine stomach in rats

The release of gastric somatostatinlike immunoreactivity and gastrin was studied in rats with chronic achlorhydria induced by the substituted benzimidazole BY 308. In vitro, stimulation of gastrin release by acetylcholine was slightly enhanced after 1 day of treatment but no further effects were observed compared to placebo controls. Four weeks of treatment evoked marked gastrin hypersecretion, which was atropine-resistant. Stimulation of gastrin release was inversely correlated to enhancement of basal gastrin levels. Chronic achlorhydria distinctly reduced somatostatin responses to isoproterenol, whereas potent stimulation was observed in controls. Treatment with BY 308 for 1 wk was associated with fully developed gastrin hypersecretion but isoproterenol-stimulated somatostatin release was still unaffected. Hypergastrinemia accompanied by increased antral gastrin and reduced antral and fundic somatostatin concentrations was also found in vivo after 4 wk of treatment with BY 308. It is concluded that chronic achlorhydria not only enhances storage and secretion of gastrin but also diminishes the secretion and tissue stores of somatostatin; adaptive changes of the somatostatin cell occur, however, with a much longer delay.

Neural and paracrine regulation of gastrin release using rat antral mucosa in tissue culture--the effect of carbachol, bombesin, and anti-somatostatin antibody on gastrin release

Gastrin release was significantly stimulated by the cholinergic agent carbachol at doses of 10(-4) M, 10(-5) M, and 10(-6) M. Peak stimulation was observed at 10(-5) M. Gastrin release was also significantly stimulated by bombesin at a dose of 10(-8) M, and 10(-6) M atropine which abolished the effect of carbachol in stimulating gastrin release had no effect on the bombesin-stimulated gastrin release. In addition, anti-somatostatin antiserum significantly stimulated gastrin release. These findings suggest that gastrin release is regulated by cholinergic and noncholinergic neurons the latter being thought to be a bombesin-containing neuron, and that antral somatostatin exerts a continuous restraint on gastrin release by the paracrine mechanism.

Dose-dependent effects of linear and cyclic somatostatin on ethanol-induced gastric erosions: the role of mast cells and increased vascular permeability in the rat

Somatostatin prevents hemorrhagic gastric erosions produced by ethanol. In this paper we describe studies with linear (reduced) and cyclic (oxidized) synthetic somatostatin-14 in the rat model of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury. The linear form of somatostatin was more potent at concentrations of 10(-9) to 10(-8) mol per rat than the cyclic isomere. However, at a concentration of 10(-7) mol per rat i.p. injection of linear somatostatin significantly (P less than 0.01) enhanced gastric erosions caused by the alcohol. The area of hemorrhagic mucosal lesions correlated significantly (r = -0.846) with mast cell depletion in the gastric mucosa of the animals. Increased vascular permeability and mast cell degranulation were also observed after intradermal injection of linear or cyclic somatostatin. The 'cytoprotective' as well as the aggravating potency of linear somatostatin may be connected to gastric mucosal mast cell activity in the rat.

Gastrointestinal somatostatin: distribution, secretion and physiological significance

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) has been found throughout the gastrointestinal tract in all species examined. In the stomach it is mainly present in endocrine-type D-cells whereas in the intestine there is also an extensive distribution in enteric neurones. In all regions of the gastrointestinal tract multiple forms of somatostatin exist. A precursor (prosomatostatin) has been partially sequenced, three forms with 20 (SS-20), 25 (SS-25) and 28 (SS-28) amino acids completely sequenced, and somatostatin-14 (SS-14) demonstrated by radioimmunoassay. Both SS-14 and SS-28 exert a wide range of actions on the gastrointestinal tract and there is strong supportive evidence for a role in the regulation of gastric acid and gastrin secretion, gastrointestinal motility and intestinal transport. Both in vivo and in vitro studies on the secretion of gastric SLI into the vasculature have shown that nutrients initiate the process but that subsequent events are regulated by a complex interplay between hormonal and neuronal pathways. GIP is one of the most potent hormonal secretagogues. In the stomach, acetylcholine, opioid peptides and substance P are probably involved in parasympathetic inhibitory pathways and gastrin releasing peptide in stimulatory pathways. The sympathetic nerves are also stimulatory. Regulation of secretion of intestinal SLI has not been so extensively studied. Although SLI is also found in the gastrointestinal lumen the significance is unclear. Despite these advances the exact route of delivery of somatostatin to its target organs is uncertain and paracrine, endocrine and neural pathways may all be involved.

Effect of somatostatin on bethanechol-stimulated gastric acid secretion and gastric antral motility in dogs with gastric fistula

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of somatostatin on gastric acid secretion and gastric antral motility in conscious dogs with gastric fistula. Infusion of bethanechol stimulated dose-dependently acid secretion, whereas the frequency and strength of antral motility was maintained at a high level. Somatostatin inhibited dose-dependently the stimulated acid secretion, whereas the effect on antral motility was more complex, acting especially on the amplitude of the contractions. The effects of somatostatin were not altered by using alpha-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic blocking drugs. The dose-response kinetics with four doses of bethanechol with and without somatostatin showed inhibition of a non-competitive type for gastric acid secretion and of a competitive type for antral motility with regard to amplitude.

Effect of substance P on somatostatin release from the isolated perfused rat stomach

The effect of substance P (SP) on the release of gastric somatostatinlike immunoreactivity (SLI) was studied. Substance P inhibited both basal SLI release and SLI release stimulated by gastric inhibitory polypeptide or 1-isoproterenol. This inhibitory action of SP was not blocked by atropine or hexamethonium, suggesting that a cholinergic mechanism was not involved. The SP-suppressed SLI release was also not reversed by the administration of naloxone, which indicated that enkephalinergic involvement was absent. However, the SP antagonist [D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9]-SP abolished the inhibition of SLI release by SP. It is concluded that SP might be involved in the control of gastric SLI release and that the inhibitory action of SP was probably mediated directly or indirectly on the gastric D cells through SP receptors.

Pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion by the isolated perfused rat stomach

The purpose of this present study was to develop a method for stimulation of acid secretion by the isolated perfused rat stomach. Rat stomachs were perfused in situ via the abdominal aorta and celiac axis with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer in the presence or absence of 10% ovine erythrocytes. The gastric lumen was perfused with distilled water and gastric contents were collected at frequent intervals through a catheter at the pylorus. Sixty minute gastric acid output in response to various concentrations of pentagastrin was determined by titration of gastric contents with 0.01 N NaOH to pH 7.0. During arterial perfusion with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer in the absence of ovine erythrocytes gastric acid output was 2.50 +/- 0.58 SEM microEq H+/h, which did not increase in response to perfusion with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer containing pentagastrin. However, inclusion of 10% ovine erythrocytes in the arterial perfusate resulted in substantial stimulation of gastric acid by pentagastrin: maximal acid output, achieved with a pentagastrin dose of 0.6 microgram/kg/h, was 23.5 +/- 3.73 microEq H+/h (p less than 0.01). The results of the present study demonstrate the capacity of the isolated vascularly perfused rat stomach to secrete acid and provide a model for studying interactions of gastrointestinal regulatory peptides and their physiologic roles in the regulation of gastric acid secretion.

Modulation of acetylcholine-induced secretion of gastric bombesin-like immunoreactivity by cholinergic and histamine H2-receptors, somatostatin and intragastric pH

Recently we have shown the release of bombesin-like immunoreactivity (BLI) from the isolated perfused rat stomach. In these experiments we have shown that BLI secretion is stimulated by acetylcholine. Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) exerts an inhibitory effect which is dependent on the intraluminal pH. The present study was designed to examine further the exact cholinergic mechanisms and to study the interaction between cholinergic and histaminergic mechanisms as well as the effect of the intraluminal pH. Acetylcholine elicited a dose-dependent increase in BLI and gastrin secretion (10(-6) M and 2 X 10(-6)M), whereas somatostatin release was suppressed at luminal pH 7. Blockade of muscarinic cholinergic receptors by atropine (10(-5)M) and nicotinic cholinergic receptors by hexamethonium (10(-5) M) abolished the effect of acetylcholine on all three peptides. Reduction of the intraluminal pH to 2 also abolished acetylcholine-induced stimulation of BLI and gastrin secretion and the inhibition of somatostatin secretion. Changes of intraluminal pH per se had no effect on the secretion of either peptide. Somatostatin (10(-7) M) reduced both BLI and gastrin secretion during stimulation with acetylcholine. The addition of the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine (10(-5) M) abolished the effect of both doses of acetylcholine on BLI and somatostatin secretion and also the effect of the lower dose of acetylcholine (10(-6) M) on gastrin secretion during luminal pH 7. At luminal pH 2 cimetidine did not alter BLI and somatostatin secretion in response to acetylcholine, however, gastrin release was augmented in the presence of cimetidine. These data demonstrate that the effect of acetylcholine on BLI, gastrin, and somatostatin secretion is mediated by muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptors and also by histamine H2-receptors. Somatostatin inhibits cholinergically induced BLI secretion. The cholinergic effects on BLI, somatostatin and gastrin secretion are abolished during an acidic intragastric pH. In this isolated perfused rat stomach model the inhibitory effect of intraluminal acid on gastrin secretion is, at least in part, mediated by H2-receptors. This suggests that the secretion of bombesin, a potential peptidergic neurotransmitter is modulated by neural, endocrine and local tissue factors and also by alterations of intragastric pH.

Release of bombesin-like immunoreactivity from the isolated perfused rat stomach

In the present study the release of bombesin-like immunoreactivity (BLI), somatostatin and gastrin was determined form the isolated perfused rat stomach. Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP, 2 X 10(-9) M) had no effect on BLI while stimulating somatostatin and gastrin release. In these experiments the luminal pH of the stomach was kept at pH 7. Reduction of the luminal pH to 2 resulted in an inhibition of BLI secretion by GIP while gastrin release was abolished and somatostatin remained unaffected compared to luminal pH 7. Acetylcholine (10(-6) and 2 X 10(-6) M) elicited a dose-dependent stimulation of BLI secretion while gastrin was stimulated and somatostatin secretion suppressed independent of the administered dose. The present data demonstrate that release of bombesin-like immunoreactivity can be modulated by intestinal hormones and neurotransmitters and is integrated into the complex system of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine regulation.