Evidence that adenosine triphosphate or a related nucleotide is the transmitter substance released by non‐adrenergic inhibitory nerves in the gut

Article date: February 1997

By: G. BURNSTOCK, G. CAMPBELL, D. SATCHELL, ANNE SMYTHE, in Volume 120, Issue S1, pages 337-357

. Stimulation of the vagal non‐adrenergic inhibitory innervation caused the release of adenosine and inosine into vascular perfusates from the stomachs of guinea‐pigs and toads.

. Stimulation of portions of Auerbach's plexus isolated from turkey gizzard caused the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP).

. ATP, added to solutions perfused through the toad stomach vasculature, was broken down to adenosine, inosine and adenine.

. Of a series of purine and pyrimidine derivatives tested for inhibitory activity on the guinea‐pig isolated taenia coli, ATP and ADP were the most potent.

. ATP caused inhibition of twelve other gut preparations previously shown to contain non‐adrenergic inhibitory nerves. The inhibitory action of ATP was not prevented by tetrodotoxin.

. Quinidine antagonized relaxations of the guinea‐pig taenia coli caused by catecholamines or adrenergic nerve stimulation. Higher concentrations of quinidine antagonized relaxations caused by ATP or non‐adrenergic inhibitory nerve stimulation.

. When tachyphylaxis to ATP had been produced in the rabbit ileum, there was a consistent depression of the responses to non‐adrenergic inhibitory nerve stimulation but not of responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation.

. It is suggested that ATP or a related nucleotide is the transmitter substance released by the non‐adrenergic inhibitory innervation of the gut.

. Stimulation of the vagal non‐adrenergic inhibitory innervation caused the release of adenosine and inosine into vascular perfusates from the stomachs of guinea‐pigs and toads.

. Stimulation of portions of Auerbach's plexus isolated from turkey gizzard caused the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP).

. ATP, added to solutions perfused through the toad stomach vasculature, was broken down to adenosine, inosine and adenine.

. Of a series of purine and pyrimidine derivatives tested for inhibitory activity on the guinea‐pig isolated taenia coli, ATP and ADP were the most potent.

. ATP caused inhibition of twelve other gut preparations previously shown to contain non‐adrenergic inhibitory nerves. The inhibitory action of ATP was not prevented by tetrodotoxin.

. Quinidine antagonized relaxations of the guinea‐pig taenia coli caused by catecholamines or adrenergic nerve stimulation. Higher concentrations of quinidine antagonized relaxations caused by ATP or non‐adrenergic inhibitory nerve stimulation.

. When tachyphylaxis to ATP had been produced in the rabbit ileum, there was a consistent depression of the responses to non‐adrenergic inhibitory nerve stimulation but not of responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation.

. It is suggested that ATP or a related nucleotide is the transmitter substance released by the non‐adrenergic inhibitory innervation of the gut.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1997.tb06815.x

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