Giuseppe De Caro

The hyperphagic effect of nociceptin/orphanin FQ in rats.

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NC), the endogenous ligand of the opioid receptor-like1 (ORL1) receptor, has been reported to stimulate feeding in rats. The present article reviews the studies so far published on the effect of NC on food intake and reports new findings concerning the sensitivity of brain regions to the hyperphagic effect of NC in rats. The results obtained indicate that the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus is the most sensitive site among the brain regions so far investigated. On the basis of these findings and of the neurochemical and electrophysiological effects of NC, possible mechanisms of action and possible interactions with other neurotransmitter systems affecting feeding are discussed.

The tachykinin NH2-senktide, a selective neurokinin B receptor agonist, is a very potent inhibitor of salt appetite in the rat

The tachykinin peptide [Asp5.6, MePhe8]substance P(5-11) (NH2-senktide), a senktide analogue lacking the N-terminal succinyl group, is a selective and metabolically stable NK-3 receptor agonist. In the present study it potently inhibited salt appetite induced by sodium depletion in rats. Argo-neurokinin B, too, inhibited salt appetite, but was less potent than NH2-senktide. Neither peptide inhibited drinking behaviour induced by subcutaneous hypertonic NaCl. NH2-senktide slightly inhibited angiotensin-induced drinking, while Argo-neurokinin B was ineffective. On the other hand, eledoisin was a potent inhibitor in the 3 behavioural tests. Present results indicate that activation of NK-3 receptors is involved in the antinatriorexic action of tachykinins, and that different receptor subtypes might be involved in the different effects of tachykinins on the rat ingestive behaviour.

Antidipsogenic effect of intraventricular administration of eledoisin to rats

Summary Intracerebroventricular injections of eledoisin produced a dose dependent inhibition of water intake caused by intraventricular administration of angiotensin or carbachol, water deprivation or sodium chloride load. The peptide appeared particularly effective in rats treated with carbachol or deprived of water (threshold dose, 0.01 μg/rat), while in animals loaded with sodium chloride it was effective only if administered in large doses (20 μg/rat). Eledoisin did not affect food intake. The results of the experiments suggested that brain factors may play a role in the regulation of water intake. One of these factors could be Substance P, the endecapeptide of mammalian brain and gut, which is chemically related to eledoisin and shares with it pratically the same pharmacological spectrum.

Inhibition of salt appetite in the rat following injection of tachykinins into the medial amygdala.

The present study investigated the sensitivity of the medial region of the amygdala to the antinatriorexic action in the rat of the tachykinins eledoisin, substance P, neurokinin A and [Asp5,6, MePhe8] substance P(5-11) (also referred to as amino-senktide; NH2-SENK), which is a highly selective agonist for NK-3 receptors. The results obtained show that only the potent NK-3 agonists eledoisin and NH2-SENK inhibit salt appetite when injected into the medial region of the amygdala. Eledoisin and NH2-SENK inhibited salt appetite induced by sodium depletion, that has been proven to be governed by the synergism of angiotensin and aldosterone. They inhibited also salt appetite evoked by central renin injection, that is due to production of angiotensin II. On the other hand, eledoisin and NH2-SENK did not inhibit salt appetite evoked by subcutaneous deoxycorticosterone treatment. These findings suggest that the medial region of the amygdala is a site of action for the antinatriorexic effect of tachykinins and that their action at this site is mediated by NK-3 receptors. Moreover, our results show that in the medial amygdala, the antinatriorexic action of tachykinins appears to be directed toward the angiotensinergic component of the neural mechanism for salt appetite.

Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis: Site for the antinatriorexic action of tachykinins in the rat

The present study investigated the sensitivity of the posterior part of the medial division of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) to the antinatriorexic action of the tachykinin eledoisin in the rat. Salt appetite was evoked by sodium depletion following furosemide-induced natriuresis. The results obtained show that bilateral injection of eledoisin into the BNST evokes a very potent antinatriorexic effect, a statistically significant inhibition being observed even at the dose of 3.1 ng/BNST. On the other hand, when eledoisin was injected into the lateral ventricle, just above the BNST, much larger doses were required to elicit comparable inhibition of salt appetite. The antinatriorexic effect of eledoisin into the BNST is apparently behaviorally selective, since the same doses, which inhibited salt appetite, did not significantly affect the intake of 10% sucrose solution in the sodium-depleted animal. Present results suggest that the BNST is a site of action for the effect of tachykinins on salt appetite.

Subcutaneous injections of the tachykinin senktide reduce alcohol intake in alcohol-preferring rats

The present study evaluated the effect of SC injections of the selective NK3 tachykinin agonist, Suc-[Asp6,MePhe8]substance P(6-11), also referred to as senktide (SENK), on 8% alcohol intake in genetically selected alcohol-preferring rats. Animals were offered access to 8% ethanol for 2 h/day (between 1800 and 2000 h) and to tap water for 4 h/day (between 1800 and 2200 h); SENK was injected 10 min before access to fluids. The peptide significantly reduced alcohol intake at doses of 125 and 250 micrograms/kg, but not at 62.5 micrograms/kg. The reduction in alcohol intake was accompanied by a sharp increase in water intake, so that total fluid intake was never significantly modified. The same SC doses of SENK did not modify water intake in rats with access to water, as the only fluid, for 4 h/day. In food-deprived rats food intake was not altered by 125 micrograms/kg, whereas 250 micrograms/kg produced a reduction in food intake that was smaller in intensity and shorter lasting than the reduction in alcohol intake. The same doses of SENK did not modify 0.1% saccharin intake, nor did they elicit major competing behaviors. The results of the present study are in keeping with those obtained following central injection of NK3 agonists, and show that a behaviorally selective reduction of alcohol intake can be evoked also by peripheral administration of SENK.

Mapping of brain sites sensitive to the antidipsogenic effect of tachykinins

The present study investigated the sensitivity of 12 forebrain and midbrain structures to the antidipsogenic effect of eledoisin, physalaemin and substance P on angiotensin-induced drinking. The three tachykinins elicited the most potent effects when injected into the nucleus preopticus medialis, the nucleus anterior hypothalami and the subfornical organ. In other sites (nuclei lateralis, ventromedialis and posterior hypothalami, nucleus septi lateralis, nucleus interpeduncularis and substantia grisea periventricularis) the effect was lower, and most of these sites showed different sensitivity to the three tachykinins. Finally, the nucleus septi medialis, the nucleus preopticus lateralis and the substantia nigra were refractory to the three tachykinins. These results show that: (1) the antidipsogenic effect of tachykinins can be elicited not only in forebrain, but also in midbrain structures such as the substantia grisea periventricularis and the nucleus interpeduncularis; (2) the distribution of brain sites sensitive to the antidipsogenic effect of substance P and physalaemin is always overlapping, while this is not true for eledoisin. This probably reflects selective distribution and/or activation of distinct subtypes of tachykinin receptors.

Modifications of drinking behaviour and of arterial blood pressure induced by tachykinins in rats and pigeons

Intracerebroventricular injections of the naturally occurring tachykinins eledoisin, physalaemin and substance P elicit a powerful antidipsogenic effect in the rat, while in the pigeon they potently stimulate water intake. The aim of this paper was to study in conscious rats and pigeons the vascular effect of these peptides and to compare this effect to the one elicited on water intake.The results of these experiments demonstrate that there is no direct relationship between the two effects.Our findings suggest that the effect of these peptides on water intake might be specific on CNS and not related to their vascular activity.

Hypotensive effect of intravenous injection of tachykinins in conscious, freely moving spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Kyoto rats.

The present study evaluated the sensitivity of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and of Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats to the hypotensive effect of tachykinins (TKs). Eledoisin, substance P, and the NK-1-selective agonist [Sar9,Met(O2)11]substance P evoked a smaller hypotensive response in SHR than in WKY rats. The hypotensive effect of NKA was slightly smaller in SHR, but no significant strain difference was observed. The NK-2-selective agonist [beta Ala8]NKA(4-10) was a very weak hypotensive agent in WKY rats, while being completely inactive in SHR. The NK-3-selective agonists [Asp5,6,MePhe8]substance P(5-11) and [MePhe7]NKB did not modify blood pressure in both strains. Heart rate was essentially unmodified following the NK-3 agonists, while it was increased after injection of substance P, [Sar9,Met(O2)11]substance P, and neurokinin A, the increase being greater in WKY than in SHR. Surprisingly, eledoisin increased heart rate in SHR, but not in WKY rats, despite the greater hypotensive effect elicited in the latter strain. The present results confirm that the hypotensive effect of peripheral TKs is mediated by NK-1 receptors and show that SHR are less sensitive than WKY rats to this effect.

STIMULATION OF TACHYKININ NK-3 RECEPTORS IN THE NUCLEUS BASALIS MAGNOCELLULARIS REDUCES ALCOHOL INTAKE IN RATS

Injections in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) of the tachykinin (TK) NK-3 receptor agonist [Asp5,6,MePhe8]substance P(5-11), also referred to as amino-senktide (NH2-SENK), markedly reduced alcohol intake in genetically selected alcohol-preferring rats, offered 10% ethanol 2 h/day. The threshold dose in the NBM was 0.5 ng/site, while neither 1 nor 10 ng/rat of NH2-SENK inhibited alcohol intake following administration into the lateral ventricle. Injection of NH2-SENK, 25 ng/site, in the NBM did not modify water or food intake in water deprived rats, providing evidence for the behavioral selectivity of the effect on ethanol intake. The selective TK NK-3 receptor antagonist, R-820, injected in the NBM at the dose of 1000 ng/site 5 min before NH2-SENK 5 ng/site, significantly reduced the effect of NH2-SENK. The selective TK NK-1 receptor agonist [Sar9,Met(O2)11]substance P inhibited alcohol intake following injection in the NBM only at 25 ng/site; but the same dose induced marked grooming and inhibited also water intake in water deprived rats. The present results confirm that TK NK-3, but not NK-1, receptor agonists selectively inhibit ethanol intake in alcohol-preferring rats and suggest that the NBM is a site of action for their effect.