Pharmacological analysis of CCK2 receptor antagonists using isolated rat stomach ECL cells.

1. Gastrin stimulates rat stomach ECL cells to secrete histamine and pacreastatin, a chromogranin A (CGA)-derived peptide. The present report describes the effect of nine cholecystokinin2 (CCK2) receptor antagonists and one CCK1 receptor antagonist on the gastrin-evoked secretion of pancreastatin from isolated ECL cells. 2. The CCK2 receptor antagonists comprised three benzodiazepine derivatives L-740,093, YM022 and YF476, one ureidoacetamide compound RP73870, one benzimidazole compound JB 93182, one ureidoindoline compound AG041R and three tryptophan dipeptoids PD 134308 (CI988), PD135158 and PD 136450. The CCK1 receptor antagonist was devazepide. 3. A preparation of well-functioning ECL cells (approximately 80% purity) was prepared from rat oxyntic mucosa using counter-flow elutriation. The cells were cultured for 48 h in the presence of 0.1 nM gastrin; they were then washed and incubated with antagonist alone or with various concentrations of antagonist plus 10 nM gastrin (a maximally effective concentration) for 30 min. Gastrin dose-response curves were constructed in the absence or presence of increasing concentrations of antagonist. The amount of pancreastatin secreted was determined by radioimmunoassay. 4. The gastrin-evoked secretion of pancreastatin was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. YM022, AG041R and YF476 had IC50 values of 0.5, 2.2 and 2.7 nM respectively. L-740,093, JB93182 and RP73870 had IC50 values of 7.8, 9.3 and 9.8 nM, while PD135158, PD136450 and PD134308 had IC50 values of 76, 135 and 145 nM. The CCK1 receptor antagonist devazepide was a poor CCK2 receptor antagonist with an IC50 of about 800 nM. 5. YM022, YF476 and AG041R were chosen for further analysis. YM022 and YF476 shifted the gastrin dose-response curve to the right in a manner suggesting competitive antagonism, while the effects of AG041R could not be explained by simple competitive antagonism. pK(B) values were 11.3 for YM022, 10.8 for YF476 and the apparent pK(B) for AG041R was 10.4.     

Cholecystokinin-B/Gastrin Receptor Blockade Suppresses the Activity of Rat Stomach ECL Cells

Abstract: Gastrin controls the histamine- and chromogranin A- producing enterochromaffinn-like (ECL) cells, the predominant endocrine cell population in the acid-producing part of the rat stomach. They are responsible for most of the circulating pancreastatin, a chromogranin A-derived peptide. The present study examines the ability of two potent and highly selective cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor antagonists. RP73870 and YM022, to incapacitate the ECL cells. The two antagonists were given by continuous subcutaneous infusion to otherwise untreated rats and to hypergastrinaemic rats treated with gastrin-17 (continuous subcutaneous infusion) or omeprazole (orally) for 7 days. Several parameters reflecting ECL cell activity were measured: The oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity, the histamine concentration, the histidine decarboxylase mRNA and chromogranin A mRNA concentrations, and the serum pancreastatin concentration. In addition, the serum gastrin concentration was measured. RP73870 and YM022 greatly lowered the oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity and the histidine decarboxylase mRNA and chromogranin A mRNA concentrations, and also reduced the oxyntic mucosal histamine concentration and the serum pancreastatin concentration. Moreover, they raised the serum gastrin concentration. With respect to blockade of histidine decarboxylase activity, 1.0 μmol· g^?1 · hr^?1 was an almost maximally effective dose for both RP73870 and YM022. The corresponding ID₅₀ values were 0.04 and 0.05 μmol- kg^?1 · hr^?1. RP73870 and YM022 inhibited the hypergastrinaemia-evoked rise in all ECL-cell parameters. The results suggest that sustained cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor blockade causes lasting deactivation of the ECL cells.     

Reversibility of cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor blockade: a study of the gastrin-ECL cell axis in the rat

Gastrin acts via cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptors to control histamine- and chromogranin A-producing ECL cells, which constitute the quantitatively predominant endocrine cell population in the acid-producing part of the rat stomach. Cholecystokinin-B receptor blockade is known to suppress the activity of ECL cells and to prevent their ability to respond to gastrin stimulation. The present study examines the reversibility of long-standing cholecystokinin-B receptor blockade of ECL cells. YM022, a potent and selective cholecystokinin-B receptor antagonist, was administered in a maximally effective dose by continuous subcutaneous infusion for 4 weeks (via osmotic minipumps). The resulting receptor blockade was manifested in elevated serum gastrin concentration (due to the ensuing acid inhibition), while the serum pancreastatin concentration, oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity, histidine decarboxylase- and chromogranin A- mRNA levels and histamine and pancreastatin concentrations were lowered. After withdrawal of YM022, all these parameters returned to normal after varying lengths of time. The serum gastrin concentration and the oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity returned to normal within a week after termination of treatment. The serum pancreastatin concentration and the mucosal histidine decarboxylase- and chromogranin A-mRNA levels returned to normal within 2 weeks of drug withdrawal. The mucosal pancreastatin and histamine concentrations remained unchanged for about a week before gradually returning to control levels within the next two weeks. Hence, the various effects of cholecystokinin-B receptor blockade of the ECL cells are fully reversible within 1-3 weeks of drug withdrawal.     

Long-lasting cholecystokinin(2) receptor blockade after a single subcutaneous injection of YF476 or YM022

Histamine-forming ECL cells in the rat stomach operate under the control of gastrin. They represent a convenient target for studying cholecystokinin-B/gastrin (CCK(2)) receptor antagonists in vivo. We examined the effectiveness and duration of action of two CCK(2) antagonists, YM022 and YF476, with respect to their effect on ECL-cell histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity in the rat. Oral administration of subcutaneous deposition of YF476 or YM022 reduced the HDC activity. The maximum/near-maximum dose for both drugs and for both modes of administration was 300 micromol kg(-1) (effects measured 24 h after dose). At this dose and time the serum concentration of YF476 was 20 - 40 nmol l(-1). The dose 300 micromol kg(-1) was used in all subsequent studies. A single subcutaneous injection of YF476 inhibited the HDC activity for 8 weeks. The circulating concentration of YF476 remained high for the same period of time (>/=15 nmol l(-1)). Subcutaneous YM022 suppressed the HDC activity for 4 weeks. A single oral dose of YF476 or YM022 inhibited the HDC activity for 2 - 3 days. Chronic gastric fistula rats were used to study the effect of subcutaneous YF476 on gastrin-stimulated acid secretion. A single injection of YF476 prevented gastrin from causing an acid response for at least 4 weeks (the longest time studied). We conclude that a single subcutaneous injection of 300 micromol kg(-1) YF476 causes blockade of CCK(2) receptors in the stomach of the rat for 8 weeks thus providing a convenient method for studies of the consequences of long-term CCK(2) receptor inhibition.     

Evaluation of the Specificity and Potency of a Series of Cholecystokinin-B/Gastrin Receptor Antagonists in vivo

Abstract: The potency and specificity of five proposed cholecystokinin-B receptor antagonists, YM022, RP73870, L-740,093, L-365,260 and LY288513, were studied in rats and mice. Gastrin activates rat stomach histidine decarboxylase via cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptors. To examine cholecystokinin-B receptor-mediated effects of the five drugs, they were infused intravenously to fasted rats and the histidine decarboxylase activity in the oxyntic mucosa was determined. While YM022, RP73870, L-740,093 and L-365,260 failed to activate histidine decarboxylase, they dose-dependently antagonized the gastrin-induced histidine decarboxylase activation. LY288513 had no effect in the doses tested. The maximal inhibitory effect of L-365,260, L-740,093, RP73870 and YM022 on histidine decarboxylase, activated by the intravenous infusion of an ED₅₀ dose of gastrin (0.4 nmoles/kg/hr), was seen at doses of 3, 0.3, 0.1 and 0.1 μmoles/kg/hr, respectively; the corresponding ID₅₀ values were 0.4, 0.02, 0.007 and 0.004 μmoles/kg/hr. In a follow-up study, YM022 and RP73870 were found to produce a rightward shift of the gastrin dose-response curve, which is consistent with competitive inhibition. The effect of the five drugs on a cholecystokinin-A receptor-mediated response was examined by studying gastric emptying in mice. Cholecystokinin-8s, given by a subcutaneous bolus injection, dose-dependently inhibits gastric emptying. The specific cholecystokinin-A receptor antagonist devazepide (given intravenously as a bolus injection) antagonized the effect of cholecystokinin-8s in a dose-dependent manner, with an ID₅₀ value of 28 nmoles/kg. None of the drugs inhibited the gastric emptying or prevented the cholecystokinin-8s-induced effect at the doses tested. The results indicate that YM022, RP73870, L-740,093 and L-365,260 act as cholecystokinin-B receptor antagonists in vivo, being without measurable agonistic activity. Furthermore, they do not interact with cholecystokinin-A receptors at the doses tested. Among the cholecystokinin-B receptor antagonists studied YM022 and RP73870 are superior, the rank order of potency being YM022±RP73870>L-740,093>L-365,260.     

YF476 is a new potent and selective gastrin/cholecystokinin-B receptor antagonist in vitro and in vivo

Background : We newly synthesized YF476 ((R)-1-[2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-1-pivaloylmethyl-5-(2'-pyridyl)-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl]-3-(3-methylamino-phenyl)urea) as a gastrin/cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B) receptor antagonist. We investigated the pharmacological profile of YF476 in vitro and in vivo .
Methods : We examined the binding properties of YF476 to the rat brain, cloned canine and cloned human gastrin/CCK-B receptors, and the effect of YF476 on secretagogue-induced gastric acid secretion in rats and Heidenhain pouch dogs.
Results : YF476 replaced the specific binding of [¹²⁵I]CCK-8 to the rat brain, cloned canine and cloned human gastrin/CCK-B receptors, with K _i values of 0.068, 0.62 and 0.19 n M , respectively. The affinity of YF476 for rat brain gastrin/CCK-B receptor was 4100-fold higher than that for rat pancreatic CCK-A receptor. In anaesthetized rats, intravenous YF476 inhibited pentagastrin-induced acid secretion with an ED ₅₀ value of 0.0086 μmol/kg, but did not affect histamine- and bethanechol-induced acid secretion at a dose of 10 μmol/kg. In Heidenhain pouch dogs, intravenous and oral YF476 inhibited pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in a dose-dependent manner with ED ₅₀ values of 0.018 and 0.020 μmol/kg, respectively, but did not affect histamine-induced acid secretion.
Conclusion : These results suggest that YF476 is an extremely potent and highly selective gastrin/CCK-B receptor antagonist, and that the gastrin/CCK-B receptor is not involved in histamine- or bethanechol-induced gastric acid secretion in dogs or rats.     

The effect of submaximal doses of pentagastrin on gastric acid secretion, histamine and histidine decarboxylase in rats

In Lai-rats gastric mucosal histamine and histidine decarboxylase were estimated after stimulation of gastric acid secretion by intravenous infusions of submaximal doses of pentagastrin for 1 or 2 h. Pentagastrin produced a dose-dependent acid response with a maximum of 26 μ equiv H⁺ per 10 min at a dose of 2.56 μg kg^?1 min^?1. There was a linear relation between the log dose of pentagastrin and the activation of gastric histidine decarboxylase. The highest dose of pentagastrin yielded a histidine decarboxylase activity of 200% of the unstimulated level when infused for 1 h and of 290% when infused for 2 h. No reduction of gastric mucosal histamine could be detected whatever the dose of pentagastrin or the duration of infusion. It was concluded (1) that stimulation of gastric histidine decarboxylase is a physiological function of gastrin-like peptides, (2) that a reduction of gastric mucosal histamine by gastrin or pentagastrin is a pharmacological rather than a physiological effect, and (3) that no negative feedback relation exists beween gastric mucosal histamine and the activation of histidine decarboxylase.     

Tachyphylaxis of the ECL-cell response to PACAP: receptor desensitization and/or depletion of secretory products

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Rat stomach ECL cells secrete histamine and pancreastatin in response to gastrin and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide-27 (PACAP). This study applies microdialysis to explore how ECL cells in situ respond to PACAP and gastrin. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Both peptides were administered by microinfusion into the gastric submucosa. The microdialysate was analysed for histamine and pancreastatin (ECL-cell markers) and for somatostatin (D-cell marker). KEY RESULTS: Microinfusion of PACAP (0.01-0.3 nmol microl(-1)) raised microdialysate histamine and pancreastatin dose-dependently. The response was powerful but short-lived. The response to gastrin was sustained at all doses tested. It is unlikely that the transient nature of the histamine response to PACAP reflects inadequate histamine synthesis, since the pancreastatin response to PACAP was short-lived too, and both gastrin and PACAP activated ECL-cell histidine decarboxylase. Unlike gastrin, PACAP mobilized somatostatin. Co-infusion of somatostatin abolished the histamine-mobilizing effect of PACAP. However, pretreatment with the somatostatin receptor type-2 antagonist (PRL-2903) did not prolong the histamine response to PACAP, suggesting that mobilization of somatostatin does not explain the transient nature of the response. Repeated administration of 0.1 nmol microl(-1) of PACAP (1 h infusions, 1 h intervals) failed to induce a second histamine response. Pretreatment with a low dose of PACAP (0.03 nmol microl(-1)) abolished the response to a subsequent near-maximal PACAP challenge (0.3 nmol microl(-1)). CONCLUSION: The transient nature of the histamine response to PACAP reflects desensitization of the PACAP receptor and/or exhaustion of a specific storage compartment that responds to PACAP but not to gastrin.     

Effect of Cholecystokinin-B/Gastrin Receptor Blockade on Gastric Acid Secretion in Conscious Rats

Abstract: Gastrin, histamine and acetylcholine are physiological stimuli of gastric acid secretion. The cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor antagonists YM022 and RP73870 were used to study the effect of gastrin receptor blockade on acid secretion. Gastrin, histamine, insulin or bethanechol were administered to conscious gastric fistula rats with or without the concomitant intravenous infusion of YM022 or RP73870. Other rats were subjected to pylorus ligation. YM022 and RP73870 inhibited the gastrin-induced acid secretion in a dose- and time- dependent manner; maximal inhibition was observed at a dose of 0.3 μmol·kg^?1 · hr^?1 for both YM022 and RP73870, the ID₅₀ values being 0.02 μmol · kg^?1 · hr^?1 and 0.05 μmol · kg^?1 · hr^?1 for YM022 and RP73870, respectively. At a dose of 0.3 μmol · kg^?1 · hr^?1 YM022 and RP73870 failed to inhibit basal and histamine-, bethanechol-, and insulin-evoked secretion. They also failed to affect the secretion evoked by infusion of a cocktail of maximally effective doses of gastrin-17, histamine and bethanechol. YM022 and RP73870, finally, were without effect on the acid response to pylorus ligation. We suggest that endogenous gastrin in the conscious rat does not contribute to the basal acid secretion and does not participate in the acid response to histamine or to vagus stimulation.     

Histamine depletion does not affect pancreastatin secretion from isolated rat stomach ECL cells

ECL cells co-secrete histamine and pancreastatin, a chromogranin A-derived peptide, in response to gastrin. The aim of the study was to explore possible ways to deplete ECL cells of histamine without affecting pancreastatin and to examine how histamine depletion affects pancreastatin secretion. Isolated rat stomach ECL cells (80-85% purity), prepared by counter-flow elutriation, were cultured for 48 h in the presence of alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (histidine decarboxylase inhibitor), bafilomycin A(1) (inhibitor of vacuolar-type proton-translocating ATPase) or reserpine (inhibitor of vesicular monoamine transporter). At this stage, the cells were challenged with 10 nM (EC(100)) gastrin-17 for 30 min. Histamine and pancreastatin were determined by radioimmunoassay. Maximally effective concentrations of alpha-fluoromethylhistidine, bafilomycin A(1) and reserpine were found to lower ECL-cell histamine (by 60%, 78% and 80%, respectively) without affecting pancreastatin. Basal histamine secretion was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by all three drugs. Gastrin-evoked histamine secretion was reduced greatly by the three agents, while pancreastatin secretion was unaffected. The results show that histamine can be depleted not only by inhibiting its formation (alpha-fluoromethylhistidine), but also (and more effectively) by inhibiting histamine vesicular uptake, directly (reserpine) or indirectly (bafilomycin A(1)). The results also indicate that although histamine is co-stored with pancreastatin, it is not required for either storage or secretion of pancreastatin.     

CCK2 receptors are necessary for the differentiation and proliferation of ECL cells in mouse and rat stomach

ECL cells in the oxyntic mucosa of the mouse and rat stomach express CCK₂ receptors, which enable them to respond to gastrin by the production and release of histamine. We have studied CCK₂ receptor-deficient mice and rats subjected to pharmacological CCK₂ receptor blockade in an attempt to demonstrate the importance of gastrin signaling for ECL-cell differentiation and proliferation. In CCK₂ receptor knockout mice, the ECL cells were replaced by a novel endocrine-like cell type lacking histamine and histidine decarboxylase but retaining pancreastatin and vesicle monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT₂). Ultrastructurally, they were characterized by the presence of small dense-core granules and microvesicles and by the absence of the secretory vesicles that are a hallmark feature of wild-type ECL cells. Upon pharmacological CCK₂ receptor blockade, the ECL cells became small and inactive, although unchanged in number. By immunocytochemistry (histamine, pancreastatin and VMAT₂) and electron microscopy (secretory vesicles) they remained recognizable as ECL cells; their proliferation in response to hypergastrinemia was prevented.     

Analysis of the behaviour of selected CCKB/gastrin receptor antagonists in radioligand binding assays performed in mouse and rat cerebral cortex

1. The previously described complex behaviour of the CCKB/gastrin receptor antagonist, L-365,260, in radioligand binding assays could be explained by a variable population of two binding sites. We have investigated whether other CCKB/gastrin receptor ligands (PD134,308, PD140,376, YM022 and JB93182) can distinguish between these sites. 2. In the mouse cortex assay, Hill slopes were not different from unity and the ligand pKI values did not differ when either [125I]-BH-CCK-8S or [3H]-PD140,376 was used as label as expected for a single site (G2). 3. In the rat cortex, where previous analysis of replicate (n=48) L-365,260 data indicated the presence of two CCKB/gastrin sites (G1 and G2), the competition data for PD134,308, PD140,376, YM022 and JB93182 could be explained by a homogeneous population of CCKB/gastrin sites because the Hill slope estimates were not significantly different from unity. However, the estimated affinity values for JB93182 and YM022 were significantly higher and that for PD134,308 was significantly lower than those obtained in the mouse cortex when the same radioligand was used. In view of our previous data obtained with L-365,260, the rat cortex data were also interpreted using a two-site model. In this analysis, SR27897 expressed approximately 9 fold, PD134,308 approximately 13 fold and PD140,376 approximately 11 fold selectivity for the G2 site. In contrast, JB93182 expressed approximately 23 fold and YM022 approximately 4 fold selectivity for the G1 site. If the two-site interpretation of the data is valid then, because of its reverse selectivity to L-365,260, JB93182 has been identified as a compound which if radiolabelled could provide a test of this receptor subdivision.     

Sustained Cholecystokinin–B/Gastrin Receptor Blockade Does Not Impair Basal or Histamine–Stimulated Acid Secretion in Chronic Gastric Fistula Rats

Abstract: Gastrin is a physiologically important secrelagogue. It is thought to stimulate parietal cells indirectly by mobilizing histamine from enterochromaffin–like (ECL) cells in the oxyntic mucosa. Gastrin stimulates the secretory activity and growth of the ECL cells via an action on cholecystokinin–B/gastrin receptors. Acute cholecystokinin–B/gastrin receptor blockade is known to inhibit gastrin–stimulated acid secretion but whether sustained cholecystokinin–B/gastrin receptor blockade will impair basal, gastrin– and histamine–stimulated acid secretion remains uncertain. The present study was designed to study the effect of long–term (4 weeks) cholecystokinin–B/gastrin receptor blockade on basal and stimulated acid secretion in conscious rats. The selective cholecystokinin–B/gastrin receptor antagonist YM022 (3 μmol kg^–1 hr^–l) was given to gastric fistula rats by continuous subcutaneous infusion via osmotic minipumps for various times from 2 hr to 4 weeks. Basal, gastrin– and histamine– stimulated acid secretion were examined during and after cessation of treatment. Basal and histamine–stimulated acid secretion was not affected by YM022 during the 4 week period of administration, whereas gastrin–induced acid secretion was inhibited. YM022 induced hypergastrinaemia in freely fed rats but did not affect the serum gastrin level in fasted rats. The serum gastrin concentration and gastrin–induced acid secretion returned to control levels 3–7 days after termination of YM022 administration.     

AG-041R, a cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor antagonist, stimulates the repair of osteochondral defect in rabbit model

A newly synthesized compound (AG-041R), 3R-1-(2,2Diethoxyethyl)-((4methylphenyl) amino-carbonyl methyl)-3-((4methylphenyl) ureido-indoline-2-one), is a cholecystokinin-B/gastrin receptor antagonist which has stimulatory effects on the matrix synthesis of chondrocytes in vitro. In this study, we examined the effect of AG-041R on the repair of osteochondral defects (cylindrical, 4 mm diameter) in the patellar groove of the rabbit knee joint. At the time of operation, 100 microl of 1 microM of AG-041R was administered, followed by 200 microl with an osmotic pump for 14 days. Histological and biochemical evaluations were performed at 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. The histological score of the AG-041R-treated group, the quantity of glycosaminoglycan and the ratio of chondroitin sulfate in the AG-041R-treated tissue were significantly higher than in the untreated group. Moreover, the degeneration of cartilage around the defect was suppressed in the AG-041R-treated group. These findings suggest that AG-041R is effective for the repair of osteochondral defects.     

Mobilization of rat stomach ECL-cell histamine in response to short- or long-term treatment with omeprazole and/or YF 476 studied by gastric submucosal microdialysis in conscious rats

1. Mobilization of histamine from the ECL cells was monitored by gastric submucosal microdialysis in conscious rats. The ECL cells are known to operate under gastrin control and the purpose of the present study was to examine their in situ response to short-term (12 h) as well as long-term (28 days) hypergastrinaemia, induced by treatment with the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole. 2. Hypergastrinaemia promptly raised the histamine concentration in the microdialysate. The effect was prevented by CCK(2) receptor blockade (YF476). On day 7 of omeprazole treatment the microdialysate histamine concentration reached a peak, five times higher than before treatment. Subsequently (14 and 28 days), less histamine was mobilized. 3. Gastrin infusion (4 h) raised the microdialysate histamine concentration in a dose-dependent manner in fasted rats and freely fed rats and in rats treated with omeprazole for a week. However, while fasted and fed rats responded to low doses of gastrin, the omeprazole-treated rats required large doses of gastrin to respond. 4. When the amount of histamine mobilized was related to the serum gastrin concentration the following EC(50) values could be calculated: fasted rats 2.3 x 10(-10) M, freely fed rats 2.5 x 10(-10) M, omeprazole-treated rats 8.7 x 10(-10) M. The maximal histamine responses in the three groups were 18.4 pmol 4 h(-1)+/-0.8, 21.9 pmol 4 h(-1)+/-1.2 and 68.0 pmol 4 h(-1)+/-3.5, respectively. 5. The results suggest that ECL cells, exposed to a high gastrin concentration for a week, respond with a shift in the receptor-ligand binding affinity from high to low. Apparently, CCK(2) receptors of the ECL cells are subject to dynamic changes with respect to ligand-binding affinity.     

Submucosal microinfusion of endothelin and adrenaline mobilizes ECL-cell histamine in rat stomach, and causes mucosal damage: a microdialysis study

Rat stomach ECL cells release histamine in response to gastrin. Submucosal microinfusion of endothelin or adrenaline, known to cause vasoconstriction and gastric lesions, mobilized striking amounts of histamine. While the histamine response to gastrin is sustainable for hours, that to endothelin and adrenaline was characteristically short-lasting (1-2 h). The aims of this study were to identify the cellular source of histamine mobilized by endothelin and adrenaline, and examine the differences between the histamine-mobilizing effects of gastrin, and of endothelin and adrenaline. Endothelin, adrenaline or gastrin were administered by submucosal microinfusion. Gastric histamine mobilization was monitored by microdialysis. Local pretreatment with the H1-receptor antagonist mepyramine and the H2-receptor antagonist ranitidine did not prevent endothelin- or adrenaline-induced mucosal damage. Submucosal microinfusion of histamine did not cause damage. Acid blockade by ranitidine or omeprazole prevented the damage, suggesting that acid back diffusion contributes. Gastrin raised histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity close to the probe, without affecting the histamine concentration. Endothelin and adrenaline lowered histamine by 50-70%, without activating HDC. Histamine mobilization declined upon repeated administration. Endothelin reduced the number of histamine-immunoreactive ECL cells locally, and reduced the number of secretory vesicles. Thus, unlike gastrin, endothelin (and adrenaline) is capable of exhausting ECL-cell histamine. Microinfusion of alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (known to deplete ECL cells but not mast cells of histamine) reduced the histamine-mobilizing effect of endothelin by 80%, while 1-week pretreatment with omeprazole enhanced it, supporting the involvement of ECL cells. Somatostatin or the prostanoid misoprostol inhibited gastrin-, but not endothelin-stimulated histamine release, suggesting that endothelin and gastrin mobilize histamine via different mechanisms. While gastrin effectively mobilized histamine from ECL cells in primary culture, endothelin had no effect, and adrenaline, a modest effect. Hence, the striking effects of endothelin and adrenaline on ECL cells in situ are probably indirect, possibly a consequence of ischemia.     

The effect of brocresine (NSD-1055) on the histidine decarboxylase activity in the rat gastric mucosa

The effect of the histidine decarboxylase inhibitor brocresine (NSD-1055) on the specific histidine decarboxylase in the gastric mucosa was investigated in rats. The inhibiting potencies of brocresine were compared after oral and intraperitoneal administration with and without 2-deoxy-d -glucose. Furthermore, different doses of brocresine were added directly to an incubation medium containing an homogenate of the gastric mucosa of untreated animals. The gastric histidine decarboxylase of the brocresine-pretreated animals was not inhibited. Addition of brocresine to the incubation medium produced a dose dependent blockade of the enzyme. 50% inhibition was accomplished by a concentration of 1·4 times 10^?6M. The results demonstrated an inhibition of the rat stomach histidine decarboxylase in vitro, but not in vivo, indicating the inability of brocresine to interfere with the biosynthesis of histamine in the rat stomach.     

Carbachol stimulation of gastric acid secretion and its effects on the parietal cell

1. The acid secretagogue effect of gastrin is mainly mediated by the release of enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell histamine, but the mechanism of muscarinic stimulation of acid secretion remains unclear. The results of studying aminopyrine uptake in isolated parietal cells, and histamine release in isolated ECL cells suggest that muscarinic agents may act both directly on the parietal cell and indirectly via histamine release from ECL cells.
2. We examined parietal and ECL cell responses to the muscarinic agent carbamylcholine (carbachol) in conscious rats and in rat isolated vascularly perfused stomachs.
3. Intravenous carbachol stimulated acid secretion in conscious gastric fistula rats and increased H⁺K⁺ ATPase mRNA abundance, indicating activation of parietal cells. In these experiments there was no increase in portal venous histamine, or in oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase (HDC) enzyme activity and HDC mRNA abundance.
4. In rat isolated stomachs stimulated with carbachol in the dose range 10 nM–1 mM only the 1 μM concentration increased venous histamine significantly.
5. We concluded that the muscarinic agent carbachol stimulates acid secretion and H⁺K⁺ ATPase mRNA in vivo by a direct effect on the parietal cell, that does not depend on the release of ECL cell histamine.

     

4-imidazolyl-3-amino-2-butanone (McN-A-1293), a new specific inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase

4-Imidazolyl-3-amino-2-butanone (McN-A-1293) was shown to be an effective inhibitor of fetal rat histidine decarboxylase, but not guinea pig kidney aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase in vitro. McN-A-1293 was a more potent inhibitor than α-methylhistidine, but less potent than brocresine (NSD-1055) and other aminooxyamines. Kinetic studies using fetal rat histidine decarboxylase indicated the inhibition to be reversible and competitive with histidine. McN-A-1293 in vitro was a less potent inhibitor of diamine oxidase than brocresine and was only a weak inhibitor of imidazole-N-methyltransferase. Administration of McN-A-1293 (200 mg/kg, i.p.) to fed rats resulted in 55 per cent inhibition of gastric histidine decarboxylase, while gastric aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase was only slightly inhibited (17 per cent). Brocresine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited both gastric decarboxylases > 60 per cent. Doses of McN-A-1293 as low as 50 mg/kg, i.p., inhibited gastric histidine decarboxylase activity. In fasted rats, McN-A-1293 (200 mg/kg, i.p.) was found to inhibit the elevation in gastric histidine decarboxylase induced by gastrin or insulin. 4-Imidazolyl-3-amino-2-butanone (McN-A-1293) is an effective and specific inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase both in vitro and in vivo and should be a useful agent for studies on the role of histidine decarboxylase in histamine physiology.