An approach to the elucidation of self-regulatory mechanism of substance P action. I. Synthesis and biological properties of pentapeptides related both to the substance P C-terminal fragment and enkephalins

Seven pentapeptides, chemically related both to C-terminal fragment of substance P and Met-enkephalin were synthetized and their pharmacological properties were investigated. Peptides I-VI (L-amino acid residue in position 2) antagonized the inhibitory action of D-Ala2-Met-EK-NH2 on isolated vas deferens in vitro but were devoid of opiate-receptor binding activity in radioreceptor studies. Peptide VII (D-Phe2-Met-EK-NH2) exerted a weak inhibitory effect on contractions of transmurally stimulated vas deferens of rat which was abolished by naloxone (10(-8) M) and showed relatively strong but short-lasting analgesic activity in vivo. This peptide at concentration above 10(-5) M partially displaced the 3H-naloxone from its binding sites in striatal membranes. The possible existence of the neuronal substance P-enkephalin self-regulatory mechanism is discussed.