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. 2001 Apr;51(4):355-8.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.2001.01356.x.

Effects of nociceptin and endomorphin 1 on the electrically stimulated human vas deferens

R Bigoni  1 , G Calo, R Guerrini, J W Strupish, D J Rowbotham, D G Lambert
Affiliations

Effects of nociceptin and endomorphin 1 on the electrically stimulated human vas deferens

R Bigoni et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2001 Apr.

Abstract

Aims: To examine the effects of nociceptin (NC) and endomorphin 1 (EM1) on electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced contractions of the human vas deferens (hVD).

Methods: Concentration-response curves to NC and EM1 were constructed in the absence and in presence of peptidase inhibitors (PI). In some experiments a NC receptor antagonist, [Phe1psi(CH2-NH)Gly2]NC(1-13)NH2 [F/G], 10 microM) or naloxone (1 microM) were included.

Results: All data are mean(95%CI). In the presence of PI, NC inhibited twitches (Emax = 67(44,90)%; pEC50 = 7.28(6.95,7.61)). NC inhibition was sensitive to [F/G]. EM1 also inhibited twitches both in the absence (Emax = 82(73,91)% pEC50 = 7.07(6.92,7.22)) and presence (Emax = 83(76,90)%; pEC50 = 7.00(6.91, 7.09)) of PI. EM1 inhibition was sensitive to naloxone.

Conclusions: These data suggest that hVD express NC and opioid receptors that inhibit neurogenic contractions.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Inhibitory effects of NC (a), mean±s.e. mean, (n = 6–9) and EM1 (b), mean±s.e. mean, (n = 11–16) in the absence and presence of peptidase inhibitors (PI) on electrically stimulated hVD. In panel (c) the effect of [F/G] (10 µm) and naloxone (1 µm) on the inhibitory effect of NC (▪) and EM1 (□) (both 1 µm) are shown. Data in (c) are from n ≥ 3 (mean±s.e. mean) except for naloxone vs NC where the mean of 2 determinations showing no inhibition are given.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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