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Galanin: neuromodulatory and direct contractile effects on smooth muscle preparations
Author(s) -
Ekblad E.,
Håkanson R.,
Sundler F.,
Wahlestedt C.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1985.tb09455.x
Subject(s) - galanin , medicine , acetylcholine , endocrinology , neuropeptide , tetrodotoxin , muscle contraction , stimulation , guinea pig , contraction (grammar) , biology , substance p , chemistry , receptor
1 The effects of galanin, a newly isolated neuropeptide, and of a galanin fragment (galanin 1–10) were studied on various smooth muscle preparations in vitro. Direct motor effects as well as effects on electrically induced (neuronally mediated) responses (neuromodulatory effects) were observed. 2 Both gatanin and galanin 1–10 evoked a strong contractile response in rat jejunal longitudinal muscle. This effect was a direct one on the smooth muscle. 3 Addition of galanin to guinea‐pig taenia coli inhibited the contractile responses to electrical stimulation, mediated by endogenous substance P and acetylcholine. In the rabbit iris sphincter, galanin reduced the acetylcholine‐mediated but not the substance P‐mediated contraction evoked by electrical stimulation. The neuromodulatory effects seem to be presynaptic and require the whole or possibly only the C‐terminal part of the galanin molecule, since galanin 1–10 was ineffective. 4 Rabbit femoral artery and vein, gastroepiploic and basilar arteries and guinea‐pig trachea and main bronchi did not respond to either galanin or galanin 1–10.