Expression of neuropeptide Y receptors mRNA and protein in human brain vessels and cerebromicrovascular cells in culture. (1/530)

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been suggested as an important regulator of CBF. However, except for the presence of Y1 receptors in large cerebral arteries, little is known about its possible sites of action on brain vessels. In this study, we sought to identify the NPY receptors present in the human cerebrovascular bed. Specific Y1 receptor binding sites, localized on the smooth muscle of human pial vessels and potently competed by NPY, polypeptide YY (PYY), and the selective Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP 3226, were identified by quantitative radioautography of the Y1 radioligand [125I]-[Leu31, Pro34]-PYY. In contrast, no specific binding of the Y2-([125I]-PYY3-36) and Y4/Y5-(125I-human pancreatic polypeptide [hPP]) radioligands could be detected. By in situ hybridization, expression of Y1 receptor mRNA was restricted to the smooth muscle layer of pial vessels, whereas no specific signals were detected for either Y2, Y4, or Y5 receptors. Similarly, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), mRNA for Y1 but not Y2, Y4, or Y5 receptors was consistently detected in isolated human pial vessels, intracortical microvessels, and capillaries. In human brain microvascular cells in culture, PCR products for the Y1 receptors were exclusively found in the smooth muscle cells. In cultures of human brain astrocytes, a cell type that associates intimately with brain microvessels, PCR products for Y1, Y2, and Y4 but not Y5 receptors were identified. Finally, NPY significantly inhibited the forskolin-induced cAMP production in smooth muscle but not in endothelial cell cultures. We conclude that smooth muscle Y1 receptors are the primary if not exclusive NPY receptors associated with human brain extraparenchymal and intraparenchymal blood vessels, where they most likely mediate cerebral vasoconstriction.  (+info)

The effects of age on human venous responsiveness to neuropeptide Y. (2/530)

AIMS: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a sympathetic neurotransmitter released with noradrenaline during sympathetic stimulation. Ageing has been shown to be associated with a reduction in alpha2 and beta-adrenoceptor mediated responses in veins, but it is not known whether NPY responsiveness is also altered with increasing age. METHODS: Using a dorsal hand vein technique, we examined NPY receptor responsiveness in 24 normal, healthy subjects (20-72 years; 10 males, 14 females). Graded infusions of NPY (25-2000 pmol min(-1)) were administered (5 min at each dose) into a dorsal hand vein. Venous distension at 45 mmHg was measured at 3-5 min of each infusion. Dose-response curves to NPY were constructed and the peak venoconstriction was calculated. RESULTS: Dose-dependent venoconstriction was seen in all but one subject. The peak venoconstriction observed with NPY was significantly and negatively correlated with the age of the normal subjects (r=-0.63, P<0.01). When subjects were ranked from youngest to oldest and divided into tertiles, (20-40 years, n = 8; 41-55 years, n = 8; 56-72 years, n = 8), mean dose-response curves were different with the oldest tertile being significantly less responsive (P<0.05). The peak venoconstriction observed (% of control) was 65.1+/-7.0, 46.5+/-9.4, and 24.4+/-4.8%, respectively. The oldest tertile had a significantly decreased peak venoconstriction compared with the youngest tertile (P<0.01). Infusion of NPY into a dorsal hand vein had no systemic effects on heart rate or blood pressure in any of the subjects studied. CONCLUSIONS: Hand vein responsiveness to exogenously infused NPY in normal subjects is decreased as age increases. The reduction of NPY-receptor-mediated responses with age may influence sympathetic nervous system control of the venous system with advancing age.  (+info)

Multiple neuropeptide Y receptors regulate K+ and Ca2+ channels in acutely isolated neurons from the rat arcuate nucleus. (3/530)

We examined the effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and related peptides on Ca2+ and K+ currents in acutely isolated neurons from the arcuate nucleus of the rat. NPY analogues that activated all of the known NPY receptors (Y1-Y5), produced voltage-dependent inhibition of Ca2+ currents and activation of inwardly rectifying K+ currents in arcuate neurons. Both of these effects could occur simultaneously in the same cells. In some cells, activation of Y4 NPY receptors also caused oscillations in [Ca2+]i. NPY hyperpolarized arcuate neurons through the activation of a K+ conductance and increased the spike threshold. Molecular biological studies indicated that arcuate neurons possessed all of the previously cloned NPY receptor types (Y1, Y2, Y4, and Y5). Thus activation of multiple types NPY receptors on arcuate neurons can regulate both Ca2+ and K+ conductances leading to a reduction in neuronal excitability and a suppression of neurotransmitter release.  (+info)

Influence of TASP-V, a novel neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 agonist, on nasal and bronchial responses evoked by histamine in anaesthetized pigs and in humans. (4/530)

1. In nine anaesthetized pigs we have studied the influence of intranasal or intrabronchial pretreatment with TASP-V, a neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 agonist formed by the attachment of NPY 21-36 to a template-assembled synthetic peptide (TASP), on the functional responses to subsequent intranasal or intrabronchial histamine challenge. 2. In a parallel study, subjective and objective nasal airway resistance (NAR) increase following intranasal histamine challenge was evaluated in 11 healthy volunteers after TASP-V or placebo pretreatment. 3. In pigs, increase in sphenopalatine blood flow induced by histamine dihydrochloride nasal spray (0.25 mg kg(-1) in 3 ml of saline) was significantly reduced by 65% (P<0.05) following intranasal pretreatment with 10 microg kg(-1) of TASP-V. Bronchoconstriction induced by histamine dihydrochloride nebulization (0.5 mg kg(-1) in 3 ml of saline) was significantly attenuated by 25 and 55% following aerosolized pretreatment with TASP-V analogue at 10 and 20 microg kg(-1), respectively. 4. In healthy volunteers, objective increase in NAR and reduction in nasal minimal cross section area (MCSA) induced by intranasal spray of histamine dihydrochloride (15 microg kg(-1) in 200 microl of saline) were significantly attenuated by 50% following local pretreatment with 1.275 microg kg(-1) of TASP-V when compared with saline. 5. It is concluded that intranasal or intrabronchial pretreatment with TASP-V reduced nasal obstruction and bronchoconstriction evoked by histamine challenge in the pig. In healthy human volunteers, this agent attenuated NAR increase and MCSA reduction induced by intranasal application of histamine.  (+info)

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate and neuropeptide Y are co-transmitters in conjunction with noradrenaline in the human saphenous vein. (5/530)

1. Human saphenous veins were used to assess the cooperative participation of adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and noradrenaline (NA) in the vasomotor responses elicited following electrical depolarization of the perivascular nerve terminals. Rings from recently dissected human biopsies were mounted to record isometric muscular contractions; the motor activity elicited in the circular muscle layer following electrical depolarization (2.5-20 Hz, 50 V, 0.5 msec) were recorded. 2. Incubation of the biopsies with either 100 nM tetrodotoxin (TTX) or 1 microM guanethidine abolished the vasomotor response elicited by electrical nerve depolarization. The independent application of either ATP or NA to vein rings induced concentration-dependent contractions. 3. Tissue incubation with 30 microM suramin or 10 nM prazosin produced 10 fold rightward displacements of the alpha,beta-methylene ATP and NA concentration-response curves respectively. NPY contracted a limited number of biopsies, the vasoconstriction elicited was completely blocked by 1 microM BIBP 3226. A 5 min incubation of the biopsies with 10-100 nM NPY synergized, in a concentration-dependent fashion, both the ATP and the ATP analogue-induced contractions. Likewise, tissue preincubation with 10 nM NPY potentiated the vasomotor responses evoked with 20-60 nM NA. 4. Neither suramin, BIBP 3226, nor prazosin was individually able to significantly modify the derived frequency-tension curves. In contrast, the co-application of 30 microM suramin and 10 nM prazosin or 30 microM suramin and 1 microM BIBP 3226, elicited a significant (P<0.01) downward displacement of the respective frequency-tension curves. 5. The simultaneous application of the three antagonists-30 microM suramin, 1 microM BIBP 3226 and 10 nM prazosin-caused a significantly greater displacement of the frequency-tension curve than that achieved in experiments using two of these antagonists. 6. Electrically-evoked vasomotor activity is blocked to a larger extent by tissue incubation with 2.5 microM chloroethylclonidine and 30 microM suramin rather than with 10 nM 5 methyl urapidil and 30 microM suramin. As a result, the alpha1-adrenoceptor involved in the vasomotor activity has tentatively been associated with the alpha1B adrenoceptor family subtype. 7. Results support the physiological role of ATP in sympathetic neurotransmission. The present results are consistent with the working hypothesis that human sympathetic vasomotor reflexes involve the coordinated motor action of ATP, NPY, and NA acting on vascular smooth muscle cells. The present results support the concept of sympathetic co-transmission in the human saphenous vein.  (+info)

Characterization of neuropeptide Y-induced feeding in mice: do Y1-Y6 receptor subtypes mediate feeding? (6/530)

The stimulation of food consumption after i.c.v. administration of various neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor agonists was examined in CD-1 mice. These agonists, including endogenous peptides NPY, peptide YY (PYY), and pancreatic polypeptide, as well as several N-terminal truncated and synthetic peptides that are prototypic receptor agonists at Y1-Y6 NPY receptors ([Leu31Pro34]NPY, NPY2-36, NPY3-36, NPY13-36, PYY3-36, Pro34PYY, and D-Trp32NPY), showed varying abilities to elicit food consumption such that PYY > NPY2-36 = NPY = PYY3-36 > Pro34PYY > NPY3-36 >> [Leu31Pro34]NPY > NPY13-36 = D-Trp32NPY = pancreatic polypeptide. Published reports have suggested that NPY-induced feeding is mediated via the Y1 or the Y5 receptor subtypes. However, the relative ability of the various peptide analogs to elicit feeding differed from the relative ability of these peptides to bind to cloned Y1-Y6 receptors. The effects of prototypic Y1 receptor antagonists on NPY-induced feeding were also evaluated after i.c.v. administration. GR231118 (1229U91), a peptide Y1 antagonist, did not block NPY-induced feeding at the doses tested. BIBP3226, a nonpeptide Y1 receptor antagonist, as well as its opposite enantiomer, BIBP3435, which is inactive at Y1 receptors, blocked feeding elicited by NPY, [Leu31Pro34], or PYY at doses that did not cause overt behavioral dysfunction. The lack of effects with GR231118 and the nonstereoselective effects of BIBP3226 suggested that NPY-induced feeding in mice was not mediated via the Y1 receptor. Thus, by using currently available prototypic peptide NPY receptor agonists for Y1-Y6 receptors and peptide and nonpeptide Y1 receptor antagonists GR231118 and BIBP3226, the mediation of NPY-induced feeding cannot be unequivocally attributed to any one of the known NPY receptors. It is possible that NPY-induced feeding is mediated either by a combination of more than one NPY receptor subtype or by a unique NPY receptor subtype. Additional subtype-selective receptor antagonists, when available, will help to clarify this issue further.  (+info)

Synergism between neuropeptide Y and norepinephrine highlights sympathetic cotransmission: studies in rat arterial mesenteric bed with neuropeptide Y, analogs, and BIBP 3226. (7/530)

Although abundant literature supports the notion that neuropeptide Y (NPY) synergizes in vivo and in vitro, the vasomotor activity elicited by norepinephrine (NE), the converse interaction (i.e., the adrenergic modulation of the NPY vasomotor response) has been less characterized. To assess whether NE synergizes the vasomotor effect of NPY, the rat arterial mesenteric bed was chosen as a model experimental system. Mesenteries were precontracted with NE and few minutes later were perfused with exogenous NPY. Under these conditions, NPY contracted the arterial mesenteric bed with an EC50 value of 0.72 +/- 0.06 nM. NPY was unable to contract this vascular territory without an agonist-induced precontraction. Other agonists, such as endothelin-1, a synthetic analog of prostaglandin F2alpha, or 5-hydroxytryptamine, also were effective primers because in their presence, NPY was a potent vasoconstrictor. In contrast, mesenteries precontracted with KCl failed to evidence the NPY-induced rise in perfusion pressure. Two structural analogs of NPY, PYY and [Leu31, Pro34]NPY, mimicked the activity of NPY. The NPY fragment 13-36 did not elicit such a response. All NPY analogs exhibited less efficacy and potency relative to NPY. The NPY- and related structural analog-induced vasoconstriction was competitively and reversibly antagonized by BIBP 3226; the pA2 of the NPY interaction was 7.0. The application of 0.1 to 1 microM BIBP 3226 or 0.1 to 10 nM prazosin at the peak of the NPY vasomotor response elicited a gradual blockade of the vasoconstriction. Although BIBP 3226 blocked the increase in perfusion pressure elicited by NPY, leaving unaffected the NE-induced tone, 10 nM prazosin blocked the full response, including the NE-induced component. Tissue preincubation with 200 nM nifedipine abolished the NPY-induced vasoconstriction; likewise, the acute application of 10 to 100 nM nifedipine blocked gradually the maximal NPY-induced contraction. Removal of the mesenteric endothelial layer increased the potency of NPY by 2-fold; it also slightly potentiated the antagonist activity of BIBP 3226. The synergism between NPY and NE backs the principle of sympathetic cotransmission.  (+info)

Neuropeptide Y and ATP interact to control renovascular resistance in the rat. (8/530)

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and ATP are cotransmitters of norepinephrine (NE). Modulation of ATP-mediated purinergic neurotransmission by NPY was investigated in rat perfused kidney. Beta,gamma-Methylene-L-ATP (beta,gamma-mATP; 1.0 to 1.5 microM, n = 8), NE (0.1 microM, n = 8), and NPY (0.1 microM, n = 14) increased perfusion pressure by maximally 12 +/- 1, 17 +/- 2, and 9 +/- 1 mmHg, respectively. In the presence of NPY, responses to ATP and NE were dramatically enhanced. Renal nerve stimulation in the presence of the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (1 microM) induced pressor responses of 54 +/- 5 mmHg (n = 6). Alpha-blockade-resistant responses were abolished by the P2-purinoceptor blocker suramin (300 microM) and thus mediated by ATP. Purinergic responses were also reduced significantly (50%) by the NPY-Y1 receptor blocker BIBP 3226 (1 microM). NPY (0.1 microM) potentiated purinergic pressor responses and enhanced ATP release from 0.7 +/- 0.2 to 4.1 +/- 0.9 pmol (n = 4) associated with a significant increase of soluble ATPase activity. All NPY effects were prevented by BIBP 3226. Pressor responses to renal nerve stimulation delivered at short time intervals, mimicking enhanced sympathetic drive to the kidney, were not constant but showed a progressive rise, which was prevented by BIBP 3226. In this study, it is suggested that purinergic vasoconstriction in rat kidney depends on concomitantly released NPY. NPY by itself is only a weak vasoconstrictor but acts as a modulator of renal vascular resistance by enhancing the effects of its sympathetic cotransmitters, especially during sympathetic overactivity.  (+info)