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The endogenous opioid system includes three major families of peptides: dynorphins (derived from pre-proenkephalin B), endorphins (derived from pre-proopiomelanocortin), and enkephalins (derived from pre-proenkephalin A). Multiple species of opioid peptides are derived from these major precursors and many of them possess potent cardiovascular properties. Opioid peptides and opioid receptors, of which multiple forms have been defined, are present in the central nervous system and peripheral neural elements. In the central nervous system, opioid peptides and receptors are found in forebrain and hindbrain nuclei involved in baroregulation, sympathoadrenal activation, and several other vital autonomic functions. In the periphery, opioid peptides are found in autonomic ganglia, adrenal gland, heart, and other organs; multiple opioid receptors are also found in vascular tissue, heart, and kidneys. Although little is known to date on the regulatory mechanisms of the opioid system in normal cardiovascular states, it became clear that cardiovascular stress situations substantially modify the activity of the endogenous opioid system. The purpose of this review is to clarify the sites of interaction of the opioid system with all major components of the cardiovascular system and indicate the potential role of this system in the ontogenesis of cardiac malfunction, vascular diseases, and hypertension.
Enkephalins and their receptors are found in neurons and nerve terminals known to be involved in central cardiovascular control as well as the peripheral sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Enkephalins and opioid receptors were also iden tified in the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. The enkephalins interact with several specific receptors, of which p, 0, and K have been best characterized. Enkephalins administered to humans or animals produce cardiovascular effects which depend on the spedes, route of administration, anesthesia, and the selectivity for receptor subtype. While little information exists on the role of enkephalins in normal cardiovascular control, current data suggest that enkephalins might have a role in cardiovascular stress responses such os in shock and trauma.
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH, I-pyroglutamyl-l-histidyl-l-prolinamide) was the fIrst hypothalamic releasing SUbstance to be isolated, chemically characterized and synthetized /1/. The studies to date have revealed that the thyrotropin release from the pituitary gland is only one of the numerous actions of TRH. In addition to its endocrine actions (TSH and prolactin release) this tripeptide has central nervous system actions totally unrelated to its effects on the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. This review aims to summarize the studies on the central nervous system' actions of TRH with special emphasis on the autonomic pharmacology of this peptide.
Nitrosation of dietary components has been combined with the 4-(para-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP) colorimetric test for screening alkylating agents and with the Ames test for the detection of mutagenic activity. This allowed the investigation of short-hved nitrosation products of dietary components which generate electrophilic degradation products requiring no metabolic activation (natural amino acids and some derivatives, ureas, guanidines, primary alkyl and aryl amines). In a first system, precursor, nitrous acid and NBP were present simultaneously. All amino acids tested, except glutamic acid and glutamine, gave positive results. The reactivities spanned more than three orders of magnitude, with the aromatic amino acids and methionine the most active; two primary amines, tryptamine and histamine, were also strongly reactive. All guanidines tested, except the amino acid arginine, gave negative results. A second system consisted of two phases: NBP was added only after destruction of residual nitrite and adjustment of the pH to neutrality. This system was useful for the study of ureas, which are stable in acid but not in neutral media. The range of responses covered more than two orders of magnitude. Most amino acids and primary amines also gave positive results, but could be assessed only after analysing the kinetics of the competing reactions and choosing appropriate reaction times. In a third system, Salmonella typhimurium strain TA1OO replaced NBP. Representatives of the class of amino acids, ureas, the primary amine tryptamine, and aniline became higbly mutagenic upon nitrosation. Methylguanidine was only weakly mutagenic under the present assay conditions. The results indicate that further studies with unstable nitrosation products of dietary components are required to understand more thoroughly the role of endogenous nitrosation in gastric cancer.