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Published on: June 10, 2011
Effects of nociceptin and endomorphin 1 on the electrically stimulated human vas deferens
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy.
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.
