Evidence for neurokinin-3 receptor-mediated tachykinin release in the guinea-pig ileum

Contraction of longitudinal muscle strips of the guinea-pig ileum induced by the selective NK3 receptor agonist, succ-[Asp6,MePhe8]SP-(6-11) (senktide), were completely inhibited by tetrodotoxin and partially blocked by atropine. The atropine-resistant contraction was markedly reduced if the smooth muscle tachykinin receptors were either desensitized with the selective NK1 agonist substance P methyl ester, or blocked with the tachykinin receptor antagonist [D-Pro4,D-Trp7,9,10]SP-(4-11). These results suggest that activation of NK3 receptors on enteric neurones results in acetylcholine and tachykinin release.