Capillary permeability induced by intravenous neurokinins. Receptor characterization and mechanism of action

The effects on plasma extravasation of three increasing doses from 6.5 pmol to 650 nmol/kg of substance P (SP), SP fragments, neurokinin A (NKA), neurokinin B (NKB) and selective agonists for neurokinin receptors were assessed in three cutaneous tissues (skin of hind paws, dorsal skin and ears) by intravenous (i.v.) administration in the pentobarbitone anaesthetized rat. Dose-dependent increases in plasma extravasation were observed with the following rank orders of potency (SP greater than NKA greater than NKB) for neurokinins and (SP greater than [p-Glu6]SP(6-11) greater than SP(4-11) greater than [p-Glu5]SP(5-11) greater than SP(7-11] for C-terminal SP fragments. The metabolically stable SP analogue [p-Glu5, MePhe8, Sar9]SP(5-11) was slightly more potent than [p-Glu5]SP(5-11). The N-terminal fragments SP(1-4), SP(1-7) and SP(1-9) were inactive up to 650 nmol/kg. The NK-1 receptor selective agonists [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP and [beta-Ala4, Sar9, Met (O2)11]SP(4-11) were more potent than the NK-2 [( Nle10]NKA(4-10] and NK-3 [( MePhe7]NKB and [beta-Asp4, MePhe7]NKB(4-10] receptor selective agonists. Plasma extravasation induced by SP (6.5 nmol/kg) was unchanged in the presence of atropine, methysergide, diphenhydramine or during the i.v. and intra-arterial (i.a.) infusion of D-Arg0[Hyp3.D-Phe7]BK, an antagonist of bradykinin. Plasma extravasation induced by SP and [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP was significantly reduced by indomethacin while that induced by NKA, NKB, [beta-Ala4, Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP(4-11), SP(4-11) and [p-Glu6]SP(6-11) was unaffected by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Compound 48/80 (0.75 mg/kg), histamine (10 mg/kg) and 5-HT (10 mg/kg) caused an increase in plasma extravasation, only the effect of compound 48/80 was abolished by indomethacin. Pretreatment with compound 48/80 prevented its own action on plasma extravasation and significantly reduced that induced by 6.5 nmol/kg of SP. These results rule out the involvement of acetylcholine (muscarinic receptors), 5-HT (5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors), histamine (H1 receptors) and kinins (B2 receptors) in the response to SP and indicate that the two positively charged amino acids (Arg, Lys) at the N-terminal end of the SP molecule are essential to trigger the release of prostaglandins from mast cells. This mechanism is responsible for the indirect effect of SP and related peptides on capillary permeability and does not appear to be mediated by a selective SP receptor. In addition, neurokinins may increase capillary permeability by direct activation of a NK-1 receptor type on the vascular endothelium.