Actions of neurotensin and (Gln4)-neurotensin on isolated tissues

The actions of neurotensin and (Gln4)-neurotensin have been investigated on a number of isolated tissues. They were ineffective in contracting the guinea pig vas deferens, the rabbit aortic strip or the frog rectus abdominis muscle in concentrations up to 0.24 micron. Neurotensin and (Gln4)-neurotensin relaxed the rat duodenum at fairly high concentrations (24 nM). The guinea pig ileum contracted in response to increasing doses, although the maximum response were only one half that caused by histamine. Tachyphylaxis was observed at dose intervals of less than 12 minutes, but this tachyphylaxis did not inhibit responses to acetylcholine, histamine, 5-HT or to DMPP, suggesting that the neurotensins may act at specific receptor sites. They contracted the rat fundus strip at concentrations of 0.24 nM and higher. The neurotensins and 5-HT were approximately equipotent on this tissue, although the maximum responses was about 80% of that to 5-HT. The contractions of the rat fundus strip could not be blocked by atropine, hexamethonium, methysergide, morphine or by 7-OH-THC. These data indicate that neurotensin and (Gln4)-neurotensin are equipotent as far as smooth muscle stimulating activity is concerned. Of those organs tested, the rat fundus strip seems to be the most suitable one for studies concerning structure-activity relationships.