Regulation of neuropeptide release from pulmonary capsaicin-sensitive afferents in relation to bronchoconstriction

An isolated perfused lung model was developed in which the mechanisms of regulation of sensory neuropeptide overflow and bronchoconstrictor responses evoked by antidromic vagal nerve stimulation or various irritants could be studied. For further comparison, non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) bronchoconstriction was also studied in guinea-pig isolated bronchus and in vivo. In the isolated guinea-pig lung, spontaneous strong postmortem bronchoconstriction occurred; this had to be overcome by the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline. Vagal stimulation, capsaicin, resiniferatoxin (RTX), nicotine, and pH 5 buffer all caused sensory peptide release and bronchoconstriction via a capsaicin-sensitive mechanism. Bradykinin and histamine also stimulated sensory peptide release but evoked bronchoconstriction mainly via capsaicin-resistant mechanisms. Stimulation at low frequency (1 Hz) caused similar degree of sensory nerve activation (peptide release in perfused lung and NANC bronchial contraction in bronchus) as stimulation at 10 Hz. Dactinomycin and the non-peptide SR 48968 selectively blocked the bronchoconstriction induced by neurokinin 2 (NK2) receptor agonists and also depressed that induced either by vagal stimulation or capsaicin, with no prejunctional effect on the overflow of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Furthermore, SR 48968 inhibited the bronchoconstriction to citric acid aerosol. The NK1 antagonist CP 96345 had only marginal effects on NANC bronchoconstriction. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) and omega-conotoxin (CTX) inhibited neuropeptide release and bronchoconstriction caused by vagal stimulation or a low concentration of capsaicin but only marginally attenuated the effects evoked by a high concentration of capsaicin, or nicotine. Prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptor or opiate receptor activation inhibited the neuropeptide release and bronchoconstriction induced by vagal stimulation or a low concentration of capsaicin. Ruthenium red had a selective inhibitory effect on the overflow of neuropeptides [CGRP, neurokinin A (NKA)] and bronchoconstriction induced by capsaicin and its analogue RTX but not on responses induced by vagal stimulation, nicotine, bradykinin and histamine. It also inhibited CGRP and NKA release and bronchoconstriction caused by pH 5 buffer in lung, as well as cough and nasal irritation provoked by citric acid in vivo. The capsaicin receptor antagonist capsazepine inhibited peptide (CGRP, NKA) release and bronchoconstriction produced by capsaicin but not that evoked by vagal stimulation, nicotine and bradykinin, suggesting selectivity. Citric acid (in vivo) and pH 5 buffer (in vitro) produced bronchoconstriction via activation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves. Interestingly, capsazepine also markedly depressed peptide overflow and bronchoconstriction caused by pH 5 buffer in isolated guinea-pig lung.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)