AIMS: Mucosal mast cells (MMC) are mediators of the stress responses in the gastrointestinal tract. We examined the effect of acute cold-restraint stress and of the neuropeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), implicated in the modulation of stress responses, on MMC density in the rat colon. MAIN METHODS: Stress was induced by restraining the animals into individual cages at 3°C for 3h. N/OFQ and the selective N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor antagonist, UFP-101, were infused subcutaneously via Alzet osmotic minipumps. Segments of the distal colon were collected. MMCs were identified immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody to rat mast cell protease (RMCP) II and with a rabbit polyclonal antibody to CD117/c-kit receptor. KEY FINDINGS: Acute stress caused a decrease in the density of MMCs in the rat colonic mucosa. Short-term peripheral infusion of N/OFQ (0.1 to 10μg/kg/h for 4h) caused a dose-related reduction of MMC density. Peak reduction occurred after the 4-h infusion of N/OFQ, 1μg/kg/h. Reduction was maintained after the 52-h infusion period and declined following 7 and 14days of infusion. The infusion of N/OFQ (1μg/kg/h for 4h) in rats exposed to acute stress caused a decrease in MMC density comparable to that obtained with the single treatments. UFP-101, at the doses of 1 and 10μg/kg/h, which itself had no significant effect on MMC density, when concurrently infused in stress-exposed rats, abolished the stress-induced decrease of MMC density. SIGNIFICANCE: Present results indicate that the peripheral N/OFQ-NOP system is involved in stress-induced reduction of MMC density.
Role of nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptors in the decrease of mucosal mast cells caused by acute stress in the rat colon.
GUERRINI, Remo;CALO', Girolamo;
2011
Abstract
AIMS: Mucosal mast cells (MMC) are mediators of the stress responses in the gastrointestinal tract. We examined the effect of acute cold-restraint stress and of the neuropeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), implicated in the modulation of stress responses, on MMC density in the rat colon. MAIN METHODS: Stress was induced by restraining the animals into individual cages at 3°C for 3h. N/OFQ and the selective N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor antagonist, UFP-101, were infused subcutaneously via Alzet osmotic minipumps. Segments of the distal colon were collected. MMCs were identified immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody to rat mast cell protease (RMCP) II and with a rabbit polyclonal antibody to CD117/c-kit receptor. KEY FINDINGS: Acute stress caused a decrease in the density of MMCs in the rat colonic mucosa. Short-term peripheral infusion of N/OFQ (0.1 to 10μg/kg/h for 4h) caused a dose-related reduction of MMC density. Peak reduction occurred after the 4-h infusion of N/OFQ, 1μg/kg/h. Reduction was maintained after the 52-h infusion period and declined following 7 and 14days of infusion. The infusion of N/OFQ (1μg/kg/h for 4h) in rats exposed to acute stress caused a decrease in MMC density comparable to that obtained with the single treatments. UFP-101, at the doses of 1 and 10μg/kg/h, which itself had no significant effect on MMC density, when concurrently infused in stress-exposed rats, abolished the stress-induced decrease of MMC density. SIGNIFICANCE: Present results indicate that the peripheral N/OFQ-NOP system is involved in stress-induced reduction of MMC density.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
