Korean J Gastroenterol.  2015 May;65(5):283-290. 10.4166/kjg.2015.65.5.283.

The Effect of Urocortin 1 on Motility in Isolated, Vascularly Perfused Rat Colon

• You IY
• Lee S
• Kim KB
• Lee HS
• Jang JS
• Yeon M
• Han JH
• Yoon SM
• Chae HB
• Park SM
• Youn SJ

• KMID: 2373224
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2015.65.5.283

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Urocortin 1, a corticotropin-releasing factor related peptide, increases colonic motility under stressful conditions. We investigated the effect of urocortin 1 on colonic motility using an experimental model with isolated rat colon in which the blood flow and intestinal nerves were preserved. Furthermore, we assessed whether this effect was mediated by adrenergic or cholinergic nerves.
METHODS
Colonic motility was measured in the proximal and distal parts of resected rat colon. The colon resected from the peritoneum was stabilized, and then urocortin 1 (13.8, 138, 277, and 1,388 pM) was administered via a blood vessel. Motility index was measured in the last 5 min of the 15 min administration of urocortin 1 and expressed as percentage change from baseline. Subsequently, the change in motility was measured by perfusing urocortin 1 in colons pretreated with phentolamine, propranolol, hexamethonium, atropine, or tetrodotoxin.
RESULTS
At concentrations of 13.8, 138, 277, and 1,388 pM, urocortin 1 increased the motility of proximal colon (20.4+/-7.2%, 48.4+/-20.9%, 67.0+/-25.8%, and 64.2+/-20.9%, respectively) and the motility of distal colon (3.3+/-3.3%, 7.8+/-7.8%, 71.1+/-28.6%, and 87.4+/-32.5%, respectively). The motility induced by urocortin 1 was significantly decreased by atropine to 2.4+/-2.4% in proximal colon and 3.4+/-3.4% in distal colon (p<0.05). However, tetrodotoxin, propranolol, phentolamine, and hexamethonium did not inhibit motility.
CONCLUSIONS
Urocortin 1 increased colonic motility and it is considered that this effect was directly mediated by local muscarinic cholinergic receptors.

Keyword

Urocortins; Corticotropin-releasing factor; Rats; Cholinergic receptors; Muscarinic receptors

MeSH Terms

Animals
Colon/*drug effects/physiology
Injections, Intravenous
Male
Muscle Contraction/drug effects
Neurotransmitter Agents/pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Cholinergic/chemistry/metabolism
Urocortins/isolation & purification/*pharmacology
Neurotransmitter Agents
Receptors, Cholinergic
Urocortins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Schematic illustration of the system used in the isolated vascularly perfused rat colon. SMA, superior mesenteric artery; PV, portal vein.

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  Fig. 2. Effect of intra-arterial infusion of urocortin 1 on the colonic motility. Data are expressed as the percentage change of the motility index over the basal period in response to various concentrations of urocortin 1. (A) Urocortin 1 significantly increased motility in the proximal colon at concentrations of 13.8, 138, 277, and 1,388 pM. (B) Urocortin 1 significantly increased motility in the distal colon at concentrations of 277 and 1,388 pM. Each bar represents the mean±standard error from 5 experiments. ∗p<0.05 vs. basal values.

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  Fig. 3. Representative tracings of the effect of urocortin 1 (Ucn 1) alone (A) and atropine (B) on the proximal colonic motility stimulated by Ucn 1. The stimulatory effect was significantly inhibited by atropine.

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  Fig. 4. Representative tracings of the effect of urocortin 1 (Ucn 1) alone (A) and atropine (B) on the distal colonic motility stimulated by Ucn 1. The stimulatory effect was significantly inhibited by atropine.

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  Fig. 5. Effect of atropine on colonic motility stimulated by urocortin 1 (Ucn 1). The stimulatory effect of Ucn 1 on the proximal and distal colonic motility was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with atropine. Data are expressed as the percentage change of motility index over the basal period. ∗p<0.05 vs. Ucn 1 only.

Reference

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