NK1- and NK3-receptor mediated inhibition of 5-hydroxytryptamine release from the vascularly perfused small intestine of the guinea-pig

The effects of tachykinins on the spontaneous release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from the enterochromaffin cells into the portal circulation was investigated in vitro using the vascularly perfused isolated guinea-pig small intestine. 5-HT was determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Test substances were applied intraarterially. Substance P (SP) caused a concentration-dependent decrease in 5-HT outflow with an EC50 of 50 pmol/l. Similarly, the selective NK1 receptor agonist SP methyl ester (1 nmol/l) significantly inhibited 5-HT outflow (to 51 +/- 3%). When tetrodotoxin (1 mumol/l) was added to the arterial perfusion medium, the inhibition by SP of 5-HT outflow was not affected.…