No abstract

Endothelin (ET)-like immunoreactivity and ET binding sites are widely distributed in the gastrointestinal tract, and ET causes contraction of stomach muscle strips. To determine whether ETs could interact with gastric smooth muscle cells directly and alter function, we measured binding of 125I-ET-1, 125I-ET-2, and 125I-ET-3 to dispersed gastric smooth muscle cells from guinea pig and their abilities to alter cell length. Each ligand bound in a time- and temperature-dependent manner, which was specific and saturable. Analysis of the dose-inhibition curves of both ET-1 and ET-3 for binding of each ligand indicated the presence of two classes of receptors, one class (ETA receptor) with a high affinity for ET-1 and ET-2 but a low affinity for ET-3, and the other (ETB receptor) with a high affinity for ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3. The ligands were rapidly internalized by both receptors; however, it was greater with ETA receptors. ET-1 stimulated muscle contraction (50% effective concentration approximately 2 nM), whereas ET-3 did not stimulate contraction or cause relaxation. These results demonstrate that gastric smooth muscle cells possess two classes of ET receptors. One type (ETA) has a high affinity for ET-1 and ET-2 and a low affinity for ET-3, and receptor occupation results in rapid ligand internalization and muscle contraction; the other type (ETB) has a high affinity for ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3, and receptor occupation results in a lesser degree of ligand internalization than the ETA receptor and does not alter contractile behavior.

Previous functional studies show that somatostatin (SS) interacts with specific receptors to inhibit relaxation in gastric smooth muscle cells. There are no ligand binding studies, and it is unknown which of the five subtypes of SS receptors mediates the action. Dispersed gastric smooth muscle cells from guinea pig bound both 125I-labeled SS-14 and 125I-D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys-Nal-NH2 (where Nal indicates N-naphthylalanine) (cyclo-SS-8), a synthetic peptidase-resistant octapeptide SS analogue. SS-28 and SS-14, cyclo-SS-8, and SS analogue D-Phe-Cys-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys-Thr-ol [SMS-(201-995) (octreotide)] inhibited 125I-cyclo-SS-8 binding with relative potencies of SS-28 = cyclo-SS-8 = SMS-(201-995) (octreotide), and the binding was not affected by the addition of protease inhibitors. SS-14 caused inhibition only in the presence of protease inhibitors. Ligand analysis demonstrated a two-binding-site model. Analysis of the relationship between biological function and binding suggested the high-affinity sites mediated the relaxant action of SS. 5'-Guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp-(NH)p] inhibited binding by reducing the affinity of the high-affinity site. Six SS-8 analogues that distinguish SS subtypes showed that 125I-SS-14 bound to somatostatin receptor subtype 3 (SSTR3). The results demonstrated that gastric smooth muscle cells possess distinct receptors for SS of the SSTR3 subtype. Occupation of these sites inhibits relaxation in gastric smooth muscle cells. Modulation between the high- and low- affinity binding states of SSTR3 is at least partially mediated by activation of guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins.