Secretin, glucagon, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, parathyroid hormone,
and related peptides in the regulation of the hypothalamus- pituitary-adrenal
axis
Secretin, glucagon, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and parathyroid
hormone (PTH) belong, together with vasoactive intestinal peptide
(VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase (AC)-activating polypeptide,
to a family of peptides (the VIP-secretin-glucagon family), which
also includes growth hormone-releasing hormone and exendins. All
the members of this peptide family possess a remarkable amino-acid
sequence homology, and bind to G-protein-coupled receptors, whose
signaling mechanism primarily involves AC/protein kinase A and phospholipase
C/protein kinase C cascades. VIP and pituitary AC-activating polypeptide
play a role in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal
(HPA) axis, and in this review we survey findings that also other
members of the VIP-secretin-glucagon family may have the same function.
Secretin and secretin receptors are expressed in the hypothalamus
and pituitary gland, and secretin inhibits adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH) release. No evidence is available for the presence of secretin
receptors in adrenal glands, but secretin selectively depresses
the glucocorticoid response to ACTH of dispersed zona fasciculata-reticularis
(ZF/R) cells. Glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 are contained
in the hypothalamus, and all the components of the HPA axis are
provided with glucagon and glucagons-like-1 receptors. These peptides
exert a short-term inhibitory effect on stress-induced pituitary
ACTH release and depress the ZF/R cell response to ACTH by inhibiting
the AC/protein kinase A cascade; they also stimulate hypothalamic
arginine-vasopressin release. GIP receptors are present in the ZF/R
of the normal adrenals, and are particularly abundant in some types
of adrenocortical adenomas and hyperplasias. GIP, through the activation
of the AC/protein kinase A cascade, evokes a sizeable glucocorticoid
secretagogue effect, leading to the identification of a food/GIP-dependent
Cushing's syndrome. PTH and PTH-related protein are expressed in
the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, and PTH and PTH-related protein
receptors in all the components of the HPA axis. Both peptides enhance
ACTH and arginine-vasopressin release, as well as stimulate aldosterone
and glucocorticoid secretion of dispersed zona glomerulosa and ZF/R
cells, respectively. The involvement of growth hormone-releasing
hormone and exendins in the functional regulation of the HPA axis
has not yet been extensively investigated.
Nussdorfer GG et al. Peptides 2000 Feb;21(2):309-24
Endogenous nitric oxide mediates pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated
by secretin and cholecystokinin in rats
Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the important biologic mediators in
regulation of gastrointestinal (GI) functions, but the influence
of NO on the release of secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK) and exocrine
pancreatic secretion has not been adequately investigated in the
rat. The aim of this study was to determine the role of NO on endogenous
and exogenous secretin- or CCK-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion
both in anesthetized and conscious rats. Experiments were carried
out in four different groups of rats with duodenal pancreatobiliary
cannulas and jugular vein catheters. Group 1: During duodenal infusion
of 0.05N HCl or 15% casein (pH 7.0), N-nitro-L-arginine (NNA), an
inhibitor of NO-synthase in graded doses (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg/h), was
infused intravenously. Group 2: One hour after starting intravenous
secretin at 5 pmol/kg/h or intravenous CCK-8 at 0.06 microg/kg/h,
NNA in graded doses was administered intravenously. Group 3: In
conscious rats, NNA (5 mg/kg/h) was given intravenously for 1 hour
after a meal. Group 4: L-Arginine at 100 mg/kg/h was infused intravenously
during the period of NNA (5 mg/kg/h) infusion in groups 1, 2, and
3. Pancreatic juice was collected at 30-minute intervals to measure
volume, as well as output of bicarbonate and protein. At the end
of the experiment, plasma secretin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
(VIP) and CCK levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA).
NNA dose dependently inhibited the pancreatic secretion of fluid
and bicarbonate stimulated by duodenal acidification, exogenous
secretin, and a meal. NNA dose dependently inhibited the pancreatic
secretion of protein stimulated by duodenal infusion of casein,
exogenous CCK, and a meal. L-Arginine significantly reversed the
NNA-induced inhibition of pancreatic secretion in all experiments.
NNA did not alter significantly the plasma levels of secretin, VIP,
and CCK. Our results indicated that endogenous NO plays a significant
role in the regulation of pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated
by secretin and CCK. However, NO does not influence the release
of secretin, VIP, or CCK in the rat.
Jyotheeswaran S, Li P, Chang TM, Chey WY.
Pancreas 2000 May;20(4):401-7
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