The facilitating effect of prucalopride on cholinergic neurotransmission in pig gastric circular muscle is regulated by phosphodiesterase 4

The influence of the selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist prucalopride on acetylcholine release from cholinergic nerve endings innervating pig gastric circular muscle and the possible regulation of this effect by phosphodiesterases (PDEs) was investigated, as PDEs have been shown to control the response to 5-HT4 receptor activation in pig left atrium. Circular muscle strips were prepared from pig proximal stomach and either submaximal cholinergic contractions or tritium outflow after incubation with [3H]-choline, induced by electrical field stimulation, were studied. Prucalopride concentration-dependently increased the amplitude of submaximal cholinergic contractions and of acetylcholine release induced by electrical field stimulation. The effect of the highest concentration tested (0.3 μM) on cholinergic contractions was antagonized by the selective 5-HT4 receptor antagonist GR113808 but not by granisetron or methysergide; the antagonism of prucalopride by GR113808 was confirmed in the release assay. The non-selective PDE-inhibitor 3-isobutyl-methyl-xanthine (IBMX) concentration-dependently reduced the amplitude of the cholinergic contractions; 3 μM IBMX reduced the cholinergic contractions maximally by 16% but it enhanced the facilitating effect of prucalopride from 51 to 83%. IBMX (10 μM) induced and enhanced the facilitating effect of prucalopride on electrically induced acetylcholine release. The selective inhibitors vinpocetine (PDE1), EHNA (PDE2) and cilostamide (PDE3) did not influence the effect of prucalopride on acetylcholine release but the PDE4-inhibitor rolipram (1 μM) enhanced the facilitating effect of prucalopride to the same extent as IBMX. These results demonstrate that 5-HT4 receptors are present on the cholinergic nerves towards the pig gastric circular muscle, facilitating acetylcholine release; the intracellular transduction pathway of this facilitation is regulated by PDE4. Combination of a 5-HT4 receptor agonist with selective inhibition of the PDE involved in this regulation of transmitter release might enhance the prokinetic effect of the 5-HT4 receptor agonist.

► 5-HT4 receptor stimulation facilitates acetylcholine release in pig stomach.
► The neuronal transduction pathway of this effect is regulated by PDE 4.
► PDE 4 inhibition might enhance the gastroprokinetic effect of 5-HT4 receptor agonists.