Neuropeptides degranulate serous cells of ferret tracheal glands

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Am. J. Physiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6151874

Gashi, A A; Borson, D B; Finkbeiner, W E; Nadel, J A; Basbaum, C B

To determine whether serous or mucous cells in tracheal submucosal glands respond to the neuropeptides substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). The authors studied the peptide-induced changes in gland cell morphology accompanying release of TVSO4-labeled macromolecules from tracheal explants of ferrets. Explants were labeled for 1 h in medium containing TVSO4 and washed for 3.5 additional hours. Base-line secretion in the absence of drugs declined between 1.5 and 3.5 h after the pulse. Between 2.5 and 3.5 h, the average percent change in counts per minute recovered per sample period was not significantly different from zero. Substance P and VIP added 4 h after labeling each increased greatly the release of TVSO4-labeled macromolecules above base line. Bethanechol, a muscarinic-cholinergic agonist, increased secretion by an average of 142% above base line. Light and electron microscopy of the control tissues showed glands with narrow lumens and numerous secretory granules. Glands treated with SP or VIP had enlarged lumens and the serous cells were markedly degranulated. These phenomena were documented by morphometry and suggest that SP and VIP cause secretion from glands at least partially by stimulating exocytosis from serous cells.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Francisco
• OSTI ID: 6151874
• Journal Information: Am. J. Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 251:2; ISSN AJPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551001* -- Physiological Systems-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCHEMISTRY
BODY
CHEMISTRY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DRUGS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GLANDS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NEUROREGULATORS
NUCLEI
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDES
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
SALIVARY GLANDS
SECRETION
SULFATES
SULFUR 35
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ISOTOPES
VERTEBRATES