Abstract
Excitatory amino acids (EAAs), in particular, L-aspartate (L-Asp) neurons and their processes, were localized in the rat stomach using a immunohistochemical method with specific antibodies against either L-Asp or its synthesizing enzyme, aspartate aminotransferase (AAT). Myenteric ganglia and nerve bundles in the circular muscle and in the longitudinal muscle were found to be AAT-or L-Asp-positive. In addition, AAT or L-Asp-positive cells were also found in the muscle layer and the deep mucosal layer. The distribution of AAT- or L-Asp-positive cells in both the mucosal and muscle layers was heterogeneous in the stomach. In addition, L-Asp at 10-6 M negligibly influenced acid secretion in an everted preparation of isolated rat stomach. However, according to our results, L-Asp markedly inhibited the histamine-stimulated acid secretion, but not the oxotremorine- or the pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion. Furthermore, L-Asp also inhibited histamine-induced elevation of cAMP. L-Asp itself did not affect the cAMP level although it elevated the cGMP level in the stomach. Moreover, either (+)2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid or (±)3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4- yl)prophyl-1-phosphonic acid, i.e. two specific antagonists for N-methyl-D- aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors, blocked the inhibitory effect of L-Asp on histamine-stimulated acid secretion or histamine-induced elevation of cAMP. Since cAMP has been strongly implicated as the second messenger involved in histamine-induced acid secretion, we believe that L-Asp regulates acid secretion in the stomach by inhibiting histamine release through the NMDA receptors, subsequently lowering the level of cAMP and ultimately reducing acid secretion.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 36-44 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Biomedical Science |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - Jan 1999 |
Keywords
- Acid secretion
- cAMP
- cGMP
- Excitatory amino acids
- Histamine
- L-Aspartic acid
- NMDA receptor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)