Galanin induces opposite effects via different intracellular pathways in smooth muscle cells from dog colon

Abstract Smooth muscle cells isolated by enzymatic digestion were used to determine the direct effects of galanin on circular and longitudinal muscle layers from dog proximal colon and to investigate the intracellular pathways involved in these effects. Effects of galanin were compared to those observed with other contracting [cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8)] and relaxing [vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)] agents. In longitudinal cells, galanin and CCK8 induced a contraction that was maximal at 1 n M galanin and 1 n M CCK8 and was 23.9 ± 4.5% and 23.4 ± 3.4% , respectively, of the length of resting cells. Incubation of cells in Ca 2+ -free medium or in the presence of nifedipine caused an inhibition of galanin-induced contraction whereas it had no effect on the contraction induced by CCK8. Vasoactive intestinal peptide, forskolin, and 8 bromo cAMP inhibited CCK-induced contraction but failed to inhibit contraction induced by galanin. The contraction induced by galanin was abolished; the CCK-induced contraction was unchanged by pertussis toxin. In circular cells, CCK8 induced a contraction that was maximal at 10 n M and was 24.2 ± 2.6% . Galanin had no effect by itself. When cells were preincubated (1 min) with galanin (10 f M –1 μ M ), the CCK8-induced contraction was inhibited, with a maximal effect at 10 n M galanin. Likewise, VIP inhibited the CCK8-induced contraction with a maximal effect at 1 μ M . Preincubation of cells with somatostatin, N- ethylmaleimide , and (R)-p- cAMPS inhibited galanin- and VIP-induced relaxation. In conclusion, galanin induces a contraction of longitudinal smooth muscle cells that is dependent on an influx of extracellular calcium and an activation of a pertussis toxin G-protein. Galanin induces a relaxation of circular smooth muscle cells by activation of the adenylate cyclase complex and protein kinase A.