UNIPROT:P01178 - FACTA Search

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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The effect of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME), a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, injected into different brain areas on penile erection and yawning induced by apomorphine or oxytocin was studied in male rats. The compound was found to be able to prevent the above behavioral responses dose dependently when injected into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), but not in the caudate nucleus, medial septum, preoptic area, and the CA1 field of the hippocampus. When injected in the PVN, 5 micrograms of NAME induced a 30% reduction of apomorphine and oxytocin responses, while 20 micrograms induced an almost complete reduction. The effect of NAME seems to be related to the inhibition of guanylate cyclase secondary to the prevention of NO formation, because a dose-dependent reduction of apomorphine and oxytocin responses was obtained also with the inhibitor of guanylate cyclase methylene blue injected intracerebroventricularly (100-400 micrograms ICV), but not into the PVN. The results provide further support for a neurotransmitter role of central NO in the control of penile erection and yawning.
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PMID:Prevention by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester of apomorphine- and oxytocin-induced penile erection and yawning: site of action in the brain. 793 38

In order to investigate the mechanism of action by which oxytocin induces penile erection, the effect of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME) and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA), inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, injected into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) on the response to oxytocin injected into the PVN was studied in male rats. NAME and NMMA, but not NG-mono-methyl-D-arginine (D-NMMA), which does not inhibit NO-synthase, prevented in a dose-dependent manner the response to oxytocin. NAME was 4-5 times more potent than NMMA. NAME prevention of the oxytocin effect was not observed when NAME was given together with L-arginine but not with D-arginine. Oxytocin-induced penile erection was prevented by the oxytocin antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-Orn8-vasotocin and by methylene blue, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, but not reduced hemoglobin, a NO scavenger, given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.). In contrast, both methylene blue and hemoglobin were ineffective when injected into the PVN, unlike d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-Orn8-vasotocin. Penile erection was induced also by sodium nitroprusside and hydroxylamine, two NO donors, injected into the PVN. Like the oxytocin effect, the NO donor response was prevented by i.c.v. d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-Orn8-vasotocin and methylene blue, but not hemoglobin. In contrast, the three compounds were ineffective in preventing the NO donor response when injected into the PVN. The present results suggest that oxytocin induces penile erection by activating NO synthase in the PVN. NO in turn activates oxytocinergic neurons projecting to extra-hypothalamic areas that control the expression of this male sexual function by a guanosine cyclic 3':5'-monophosphate (cGMP) independent mechanism at least in the PVN.
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PMID:Oxytocin-induced penile erection. Role of nitric oxide. 871 73

1. The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of uterine contractility has yet to be clearly defined. We evaluated the effect of NO (in the form of S-nitroso-cysteine, CysNO) upon uterine contractility and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) accumulation in pregnant and nonpregnant guinea-pig myometrium. 2. While CysNO had no effect upon spontaneous contractile activity in either pregnant or nonpregnant uterine tissues, addition of CysNO resulted in an immediate and reversible relaxation of oxytocin- or acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked contractions. 3. Relaxation of agonist-evoked contractions in response to CysNO was associated with significant elevations in intracellular cyclic GMP concentrations ([cyclic GMP]i). 4. Elevations in [cyclic GMP]i were not required for relaxation, as inhibition of guanylyl cyclase by methylene blue prevented [cyclic GMP]i accumulation while having no effect upon the ability of CysNO to relax agonist-evoked contractions. 5. Addition of the cyclic GMP-analogues, 8-Br-cyclic GMP and PET-cyclic GMP, only at high concentrations, produced partial relaxation of agonist-contracted tissues, suggesting the possibility that cyclic GMP may be sufficient but not necessary for myometrial relaxation. 6. Our studies not only provide evidence for a functional role for NO-modulation of agonist-evoked contractions in the pregnant and nonpregnant guinea-pig uterus, but also that these occur by a mechanism which is not dependent upon guanylyl cyclase activity.
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PMID:Cyclic GMP-independent effects of nitric oxide on guinea-pig uterine contractility. 890 49

A low dose of apomorphine (80 micrograms/kg s.c.), a mixed D1/D2 agonist that induces penile erection and yawning, increased the concentration of NO2-from 1.12 +/- 0.45 microM to 3.8 +/- 0.75 microM and NO3-from 5.53 +/- 0.82 to 11.25 +/- 2.30 microM in the dialysate collected from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of male rats by in vivo microdialysis. The NO2-concentration was also increased by LY 171555 (50 micrograms/kg s.c.), a D2 agonist that induces penile erection and yawning, but not by SKF 38393 (5 mg/kg s.c.), a D1 agonist with no effect on these responses. Conversely, apomorphine's effect on NO2-was prevented by haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg i.p.), a mixed D1/D2 antagonist and L-sulpiride (25 mg/kg i.p.), a D2 antagonist, but not by the D1 agonist SCH 23390 (50 micrograms/kg s.c.), although all three compounds prevented penile erection and yawning. The apomorphine effect on NO2-, penile erection and yawning was also prevented by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (200 micrograms i.c.v.). The nitric oxide scavenger haemoglobin (200 micrograms i.c.v.) also prevented the NO2-increase, but was ineffective against penile erection and yawning. In contrast, the oxytocin antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-Orn8-vasotocin (1 microgram i.c.v.) and the guanylate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (300 micrograms i.c.v.) had no effect on the NO2-increase, but did prevent the behavioural responses. We infer from this that dopamine agonists induce penile erection and yawning by acting on D2 receptors that increase nitric oxide synthase activity in the cell bodies of paraventricular oxytocinergic neurons projecting to extra-hypothalamic brain areas.
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PMID:Dopamine agonists increase nitric oxide production in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus: correlation with penile erection and yawning. 892 Dec 95

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its receptors are present in hypothalamic nuclei containing the magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs), which release vasopressin and oxytocin. In the rat, intracerebroventricular injections of ANP inhibit the release of both hormones in response to hypertonicity. Although these findings suggest a role for endogenous ANP in the central control of fluid balance, cellular mechanisms underlying the modulatory actions of ANP are unknown. We therefore examined the effects of ANP on the osmoresponsiveness of MNCs impaled in rat hypothalamic explants. Applications of ANP (75-150 nM) over the supraoptic nucleus did not affect depolarizing responses to local hypertonicity, but they reversibly abolished the synaptic excitation of MNCs after hypertonic stimulation of the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT). These effects were associated with decreased spontaneous EPSP (sEPSP) amplitude rather than with changes in sEPSP frequency. Accordingly, application of ANP reduced the amplitude of glutamatergic EPSPs evoked by electrical stimulation of the OVLT (IC50 approximately 3 nM). The inhibitory effects of ANP on EPSP amplitude were mimicked by application of 3'-5'-dibutyryl cGMP, consistent with the guanylate cyclase activity of natriuretic peptide receptors. Although depolarizing responses of MNCs to ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists were unaffected by ANP, the peptide reversibly enhanced paired-pulse facilitation of electrically evoked EPSPs. These results indicate that centrally released ANP may inhibit osmotically evoked neurohypophysial hormone release through presynaptic inhibition of glutamate release from osmoreceptor afferents derived from the OVLT.
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PMID:Atrial natriuretic peptide modulates synaptic transmission from osmoreceptor afferents to the supraoptic nucleus. 892 8

The effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, an activator and an inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase, and cAMP and cGMP analogs on oxytocin-induced contractions have been studied in the testicular capsule of rats. The nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitors, theophylline and caffeine, attenuated the oxytocin-induced contractions via mechanisms that seem to be related to an increase in cAMP levels, since a similar effect was produced by dibutyryl cAMP. Sodium nitroprusside facilitated oxytocin-induced contractions. This effect was mimicked by dibutyryl cGMP. Methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, decreased oxytocin-induced contractions, which suggests an involvement of guanylyl cyclase in the oxytocin effect. These results suggest that cAMP modulates the contraction and that cGMP, contrary to what happens in most smooth muscles, could participate in oxytocin-induced contractions in the testicular capsule of rats.
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PMID:Role of cyclic nucleotides in contraction induced by oxytocin in the testicular capsule of the rat in vitro. 899 Apr 88

The data reviewed establish the presence and important role in body fluid homeostasis of brain atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in all vertebrate-species examined. The peptide is localized in neurons in hypothalamic and brain stem areas involved in body fluid volume and blood pressure regulation, and its receptors are located in regions that contain the peptide. Most, if not all, of the actions of ANP are mediated by activation of particulate guanylyl cyclase with generation of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, which mediates its actions in brain as in the periphery. Although atrial stretch releases ANP from cardiac myocytes, the experiments indicate that the response to acute blood volume expansion is markedly reduced after elimination of neural control. Volume expansion distends baroreceptors in the right atria, carotid-aortic sinuses, and kidney, altering afferent input to the brain stem and hence the hypothalamus, resulting in stimulation via ANPergic neurons in the hypothalamus of oxytocin release from the neurohypophysis that circulates to the right atrium to stimulate ANP release. The ANP circulates to the kidney and induces natriuresis. Atrial natriuretic peptide also induces vasodilation compensating rapidly for increased blood volume by increased vascular capacity. Atrial natriuretic peptide released into hypophysial portal blood vessels inhibits release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thereby decreasing aldosterone release and enhancing natriuresis. Furthermore, the ANP neurons inhibit AVP release leading to diuresis and decreased ACTH release. Activation of hypothalamic ANPergic neurons via volume expansion also inhibits water and salt intake. These inhibitory actions may be partially mediated via ANP neurons in the olfactory system altering salt taste. Atrial natriuretic peptide neurons probably also alter fluid movement in the choroid plexus and in other brain vascular beds. Therefore, brain ANP neurons play an important role in modulating not only intake of body fluids, but their excretion to maintain body fluid homeostasis.
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PMID:Atrial natriuretic peptide in brain and pituitary gland. 911 21

A dose of oxytocin (50 ng i.c.v.) that induces penile erection and yawning, increased the concentration of NO2- from 0.98 +/- 0.29 to 4.2 +/- 0.79 microM and of NO3- from 5.6 +/- 0.33 to 12.03 +/- 0.99 microM in the dialysate from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of male rats, as measured by in vivo microdialysis. NO2- concentration was also increased by [Thr4, Gly7]-oxytocin (100 ng i.c.v. and oxytocin(8) (1 microgram i.c.v.) which also induced penile erection and yawning, but not by oxytocin(1-6) (1 microgram i.c.v.) or oxytocin (7-9) 1 microgram i.c.v.), which were unable to induce these behavioral responses. The oxytocin effect on NO2 concentration, penile erection and yawning was prevented by the oxytocin receptor antagonist. d(CH2)5,Tyr(Me)-Orn8-vasotocin (1 microgram i.e.v.) or by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-1-arginine methyl ester (200 micrograms i.c.v.), but not by the dopamine receptor antagonist, haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg i.p.). The nitric oxide scavenger, hemoglobin (200 micrograms i.c.v.), prevented oxytocin-induced NO2- concentration increase, but was unable to prevent penile erection and yawning. Methylene blue (300 micrograms i.c.v.) an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, was ineffective on oxytocin-induced NO2- concentration increase, but prevented the behavioral responses. The results suggest that oxytocin induces penile erection and yawning by increasing nitric oxide synthase activity in the cell bodies of oxytocinergic neurons projecting to extra-hypothalamic brain areas and mediating the behavioral responses.
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PMID:Oxytocin increases nitric oxide production in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of male rats: correlation with penile erection and yawning. 917 53

1. Recent experimental evidence has shown that nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the expression of penile erection and yawning and that this molecule has to be added to the list of the best known neurotransmitters and neuropeptides involved in this symptomatology. 2. This was first suggested by the ability of NO synthase inhibitors injected in the lateral ventricles (i.c.v.) or in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) to prevent these behavioral responses induced by dopamine agonists, oxytocin and NMDA. The inhibitory effect of NO synthase inhibitors was not observed when these compounds were injected concomitantly with L-arginine, the precursor of NO. Most important, this hypothalamic nucleus is one of the richest brain areas of NO synthase and also the brain site where dopamine, NMDA and oxytocin act to induce penile erection and yawning by activating central NO synthase containing oxytocinergic neurons. 3. NO synthase inhibitors given i.c.v. but not in the PVN prevent also penile erection and yawning induced by ACTH and serotonin1c agonists, which induce these responses by acting with mechanisms unrelated to oxytocinergic transmission. 4. Dopamine agonists, NMDA and oxytocin increase NO production in the PVN at doses that induce penile erection and yawning, as determined by measuring the concentration of NO2- and NO3- in the dialyzate obtained with a vertical probe implanted in the PVN by in vivo microdialysis. 5. NO donors, such as nitroglycerin, sodium nitroprusside and hydroxylamine, induce penile erection and yawning indistinguishable from those induced by oxytocin, dopamine agonists or NMDA when injected in the PVN. The NO donor response was prevented by the i.c.v. injection of the oxytocin receptor antagonist d(CH2)5-Tyr(Me)-Orn8-vasotocin, indicating that these compounds also induce penile erection and yawning by activating oxytocinergic transmission. 6. Finally, guanylate cyclase inhibitors (i.e. methylene blue and LY 83583) and hemoglobin injected in the PVN do not prevent drug-induced penile erection and yawning, nor 8-Br-cGMP injected in the PVN induces these behavioral responses suggesting that the mechanism by means of which endogenous or NO donor-derived NO facilitates oxytocinergic transmission to induce penile erection and yawning is not related to the activation of guanylate cyclase. Furthermore, since hemoglobin, in spite of its ability to prevent drug-induced NO production in the PVN, does not prevent penile erection and yawning, it is likely that NO acts as an intracellular rather than an intercellular modulator in the PVN neurons in which is formed to facilitate the expression of these behavioral responses.
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PMID:Role of central nitric oxide in the control of penile erection and yawning. 938 Jul 88

Our previous experiments suggested that natriuresis induced by blood volume expansion, was brought about by oxytocin (OT)-stimulated atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release from the right atrium. We hypothesized that the ANP released might exert effects on the atrium itself and therefore carried out in vitro experiments to test this hypothesis. Heart rate and isometric tension were recorded from isolated rat atria mounted in an organ bath. Oxytocin exerted a dose-related, negative chrono- and inotropic effect with a minimal effective concentration (MEC) of 3 microM, 10-fold higher than required for ANP to exert comparable effects. The effects of OT were not blocked by atropine suggesting that they were not mediated via release of acetylcholine. Eight-bromoguanosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) had similar effects to those of OT and ANP, suggesting that the effects of ANP were mediated by cGMP. When isolated ventricles, left or right atria, were incubated in vitro, OT had a dose-related effect to stimulate the release of ANP into the medium only from right atria with a MEC of 0.1 microM. A specific OT antagonist, F792 (1 microM), inhibited basal release of ANP and blocked the stimulatory action of OT on ANP release. The results support the hypothesis that OT, acting on its putative receptors in the right atrium, stimulates the release of ANP which then exerts a negative chrono- and inotropic effect via activation of guanylyl cyclase and release of cGMP. The ability of the oxytocin antagonist to reduce basal release of ANP from atria incubated in vitro supports the hypothesis that these effects could be physiologically significant. We hypothesize that blood volume expansion via baroreceptor input to the brain causes the release of OT which circulates to the heart and stimulates the release of ANP from the right atrium. This ANP then has a negative ino- and chronotropic effect in the atrium and possibly a negative inotropic effect in the right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle, to produce an acute reduction in cardiac output that, coupled with its peripheral vasodilating actions, causes a rapid reduction in effective circulating blood volume. The ANP released would also act on the kidneys to cause natriuresis and ANP acts within the brain to inhibit water and salt intake leading to a gradual recovery of circulating blood volume to normal.
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PMID:Oxytocin releases atrial natriuretic peptide from rat atria in vitro that exerts negative inotropic and chronotropic action. 939 39

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