CP-96,345, a non-peptide antagonist of substance P: I. Effects on the actions mediated by substance P and related tachykinins on the guinea-pig ileum and rabbit jejunum.

The effects of a non-peptide antagonist of substance P, CP-96,345, were investigated, in vitro, on the guinea-pig ileum and the rabbit jejunum. Contractions of the guinea-pig ileum, induced by substance P and neurokinin A, were specifically inhibited by the racemate (+/-)CP-96,345 (pIC50 7.8 and 7.3, respectively). The inhibition by (+/-)CP-96,345 of contractions evoked by neurokinin B and by bradykinin (pIC50 6.1 and 4.9, respectively) was attributed to unspecific effects of the antagonist. The inhibition of substance P-induced contractions of the rabbit jejunum required a 10 times higher concentration of (+/-)CP-96,345 (pIC50 = 6.8) than was required with the guinea-pig ileum. The plateau phase of contraction of the guinea-pig ileum induced by high concentrations of substance P, neurokinin A or neurokinin B, which is known to be mediated through tachykinin receptors on intrinsic cholinergic neurones, was inhibited by 200 nM (+/-)CP-96,345 but not by the inactive enantiomer, CP-96,344. This indicates a specific inhibition of these neuronal tachykinin receptors by (+/-)CP-96,345. Contractions known to be mediated by the release of substance P, such as those evoked by capsaicin and by mesenteric nerve or field stimulation, were partially inhibited by (+/-)CP-96,345 at concentrations of 200 to 600 nM. Unspecific inhibitory effects of CP-96,345, in concentrations of 1 microM or higher, were observed on histamine-induced contractions, and on the cholinergic twitch response to electrical stimulation, of the guinea-pig ileum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)