RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Characterization of endothelin receptors mediating mechanical responses to the endothelins in the isolated stomach strip of the rat. JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 120 OP 126 VO 275 IS 1 A1 G H Allcock A1 B Battistini A1 A Fournier A1 T D Warner A1 J R Vane YR 1995 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/275/1/120.abstract AB We have characterized the receptors mediating the mechanical responses of the isolated stomach strip to endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin-3 (ET-3) and the ETB-selective receptor agonists sarafotoxin 6c (SX6c) and IRL 1620. As antagonists we used BQ-123 (ETA receptor selective), BQ-788 (ETB receptor selective) and PD 145065 (ETA/ETB receptor nonselective). We have also compared the responses of the mature peptides to their precursors human big ET-1(1-38), porcine big ET-1(1-39) and big ET-3(1-41) amide. ET-1, ET-3, SX6c and IRL 1620 produced equipotent concentration-dependent contractions of the rat stomach strips that were antagonized by PD 145065 (10(-5) M) or BQ-788 (10(-5) M) but not by BQ-123 (10-5 M). This indicates that the ETB receptor mediates contractions to the endothelins in this preparation. In preparations precontracted with PGE2 (3 x 10(-8) M), ET-1, but not SX6c (both 3 x 10(-9) M), caused a transient (< 2 min) relaxation (approx. 40% of the induced tone). This relaxation was antagonized by BQ-123 (10(-5) M) but prolonged by BQ-788, and therefore mediated by ETA receptors. A single administration of 3 x 10(-7) M ET-1, ET-3, SX6c or IRL 1620 produced contractions that reached a maximal response after 1 to 3 min. The contractions were not maintained, although responses to ET-1 or ET-3 lost their tone less rapidly than those to SX6c or IRL 1620.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)