| Research Abstract |
5-HT and VIP are well known as neurotransmitters in the gastrointestinal tract. For example, 5-HT promotes mucosal secretion of water and electrolytes in the intestine of rats, guinea pigs, pigs and humans. VIP is also important neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system. However, distribution of the receptors have not clearly shown yet. Thus, in the present study, we have made antisera raised against h-VIP1 and 5-HT 3 receptors to investigate their precise localization. Peptides were synthesized by solid phase methodology using an automated peptide synthesizer (Beckman Model 990). The crude products thus obtained were purified by reverse phase HPLC. We have made several antisera using above mentioned synthesized peptides. Briefly, emulsion of synthetic peptides (0.5 mg) with 50 % polyvinyl pyrrolidone (1 ml) and complete Freund's adjuvant (1.0 ml) was injected intradermally to mixed-bled female rabbit (2.5 kg). The resulting anti-hVIP and 5-HT 3 receptor antisera thus produced in a rabbit showed sufficient titer for immunohistochemical study.
For the functional studies, we have shown that 5-HT containing neurons impairs under the inflammatory condition. Furthermore, we have shown that 5-HT3 and 5HT4 receptors are involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility. Based on the functional studies, we have written two reviews that will publish in Elsevier Science.
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