EP3 Receptor Knockout Research Articles

DETRUSOR RESPONSES TO PROSTAGLANDIN E 2 AND BLADDER OUTLET OBSTRUCTION IN WILD-TYPE AND EP 1 RECEPTOR KNOCKOUT MICE

Prostaglandins (PGs) are suggested to be involved in the pathophysiology of different bladder disorders and it has been demonstrated that cyclooxygenase-2 expression is increased as a consequence of bladder outflow obstruction. We investigated whether the PGE2 receptor EP1 is involved in the regulation of normal micturition, the response to intravesical PGE2 administration, and the development of bladder hypertrophy and overactivity due to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). Moderate BOO was created in EP1 receptor knockout (EP1KO) mice and their WT counterparts. After 1 week cystometry was performed in conscious animals before and after PGE2 instillation. Findings were compared to those in unobstructed control animals. Bladder wet weight was measured to document the degree of hypertrophy after BOO. There was no difference between unobstructed EP1KO and WT mice in urodynamic parameters but EP1KO mice did not respond to intravesical PGE2 instillation, while WT mice showed detrusor overactivity. The lack of EP1 receptor did not prevent bladder hypertrophy due to BOO. After BOO WT mice had pronounced detrusor overactivity, while this was negligible in EP1KO mice. The EP1 receptor appears not to be essential for normal micturition or the mediation of bladder hypertrophy due to BOO but it seems to have a role in the development of detrusor overactivity caused by PGE2 and outlet obstruction.

Characteristics of thermoregulatory and febrile responses in mice deficient in prostaglandin EP1 and EP3 receptors.

Previous studies have disagreed about whether prostaglandin EP1 or EP3 receptors are critical for producing febrile responses. We therefore injected lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a variety doses (1 microg kg(-1)-1 mg kg(-1)) intraperitoneally (i.p.) into wild-type (WT) mice and mice lacking the EP1 or the EP3 receptors and measured changes in core temperature (Tc) by using telemetry. In WT mice, i.p. injection of LPS at 10 microg kg(-1) increased Tc about 1 degrees C, peaking 2 h after injection. At 100 microg kg(-1), LPS increased Tc, peaking 5-8 h after injection. LPS at 1 mg kg(-1) decreased Tc, reaching a nadir at 5-8 h after injection. In EP1 receptor knockout (KO) mice injected with 10 microg kg(-1) LPS, only the initial (< 40 min) increase in Tc was lacking; with 100 microg kg(-1) LPS the mice showed no febrile response. In EP3 receptor KO mice, LPS decreased Tc in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, in EP3 receptor KO mice subcutaneous injection of turpentine did not induce fever. Both EP1 and EP3 receptor KO mice showed a normal circadian cycle of Tc and brief hyperthermia following psychological stress (cage-exchange stress and buddy-removal stress). The present study suggests that both the EP1 and the EP3 receptors play a role in fever induced by systemic inflammation but neither EP receptor is involved in the circadian rise in Tc or psychological stress-induced hyperthermia in mice.

Prostaglandin EP receptor subtypes and gastric cytoprotection

This article reviews recent studies dealing with the relationship between the cytoprotective action of PGE2 and the EP receptor subtypes in the gastric mucosa. Gastric cytoprotection afforded by PGE2 was mimicked by EP1 agonists and attenuated by the EP1 antagonist. Likewise, the adaptive cytoprotection induced by a mild irritant was attenuated by the EP1 antagonist and indomethacin. By contrast, capsaicin-induced protection was mitigated by indomethacin as well as sensory deafferentation but not by the EP1 antagonist. PGE2 failed to provide both direct and adaptive cytoprotection in EP1-receptor knockout mice, while capsaicin-induced protection was observed in the animals lacking either EP1 or EP3 receptors but disappeared in IP receptor knockout mice. We conclude that PGs, either generated endogenously or administered exogenously, exhibit gastric cytoprotection directly through activation of EP1 receptors, and endogenous PGs also contribute to the mucosal protection induced by capsaicin by sensitizing sensory neurons, probably through IP receptors.

16,16-Dimethyl prostaglandin E2 inhibits indomethacin-induced small intestinal lesions through EP3 and EP4 receptors.

We evaluated the effect of various PGE analogs specific to EP receptor subtypes on indomethacin-induced small intestinal lesions in rats and investigated the relationship of EP receptor subtype with the PGE action using EP receptor knockout mice. Animals were administered indomethacin subcutaneously, and they were killed 24 hr later. 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2) or various EP agonists were administered intravenously 10 min before indomethacin. Indomethacin caused hemorrhagic lesions in the rat small intestine, accompanied with an increase in intestinal motility and the number of enteric bacteria as well as iNOS and MPO activities. Prior administration of dmPGE2 dose-dependently prevented intestinal lesions, together with inhibition of those functional changes. These effects of dmPGE2 were mimicked by prostanoids (ONO-NT-012 and ONO-AE1-329), only specific to EP3 or EP4 receptors, although the intestinal motility was inhibited only by ONO-AE1-329. Intestinal mucus secretion and fluid accumulation were decreased by indomethacin but enhanced by dmPGE2, ONO-NT-012, and ONO-AE1-329 at the doses that prevented intestinal lesions. Indomethacin also caused intestinal lesions in both wild-type and knockout mice lacking EP1 or EP3 receptors, yet the protective action of dmPGE2 was observed in wild-type and EP1 receptor knockout mice but not the mice lacking EP3 receptors. These results suggest that the intestinal cytoprotective action of PGE2 against indomethacin is mediated by EP3/EP4 receptors and that this effect is functionally associated with an increase of mucus secretion and enteropooling as well as inhibition of intestinal hypermotility, the former two processes mediated by both EP3 and EP4 receptors, and the latter by EP4 receptors.

Adaptive gastric cytoprotection is mediated by prostaglandin EP1 receptors: A study using rats and knockout mice

Endogenous prostaglandins (PGs) play a central role in adaptive cytoprotection induced in the stomach by mild irritants. In the present study, we used taurocholate (TC) as a mild irritant in both rats and EP-receptor knockout mice, and examined which EP receptor is responsible for the adaptive gastric cytoprotection. Gastric lesions were induced by p.o. administration of HCl/ethanol (60% ethanol in 150 mM HCl). TC (5-20 mM) or PGE2 was administered p.o. 30 min before HCl/ethanol. HCl/ethanol-induced gastric lesions were dose dependently prevented by TC, and the effect at 20 mM was equivalent to that induced by PGE2 at 0.3 mg/kg. The protective effect of TC was significantly attenuated by indomethacin as well as ONO-AE-829, the EP1 antagonist, but not by either NS-398, the selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, or chemical ablation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons. Likewise, the protective action of PGE2 was also antagonized by ONO-AE-829 but not chemical deafferentation. TC significantly increased PGE2 contents in the stomach, with or without chemical deafferentation, and this effect was blocked in the presence of indomethacin but not NS-398 or ONO-AE-829. TC increased the mucosal PGE2 contents similarly in both wild-type and knockout mice lacking EP1 or EP3 receptors, yet the protective action of TC against HCl/ethanol was observed in both wild-type and EP3 receptor knockout mice, but not in mice lacking EP1 receptors. The present findings confirmed a role for endogenous PGE2 produced by COX-1 in adaptive gastric cytoprotection and suggested that this action is mediated by activation of EP1-receptors but not associated with capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons.

Prostaglandin E prevents indomethacin-induced gastric and intestinal damage through different EP receptor subtypes

Gastrointestinal ulcerogenic effect of indomethacin is causally related with an endogenous prostaglandin (PG) deficiency, yet the detailed mechanism remains unknown. We examined the effect of various PGE analogues specific to EP receptor subtypes on these lesions in rats and mice, and investigated which EP receptor subtype is involved in the protective action of PGE 2. Fasted or non-fasted animals were given indomethacin s.c. at 35 mg/kg for induction of gastric lesions or 10–30 mg/kg for intestinal lesions, and they were killed 4 or 24 h later, respectively. Various EP agonists were given i.v. 10 min before indomethacin. Indomethacin caused hemorrhagic lesions in both the stomach and intestine. Prior administration of 16,16-dimethyl PGE 2 (dmPGE 2) prevented the development of damage in both tissues, and the effect in the stomach was mimicked by 17-phenyl PGE2 (EP1), while that in the small intestine was reproduced by ONO-NT-012 (EP3) and ONO-AE-329 (EP4). Butaprost (EP2) did not have any effect on either gastric or intestinal lesions induced by indomethacin. Similar to the findings in rats, indomethacin caused gastric and intestinal lesions in both wild-type and knockout mice lacking EP1 or EP3 receptors. However, the protective action of dmPGE 2 in the stomach was observed in wild-type and EP3 receptor knockout mice but not in mice lacking EP1 receptors, while that in the intestine was observed in EP1 knockout as well as wild-type mice but not in the animals lacking EP3 receptors. These results suggest that indomethacin produced damage in the stomach and intestine in a PGE 2-sensitive manner, and exogenous PGE 2 prevents gastric and intestinal ulcerogenic response to indomethacin through different EP receptor subtypes; the protection in the stomach is mediated by EP1 receptors, while that in the intestine mediated by EP3/EP4 receptors.

Gastrointestinal cytoprotection by prostaglandin E and EP receptor subtypes

Endogenous prostaglandins (PGs) play important roles in modulating the mucosal integrity and various functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Among them, E-type PGs are most effective in these actions. This article reviews recent studies dealing with the relationship of the cytoprotective action of PGE2- and EP-receptor subtypes in the gastrointestinal mucosa. PGE2 exerts gastric cytoprotection against HCl/ethanol and indomethacin. These effects were mimicked by only EP1 agonists and attenuated by EP1 antagonists. Likewise, the adaptive cytoprotection induced by a mild irritant was attenuated by EP1 antagonists as well as indomethacin. On the other hand, the protective effect of dmPGE2 against indomethacin-induced small intestinal lesions was mimicked by only EP3 and EP4 agonists. Similar results were obtained in EP-receptor knockout mice; i.e., PGE2 failed to exhibit both direct and adaptive cytoprotection in EP1-receptor knockout mice, while the protective action in both the duodenum and small intestine was hampered in EP3-receptor knockout mice. The underlying mechanism related to these actions of PGE2 in the stomach, duodenum or small intestine may be related to inhibition of stomach contraction, stimulation of duodenal alkaline secretion, or suppression of bacterial translocation due to inhibition of intestinal contraction as well as stimulation of mucus secretion, respectively.

Prostaglandin E Inhibits Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Lesions through EP-1 Receptors

Backgrounds and Aims: We examined the effect of various prostaglandin E (PGE) analogs specific to EP receptor subtypes on indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in rats and investigated which EP receptor subtype is involved in the protective action of PGE₂ using EP-receptor knockout mice. Methods: Gastric lesions were induced by subcutaneous administration of indomethacin (35 mg/kg). Gastric motility was measured using a balloon method, while neutrophil chemotaxis determined using a Boyden chamber. Results: Indomethacin-induced gastric lesions were significantly prevented by PGE₂ as well as atropine, and the former effect was mimicked by sulprostone (EP₁/EP₃) and 17-phenyl PGE₂ (EP₁) and antagonized by an EP₁ antagonist, ONO-AE-829. Neither butaprost (EP₂), ONO-NT-012 (EP₃) nor 11-deoxy PGE₁ (EP₃/EP₄) showed any protection on the lesions. Indomethacin caused a marked increase in gastric motility; the response preceded the onset of lesions and was inhibited by atropine as well as PGE derivatives acting as EP₁ receptors. Neutrophil chemotaxis was inhibited by PGE₂, butaprost and slightly by 11-deoxy PGE₁, but not by either 17-phenyl PGE₂, ONO-NT-012 or atropine. In addition, indomethacin caused damage similarly in both wild-type and knockout mice lacking EP₁ or EP₃ receptors, yet the protective action of PGE₂ was observed in wild-type and EP₃ receptor knockout mice but totally disappeared in mice lacking EP₁ receptors. Conclusion: PGE₂ inhibits indomethacin-induced gastric lesions, through EP₁ receptors, and this effect may be functionally associated with inhibition of gastric motility but not of neutrophil activation/migration.

The roles of prostaglandin E receptor subtypes in the cytoprotective action of prostaglandin E2 in rat stomach.

To investigate the EP receptor subtype involved in the gastroprotective action of prostaglandin (PG) E2 using various EP receptor agonists in rats, and using knockout mice lacking EP1 or EP3 receptors. Male SD rats and C57BL/6 mice were used after an 18-h fast. Gastric lesions were induced by oral administration of HCl/ethanol (150 mM HCl in 60% ethanol). Rats were given various EP agonists i.v. 10 min before HCl/ethanol: PGE2, sulprostone (EP1/EP3 agonist), butaprost (EP2 agonist), 17-phenyl-omega-trinorPGE2 (17-phenylPGE2: EP1 agonist), ONO-NT012 (EP3 agonist) and 11-deoxyPGE1 (EP3/EP4 agonist). In a separate study, the effect of PGE2 on HCl/ethanol lesions was examined in EP1- and EP3-receptor knockout mice. Gastric lesions induced by HCl/ethanol were dose dependently prevented by PGE2: this effect was mimicked by sulprostone and 17-phenylPGE2 and was significantly antagonized by ONO-AE-829, an EP1 antagonist. Neither butaprost, ONO-NT012 nor 11-deoxyPGE1 exhibited any protective activity against HCl/ethanol-induced gastric lesions. PGE2 caused an inhibition of gastric motility as well as an increase of mucosal blood flow and mucus secretion, the effects being mimicked by prostanoids activating EP1 receptors, EP2/EP3/EP4 receptors and EP4 receptors, respectively. On the other hand, although HCl/ethanol caused similar damage in both wild-type mice and knockout mice lacking EP1 or EP3 receptors, the cytoprotective action of PGE2 observed in wild-type and EP3-receptor knockout mice totally disappeared in mice lacking EP1 receptors. The gastric cytoprotective action of PGE2 is mediated by activation of EP1 receptors. This effect may be functionally associated with inhibition of gastric motility but not with increased mucosal blood flow or mucus secretion.

Prostaglandin receptors: their role in regulating renal function.

Renal cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 actively metabolize arachidonate to metabolism five primary prostanoids: prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2a, prostaglandin I2, thromboxane A2, and prostaglandin D2. These lipid mediators interact with a family of distinct G-protein-coupled prostanoid receptors designated EP, FP, IP, TP, and DP, respectively, which exert important regulatory effects on renal function. The intrarenal distribution of these prostanoid receptors has been mapped and the consequences their activation are being characterized. The FP, TP, and EP1 receptors preferentially couple to increased cell Ca2+. EP2, EP4, DP, and IP receptors stimulate cyclic adenosine monophosphate, whereas the EP3 receptor preferentially couples to Gi, inhibiting cyclic adenosine monophosphate generation. EP1 and EP3 messenger RNA expression predominate in the collecting duct and thick limb, respectively, where their stimulation reduces sodium chloride and water absorption, promoting natriuresis and diuresis. Interestingly, only a mild change in renal water handling is seen in the EP3 receptor knockout mouse. Although only low levels EP2 receptor messenger RNA are detected in kidney and its precise intrarenal localization is uncertain, mice with targeted disruption of the EP2 receptor display salt-sensitive hypertension, suggesting it also plays an important role in salt excretion. In contrast, EP4 messenger RNA is readily detected in the glomerulus where it may contribute to the regulation of renin release and decrease glomerular resistance. TP receptors are also highly expressed in the glomerulus, where they may increase glomerular vascular resistance. The IP receptor messenger RNA is most highly expressed in the afferent arteriole and it may also modulate renal arterial resistance and renin release. At present there is little evidence for DP receptor expression in the kidney. Together these receptors act as physiologic buffers that protect the kidney from excessive functional changes during periods of physiologic stress. Loss of the combined effects of these receptors contributes to the side effects seen in the setting of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration, whereas selective antagonists for these receptors may provide new therapeutic approaches in disease.

Impaired duodenal bicarbonate secretion and mucosal integrity in mice lacking prostaglandin E–receptor subtype EP 3

Background & Aims: To examine the involvement of EP 3 receptors in physiological regulation of duodenal HCO 3 − secretion, we disrupted the gene encoding EP receptors in mice by homologous recombination and evaluated acid-induced HCO 3 − secretion, which is physiologically important in the mucosal defense against acid injury, using EP 1- and EP 3-receptor knockout mice. Methods: The experiments were performed in the following 3 groups of mice after 18 hours of fasting: wild-type [WT (+/+)] mice, EP 1-receptor knockout [EP 1 (−/−)] mice, and EP 3-receptor knockout [EP 3 (−/−)] mice. Under urethane anesthesia, the proximal duodenal loop was perfused with saline that was gassed with 100% O 2, heated at 37°C, and kept in a reservoir, and HCO 3 − secretion was measured at pH 7.0 using a pH-stat method and by adding 5 mmol/L HCl. Results: The duodenum of WT (+/+) mice increased HCO 3 − secretion in response to luminal perfusion of prostaglandin E 2 and forskolin as well as mucosal acidification. The latter effect was significantly inhibited by prior administration of indomethacin. HCO 3 − response to acid was observed in EP 1 (−/−) mice but disappeared totally in EP 3 (−/−) animals, although the acidification increased mucosal PGE 2 generation by similar degrees in all groups. The HCO 3 − stimulatory action of PGE 2 was also absent in EP 3 (−/−) but not EP 1 (−/−) mice, but forskolin effect was observed in both groups of animals, similar to WT (+/+) mice. Perfusion of the duodenum with 20 mmol/L HCl for 4 hours caused severe damage in EP 3 (−/−) mice and WT (+/+) animals pretreated with indomethacin, but not in EP 1 (−/−) mice. Conclusions: The presence of EP 3-receptors is essential for maintaining duodenal HCO 3 − secretion and mucosal integrity against luminal acid. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1999;117:1128-1135

Characterization of PGE2-induced pain responses by use of EP1 receptor knockout mice

Characterization of PGE2-induced pain responses by use of EP1 receptor knockout mice