Receptor subtypes Y1 and Y5 are involved in the renal effects of neuropeptide Y.

1. Systemic infusion of neuropeptide Y (NPY) reduces renal blood flow and can concomitantly increase diuresis, natriuresis and calciuresis in anaesthetized rats. The present study was designed to investigate whether the apparently contradictory NPY effects on renal blood flow and urine formation and composition are mediated by distinct NPY receptor subtypes. 2. NPY and its analogues, peptide YY (PYY), [Leu31, Pro34]NPY and NPY13-36, were infused in incremental doses of 0.3, 1 and 3 micrograms kg-1 min-1 for 45 min each and the results compared to those obtained in vehicle-infused rats. Renal blood flow was monitored in 1-5 min intervals, while urine excretion and composition were determined in 15 min collection periods. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentrations were measured at the end of the final infusion period. 3. Relative to vehicle NPY, PYY and [Leu31, Pro34]NPY dose-dependently reduced renal blood flow and increased diuresis, natriuresis and calciuresis with roughly similar potency; NPY13-36 slightly but significantly increased renal blood flow but had no effect on diuresis, natriuresis and calciuresis. None of the peptides significantly affected endogenous creatinine clearance or kaliuresis. 4. Plasma renin activity was significantly reduced by PYY. Quantitatively similar reductions were observed with NPY and [Leu31, Pro34]NPY but failed to reach statistical significance with the given number of experiments. NPY13-36 did not reduce plasma renin activity. None of the peptides significantly affected plasma aldosterone concentrations. 5. In another series of experiments infusion of PYY3-36 (2 micrograms kg-1 min-1 for 120 min) did not reduce renal blood flow but significantly enhanced diuresis and natriuresis to a similar extent as the NPY 2 micrograms kg-1 min-1. 6. In a final series of experiments the Y1-selective antagonist, BIBP 3226 (1 or 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1) dose-dependently antagonized reductions of renal blood flow elicited by bolus injections of NPY (0.1-30 micrograms kg-1). BIBP 3226 (10 micrograms kg-1 min-1) also inhibited the effects of a 120 min infusion of NPY (2 micrograms kg-1 min-1) on renal blood flow but had only minor inhibitory effects on enhancements of diuresis and did not significantly affect enhancements of natriuresis. 7. We conclude that NPY reduces renal blood via a classical Y1 subtype of NPY receptor. In contrast enhancements of diuresis, natriuresis and calciuresis occur via a distinct subtype which resembles the receptor that mediates NPY-induced enhancement of food intake.

Smoking and ulcerative colitis: a community study.

Smoking habits of patients with ulcerative colitis, diagnosed in the City of Cardiff between the 1st of January 1978 and the 31st of December 1987 were examined. There was a significant deficit of current smokers, an excess of life-long non-smokers and ex-smokers compared with the general population. Men who had previously smoked presented with colitis later than life long non-smokers (mean age difference 16.1 years). The proportion of ex-smokers in this group of patients with colitis was more than twice that expected in the general population. The interval between cessation of smoking and subsequent onset of colitis in ex-smokers was relatively short and in more than half of them occurred within 8 years. There was no significant difference in the frequency of colectomy or the extent of disease among smokers, ex-smokers or life-long non-smokers with ulcerative colitis.