CCK(-like) and receptors: structure and phylogeny in a comparative perspective.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin are regulatory peptides in vertebrates. Their homologues are widely present in metazoan animals, in form of cionin in tunicates, neuropeptide-like protein 12 in nematodes and sulfakinin (SK) in arthropods. CCK(-like) peptides exert diverse physiological effects through binding their corresponding receptors, which are important members of the hormone-binding G-protein-coupled receptors. In this paper, CCK(-like) peptides and receptors are reviewed in a comparative way at levels of molecular structure, physiological functions and phylogeny. CCK signalling system is widely involved in the regulation of satiety, gastric acid secretion, pancreatic secretion, anxiety and memory processes in vertebrates. Its counterpart SK in arthropods is also found with similar functions on regulation of satiety and gastrointestinal motility. Co-evolution of peptide and receptor has been recognized through metazoans. The CCK(-like) receptors seem to be evolved from a common ancestor based on the phylogenetic analysis, with species-specific events in arthropods. In addition, tetraploidization has been brought up to study the evolution of receptors. There are 2 receptors in chordates and nematodes, whereas, the number of sulfakinin receptor varies in arthropods from 0 to 2. We discussed here that the presence or absence of the SK signalling system is likely to be related to feeding behaviour.

Molecular cloning and tissue distribution of cholecystokinin-1 receptor (CCK-1R) in yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata and its response to feeding and in vitro CCK treatment.

In vertebrates, the peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) is one of the most important neuroregulatory digestive hormones. CCK acts via CCK receptors that are classified into two subtypes, CCK-1 receptor (CCK-1R; formally CCK-A) and CCK-2 receptor (formally CCK-B). In particular, the CCK-1R is involved in digestion and is regulated by CCK. However, very little information is known about CCK-1R in fish. Therefore, we performed molecular cloning of CCK-1R cDNA from the digestive tract of yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed a high sequence identity between the cloned yellowtail CCK receptor cDNA and CCK-1R, which belongs to the CCK-1R cluster. Furthermore, the expression of yellowtail CCK receptor mRNA was observed in gallbladder, pyloric caeca, and intestines, similarly to CCK-1R mRNA expression in mammals, suggesting that the cloned cDNA is of CCK-1R from yellowtail. In in vivo experiments, the CCK-1R mRNA levels increased in the gallbladder and pyloric caeca after feeding, whereas in vitro, mRNA levels of CCK-1R and digestive enzymes in cultured pyloric caeca increased by the addition of CCK. These results suggest that CCK-1R plays an important role in digestion stimulated by CCK in yellowtail.

Occupation of low-affinity cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors by CCK activates signal transduction and stimulates amylase secretion in pancreatic acinar cells.

Based on the effects of monensin on binding of 125I-CCK-8 and its lack of effect on CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion we previously proposed that pancreatic acinar cells possess three classes of CCK receptors: high-affinity receptors, low-affinity receptors and very low-affinity receptors [1]. In the present study we treated pancreatic acini with carbachol to induce a complete loss of high-affinity CCK receptors and then examined the action of CCK-8 on inositol trisphosphate IP3(1,4,5), cytosolic calcium and amylase secretion in an effort to confirm and extend our previous hypothesis. We found that first incubating pancreatic acini with 10 mM carbachol decreased binding of 125I-CCK-8 measured during a second incubation by causing a complete loss of high-affinity CCK receptors with no change in the low-affinity CCK receptors. Carbachol treatment of acini, however, did not alter the action of CCK-8 on IP3(1,4,5), cytosolic calcium or amylase secretion or the action of CCK-JMV-180 on amylase secretion or on the supramaximal inhibition of amylase secretion caused by CCK-8. The present findings support our previous hypothesis that pancreatic acinar cells possess three classes of CCK receptors and suggest that high-affinity CCK receptors do not mediate the action of CCK-8 on enzyme secretion, that low-affinity CCK receptors may mediate the action of CCK on cytosolic calcium that does not involve IP3(1,4,5) and produce the upstroke of the dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion and that very low-affinity CCK receptors mediate the actions of CCK on IP3(1,4,5) and cytosolic calcium and produce the downstroke of the dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion. Moreover, CCK-JMV-180 is a full agonist for stimulating amylase secretion by acting at low-affinity CCK receptors and is an antagonist at very low-affinity CCK receptors.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced stimulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in adult male rhesus monkeys: examination of the role of CCK in nutritional regulation of LH secretion.

Studies were performed with the overall goal of testing the hypothesis that cholecystokinin (CCK), a peptide hormone released from the gastrointestinal tract in response to meal consumption, provides a metabolic signal which modulates LH secretion in response to changes in the body's nutritional intake. In an initial study to document the effects of CCK on LH secretion in adult male rhesus monkeys, sulfated CCK-8 (7 and 15 micrograms/kg) was administered to six monkeys, and blood samples were collected from indwelling venous catheters. The 15-micrograms/kg dose of CCK elicited a rapid release of LH, with peak LH levels of 31.29 +/- 7.19 ng/ml occurring within 5-15 min. To determine the CCK receptor type mediating the effect of CCK on LH secretion, specific CCK type-A (L-364,718) and type-B (L-365,260) receptor antagonists (1 mg/kg) were administered to five monkeys 15 min before CCK administration. The CCK-A antagonist completely blocked LH secretion in response to CCK, whereas the CCK-B antagonist had no effect. To assess whether endogenous CCK, released in response to food intake, stimulates LH secretion, six monkeys were fasted for 1 day and then provided with a normal meal of monkey chow (i.e. a refeed meal) the following day, with either no antagonist, CCK-A antagonist, or CCK-B antagonist administered 30 min before the meal. As previously demonstrated, meal consumption after a brief period of fasting caused a rapid stimulation of pulsatile LH secretion. The refeed meal led to a comparable stimulation of LH secretion regardless of whether monkeys received no antagonist (3.7 +/- 0.44 LH pulses/9 h), CCK-A antagonist (3.33 +/- 0.56 LH pulses/9 h), or CCK-B antagonist (4.0 +/- 0.78 LH pulses/9 h). These results indicate that CCK can stimulate LH secretion in adult male rhesus monkeys, acting via type-A CCK receptors. However, endogenous CCK released in response to meal intake does not appear to be responsible for the meal-induced stimulation of LH secretion that occurs when monkeys are fed a normal meal after a brief period of fasting.

Distribution of cholecystokinin receptors in the bovine brain: a quantitative autoradiographic study.

Quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography was used to study the distribution of cholecystokin receptors in the bovine brain. [125I]Bolton-Hunter cholecystokinin octapeptide binding was described in whole hemisphere sagittal and coronal sections using cholecystokinin octapeptide, devazepide and L-365,260 as competitors to identify the subtypes. High levels of cholecystokinin receptors were found in the cortex, where they presented a laminar distribution which varied from area to area. The basal ganglia, the caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens and putamen presented high to moderate levels of cholecystokinin binding, whereas only very low labelling was found in the globus pallidus. Cholecystokinin binding was present in all portions of the bovine hippocampus; high levels were found in the dentate gyrus, CA1 subfield of Ammon's horn, subiculum and presubiculum. Moderate to high levels were also found in the amygdala, inferior colliculus and olfactory tract, while most of the hypothalamic and thalamic nuclei exhibited very low or no cholecystokinin binding. Low cholecystokinin binding was uniformly distributed across cell layers of the bovine cerebellar cortex. Competition of [125I]Bolton-Hunter cholecystokinin octapeptide binding in the cortex, nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, hippocampus, cerebellum and brainstem was much greater in the presence of L-365,260 than devazepide, thereby suggesting that the majority of cholecystokinin receptors in these regions are of the cholecystokinin-B subtype. The results of this study, when compared to distribution profiles in other mammalian species, provide further evidence for species differences in the distribution of cholecystokinin receptors in the brain. The results also support the possible interaction between cholecystokinin and dopaminergic systems in areas of the brain containing dopaminergic terminals, such as the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen and olfactory tubercle.

"Gastrin" and "CCK" receptors on histamine- and somatostatin-containing cells from rabbit fundic mucosa-II. Characterization by means of selective antagonists (L-364,718 and L-365,260).

In the preceding paper, by means of selective agonists to gastrin (HG-17) and cholecystokinin (CCK-39), we evidenced the existence of "gastrin-type" receptors that could regulate histamine release and "CCK-type" receptors that could stimulate somatostatin release in isolated rabbit fundic non-parietal cells (F1 cells). Furthermore, these receptors could induce phosphoinositide breakdown. To confirm the involvement of these receptor types in these biological and biochemical processes, we used selective antagonists, L-364,718 (3-(benzoylamino)-benzodiazepine) specific to "CCK-A-type" receptor and L-365,260 (3-(acylamino)-benzodiazepine) specific to "gastrin/CCK-B-type" receptor. Neither L-364,718 nor L-365,260 alone caused any significant stimulation of [3H]inositol phosphate ([3H]InsP) production and release of histamine or somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI). Each analogue inhibited in a dose-dependent manner [125I]HG-17 or [125I]CCK-39 binding to F1 cells, [3H]InsP accumulation and histamine and SLI release stimulated by HG-17 or CCK-39. L-365,260 appeared to be 30-70 times more potent than L-364,718 in inhibiting [125I]HG-17 binding to F1 cells, as well as HG-17-induced [3H]InsP accumulation and HG-17-or CCK-39-enhanced histamine release (IC50 values: approximately 5-20 nM for L-365,260 and approximately 200-1500 nM for L-364,718). In contrast, L-364,718 was 200 to 400 times more potent than L-365,260 in inhibiting [125I]CCK-39 binding to F1 cells, CCK-39-induced [3H]-InsP accumulation and SLI release stimulated by CCK-39 or HG-17 (IC50 values: approximately 0.3-1 nM for L-364,718 and 100-200 nM for L-365,260). These results led to conclude: (i) the existence of a "gastrin-type" receptor related to histamine release: (ii) the existence of a "CCK-A-type" receptor related to somatostatin release; (iii) the existence of "gastrin type" and "CCK-A-type" receptors linked to the phosphoinositide breakdown pathway.

Cholecystokinin receptors mediate the development of a preference for the mother by newly born lambs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of selective cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonists on the development of a preference for the mother by newly born lambs. At birth lambs received an injection of the CCK-A antagonist devazepide (0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg), the CCK-B antagonist PD135158 (0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg), or saline for the controls (1 ml/kg). No major side effects were observed in the first 4 postnatal hours except that lambs receiving PD135158 displayed more exploratory behavior towards the maternal body than lambs from the other groups. When tested in a 2-choice test situation at 24 hr of age, lambs treated with PD135158 or saline spent significantly more time near their dams than near the alien ewes, whereas lambs treated with devazepide did not show any discrimination. The effect of devazepide persisted at 48 hr of age. The use of a CCK-A antagonist, but not a CCK-B antagonist, was concluded to prevent the formation of a preferential relationship between the lamb and its mother, most probably by impairing neonatal learning.

The CCK-B receptor antagonist Cl 988 reverses tolerance to morphine in rats.

The ability of the selective cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B) receptor antagonist Cl 988 to reverse tolerance to morphine's antinociceptive effect was investigated with the hot-plate test in Sprague-Dawley rats. Tolerance was induced by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of 10 mg kg-1 morphine twice daily for four days. On the fifth day rats were administered CI 988 (10 mg kg-1) or saline plus 5 mg kg-1 morphine s.c. Significant antinociception was observed in the group that received the CCK-B antagonist plus morphine, whereas the saline plus morphine group exhibited total tolerance. These results suggest that upregulation of the endogenous CCK system during repeated morphine administration may have an important role in the development of opiate tolerance.

Different effects of CCK antagonists on gastric-acid response to CCK and pentagastrin.

The role of CCK receptor subtypes in peptide-stimulated acid secretion was assessed in six unanesthetized rats. The CCK-stimulated acid secretion was not blocked by L-365,260, a CCKB/gastrin receptor antagonist, and was significantly increased by devazepide, a CCKA receptor antagonist, given alone or together with L-365,260. L-365,260, but not devazepide, blocked pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion, and, when given together, devazepide abolished the effect of L-365,260. We conclude: 1) pentagastrin stimulates acid secretion through a gastrin-type receptor, but CCK may not, and 2) pentagastrin and CCK can stimulate acid secretion despite simultaneous blockade of CCKB/gastrin and CCKA receptors.

Signaling pathways mediating gastrin's growth-promoting effects.

In addition to its fundamental role in stimulating gastric acid secretion, the peptide hormone gastrin induces growth-promoting effects on diversity of target cells. Various mechanisms, including endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine, have been proposed for gastrin's growth-promoting actions. The mitogenic effects of gastrin are mediated by specific cell surface receptors activated after gastrin binding. The functionally defined receptors for gastrin include cholecystokinin A (CCKA) receptor, which is discriminating for sulfated CCK8; cholecystokinin B (CCKB)/gastrin receptor, which binds gastrin17 sulfated, and nonsulfated CCK8 with nearly equal affinities; cholecystokinin C (CCKC), which is a low-affinity gastrin binding protein; and novel, high-affinity receptors selective for amidated gastrin, processing intermediates of gastrin, or both. The signaling pathways mediating gastrin's stimulation of the CCKB/gastrin receptor have been progressively outlined, and the pathways mediating other receptors have been slowly emerging. Engagement of the gastrin receptor initiates various biochemical and molecular events, including recruitment and activation of tyrosine kinases, activation of the phospholipase C signaling pathway leading to phosphoinositide breakdown, intracellular calcium mobilization and protein kinase C stimulation, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, and induction of early response genes. Current emphasis is on understanding the functional significance of processing intermediate forms of gastrin, and the receptor subtypes and pathways that promote the trophic/mitogenic effects of the different molecular forms of gastrin.

Effects of selective cholecystokinin antagonists L364,718 and L365,260 on food intake in rats.

The selective type A and B cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists L364,718 and L365,260 were used to identify the receptor subtype that mediates the satiety effect of endogenous CCK. Male rats (n = 12-13/group), fed ground rat chow ad lib, received L364,718 (0, 1, 10, 100, or 1000 micrograms/kg IP) or L365,260 (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000, or 10,000 micrograms/kg IP) 2 h after lights off, and food intake was measured 1.5, 3.5, and 5.5 h later. L364,718 significantly stimulated 1.5-h food intake by more than 40% at 10 micrograms/kg and higher doses; cumulative intake at 3.5 and 5.5 h remained elevated by about 20% at 1000 and 100 micrograms/kg of L364,718, respectively. In contrast, L365,260 had no significant stimulatory effect on feeding at any dose. The potency of L365,260 for antagonizing gastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion was examined in unanesthetized rats. Male rats (n = 14), prepared with gastric and jugular vein cannulas, received doubling doses of gastrin (G-171) (0.16-5 nmol/kg/h IV), each dose for 30 min, and gastric juice was collected for each 30-min period. G-171 stimulated gastric acid output dose dependently; the minimal effective dose was 0.16 nmol/kg/h, while maximal output (5-fold above basal) occurred at 5 nmol/kg/h. L365,260 (0, 1, 10, 100, 1000, or 10,000 micrograms/kg IV), administered 30 min before continuous infusion of G-171 (1.25 or 5 nmol/kg/h), significantly inhibited acid output only at 10,000 micrograms/kg; cumulative 60-min output was decreased by 60%. These results suggest that CCK acts at CCK-A receptors to produce satiety during the dark period in ad lib-feeding rats.

Brain CCKA receptors mediate the colonic motor response to feeding in dogs.

The influence of central vs. peripheral administration of specific type A and type B CCK receptor antagonists (L364,718 and L365,260, respectively) on colonic motor hyperactivity induced by feeding and CCK8 was investigated in dogs with strain-gauge transducers implanted on the proximal and transverse colon. Intravenous injection of L364,718 (5 and 10 micrograms/kg) reduced by 26.2% and 80.1%, respectively, the 0-4-h postprandial increase in colonic motor index; at similar doses L365,260 had no effect. Intracerebroventricular administration of L364,718, at a dose (1 microgram/kg) not active by the IV route, significantly reduced (p less than 0.01) by 67.5% the feeding-induced colonic hyperactivity. In contrast, L365,260 (1-10 micrograms/kg ICV) injected was inactive. Increase in colonic motility produced by intravenous CCK8 infusion (1 microgram/kg/h) was suppressed by previous ICV and IV administration of L364,718 at doses of 1 and 10 micrograms/kg, respectively, while L365,260 was inactive at similar doses. It is concluded that CCK8 released after a meal is responsible for the postprandial increase in colonic motility and that these effects may be mediated through activation of central CCKA receptors.

Effects of the CCK-A receptor antagonist CR 1409 on the activity of rat midbrain dopamine neurons.

Previous studies have shown that acute intravenous treatment with sulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8S) but not unsulfated CCK-8 increases the number of spontaneously active midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons. This suggested that a peripheral-type (CCK-A) CCK receptor mediates this effect. Proglumide does not discriminate between CCK-A and CCK-B (central-type) receptors. In the present study, rats were treated acutely or repeatedly (14 days) with the selective CCK-A antagonist CR 1409. Repeated treatment with 5 mg/kg (IP) increased the number of spontaneously active DA cells in the A10 (ventral tegmental area) but not the A9 (substantia nigra zona compacta) region, which suggests that these DA populations are differentially affected by prolonged CCK-A receptor blockade. The sensitivity of impulse-regulating DA autoreceptors to the DA agonist quinpirole was not altered by CR 1409.

Several roles of CCKA and CCKB receptor subtypes in CCK-8-induced and LiCl-induced taste aversion conditioning.

Administration of a relatively large IP dose of sulfated cholecystokinin (26-33) (CCK-8; 1.0 mumol/kg) consistently induced moderate taste aversion conditioning (TAC) using a 20-min, one-bottle test in Long-Evans rats. Because CCK-8 has affinity for both CCKA and CCKB receptor subtypes, we wanted to determine the subtype involved in CCK-8-induced TAC. Pretreatment with the selective CCKA antagonist MK-329 (L-364, 718 or devazepide), at doses of 0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 mumol/kg, markedly antagonized (> 70%) CCK-8-induced TAC. Pretreatment with the selective CCKB antagonist L-365,260, at doses of 0.1 or 1.0 mumol/kg, partially antagonized (approximately 50%) CCK-8-induced TAC, although the highest dose of L-365,260. 10.0 mumol/kg, did not. These partial antagonistic effects of L-365,260 on CCK-8-induced TAC were replicated in our second study. In our third study, we observed that another CCKB antagonist, the dipeptoid CI-988, also partially antagonized CCK-8-induced TAC at a dose of 0.1, but not 1.0 or 10.0, mumol/kg. In our final study, pretreatments with a single dose (i.e., 10.0, but not 0.1 or 1.0, mumol/kg) of either MK-329 or L-365,260 were also shown to partially antagonize the formation of moderate TAC induced by treatment with LiCl at 708 mumol/kg. Marked antagonism of LiCl-induced TAC was also observed following pretreatment with the known anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide HCl at 7.4 mumol/kg. Considering the existing data on the induction of TAC by various CCK analogues, we consider an action of CCK-8 on peripheral CCKA, but not CCKB, receptors necessary for the induction of TAC. Our results of partial antagonism of CCK-8- and LiCl-induced TAC by L-365,260, CI-988, or MK-329 suggest, but do not prove, that both CCKA and CCKB mechanisms may be operative during TAC. Because the CCK antagonists affected TAC like chlordiazepoxide, blockade of CCKA and CCKB mechanisms may produce a mild anxiolytic effect.

Presence and localization of CCK receptor subtypes in calf pancreas.

This study was undertaken to confirm the presence of CCK receptor subtypes in calf pancreas and establish their cellular localization. Using specific antibodies against CCKA and CCKB receptors, somatostatin, glucagon and insulin, we were able to confirm by Western blot the presence of both CCK receptor protein subtypes in the calf pancreas as a 80-85-kDa CCKA receptor and 40-45-kDa CCKB receptor. By immunofluorescence, the CCKB receptor colocalizes with the islets' somatostatin delta cells, confirming what was previously shown in other species, as well as on ductal cells. We could not reproduce in the calf its colocalization with glucagon alpha cells as observed in human and rat. Any specific localization of CCKA receptors with our multiple antibodies failed. Our observation that the CCKB receptor subtype is specifically localized on pancreatic delta cells as well as on ductal cells lets us support the hypothesis that in this species, CCK could be involved in somatostatin metabolism as well as hydrelatic secretion; its effect on enzyme secretion would be indirect.

CCK receptor subtype in insulin-producing cells: a combined functional and in situ hybridization study in rat islets and a rat insulinoma cell line.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulates insulin secretion. It is, however, not established whether CCK receptors are expressed in insulin-producing cells. We therefore investigated, by in situ hybridization, whether CCK-A or CCK-B receptor mRNA could be detected in normal rat pancreatic islets and in the rat insulinoma cell line, RINm5F. The CCK-A, but not the CCK-B, receptor transcript was detected in both islets and RINm5F cells. Islet CCK-A receptors were mostly confined to the center of the islets corresponding to the distribution of the B cells. In RINm5F cells, insulin release was not significantly affected by cholecystokinin (CCK)-8-S (10(-13) to 10(-7) M), which is in contrast to the insulinotropic effect of CCK-8-S in normal rat islets. Similarly, in FURA-2AM-loaded cells, CCK-8-S (10(-11) to 10(-7) M) was without effect on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]ic) in RINm5F cells, whereas CCK-8-S (10(-7) M) markedly increased [Ca2+]ic (by 366+/-2 nM (P < 0.001) in normal rat islet cells. We conclude that the CCK-A, but not the CCK-B, receptor subtype is expressed in both normal rat islets and in the rat insulinoma-derived cell line RINmS5F. There is, however, a functional difference between normal islets and the RINm5F cells with respect to effects of CCK-8-S on insulin release and [Ca2+]ic.

Transport of cholecystokinin (CCK) binding sites in subdiaphragmatic vagal branches.

In order to evaluate vagal cholecystokinin (CCK) binding sites as potential target sites for the satiety actions of CCK, their presence, axonal flow and pharmacological specificity in subdiaphragmatic vagal branches were examined by autoradiography utilizing 125I-Bolton Hunter CCK-33. Specific CCK binding and axonal transport were found in vagal trunks and all abdominal vagal branches. Binding was inhibited by unlabelled CCK-8, but not by desulfated CCK-8. The pharmacological specificity and transport of CCK binding sites to subdiaphragmatic branches indicate a potential role in mediating CCK's satiety effect.

Effects of selective CCK receptor agonists on food intake after central or peripheral administration in rats.

In this paper report the effects of peripheral (intraperitoneal, i.p.) and central (intracerebroventricular, i.c.v.) injection of selective cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor agonists on food intake in the rat. Stimulation of peripheral and central CCK-A receptors by the selective CCK-A receptor agonist A-71623 suppressed intakes of a liquid diet in both deprived and sated rats. In contrast, i.c.v., but not i.p., injections of the selective CCK-B receptor agonist A-63387, reduced food intakes, although on a molar basis the effect was much less than that seen with A-71623. Although these results stress the relative importance of the CCK-A receptor in the effects of exogenous CCK-8 administration on feeding, stimulation of the CCK-B receptor may still be involved in the control of feeding following the endogenous release of CCK.

Evidence that CCKB receptors mediate the regulation of exploratory behaviour in the rat.

Peripheral administration of cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4) at non-sedative doses (25-50 micrograms/kg) decreased the exploratory activity of rats in an elevated plus-maze. This effect was antagonized by treatment with CCK receptor antagonists proglumide (1 and 10 mg/kg), lorglumide (0.1 and 1 mg/kg), L 365,260 (10 micrograms/kg) and devazepide (1 mg/kg). The results suggest that the exploratory behaviour of rats can be altered by pharmacological manipulations at CCK-B receptors.

Species differences in the localization of 'peripheral' type cholecystokinin receptors in rodent brain.

A comparison of cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor binding to sections of rat, mouse and guinea pig brain has been performed using 125I-Bolton Hunter CCK and the selective peripheral CCK receptor antagonist L-365,031. In both rat and mouse, 125I-Bolton Hunter CCK binding in the region of the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) was inhibited by L-365,031 indicating that these receptors resemble CCK receptors found in peripheral tissues. In the mouse especially, dense regions of peripheral CCK receptors were detected either side of the IPN. By contrast, in the guinea pig IPN no evidence of L-365,031-sensitive binding could be found. The present reports shows that in different species, regional variations in brain CCK receptor binding occur not only in the case of classical 'brain' receptors, but also for the more discretely localised 'peripheral' type CCK receptors.