Abstract

The dissociation constants (Kd values) of substance P (SP), physalaemin, kassinin, and SP analogues acting on SP receptors in guinea pig ileal longitudinal muscle strips were determined by the pharmacological procedures of Furchgott [Adv. Drug Res. 3:21-55 (1966)]. This method involves analysis of the concentration-response data before and after fractional inactivation of receptors with phenoxybenzamine (2 X 10(-5) M). Estimations of the Kd values for SP were similar when phenoxybenzamine was incubated for 10, 13, or 15 min. Coincubation with high concentrations of SP protected against receptor inactivation with phenoxybenzamine, but bradykinin and serotonin did not cross-protect SP receptors. Kd values for SP were similar when trypsin was substituted for phenoxybenzamine [Kd = 8.1 +/- 4 nM (n = 9) versus 10 +/- 6 nM (n = 5)]. In atropinized preparations the Kd values obtained for physalaemin were similar to those obtained for untreated preparations [Kd = 8.0 +/- 3.6 nM (n = 5) and 12.6 +/- 3 nM (n = 4), respectively]. The effects of phenoxybenzamine on concentration-response curves for kassinin showed greater shifts to the right with phenoxybenzamine. This indicated that kassinin may interact with another population of receptors, in addition to the sites that SP and other analogues bind. A direct correlation was found between EC50 values and Kd values and Kd values for SP and SP analogues. It was estimated that, for SP, a 20% receptor occupancy is required to elicit a 50% response.