Effect of the carboxyl-terminal of endokinins on SP-induced pain-related behavior.

The preprotachykinin C gene encodes four endokinins, A, B, C, and D. Endokinins A and B and substance P (SP) are typical tachykinin peptides since their carboxyl-terminal regions share an F-F-G-L-M-amide, while endokinins C and D share an F-Q-G-L-L-amide. It is demonstrated that pretreatment with a peptide consisting of a common sequence between endokinins C and D (EKC/D) attenuates the induction of scratching behavior and thermal hyperalgesia by intrathecal administration of SP or EKA/B (the carboxyl-terminal dacapeptide common in endokinins A and B), suggesting that leucine at the carboxyl-terminal of EKC/D may have a crucial role in eliciting these effects. When the effect of [Leu(11)]-SP and [Leu(10)]-EKA/B on SP-induced pain-related behavior was examined, the induction of pain-related behavior was markedly attenuated by pretreatment with these peptides. This indicates that leucine at the carboxyl-terminal of these peptides plays a crucial role in eliciting this antagonistic effect.