The effect of rat amylin on gastric emptying and intestinal transit in the rat was examined. Amylin administered intracerebroventricularly (1, 2, 2.5 or 4 micrograms/rat) produced the maximal decrease in gastric emptying and intestinal transit at the dose of 2.5 micrograms/rat. Higher doses produced a lower effect. Peripheral administration (25, 50 or 100 micrograms/kg) produced dose-dependent effects. Pre-treatment with neostigmine blocked the effect of amylin when it was centrally injected, while the effect of amylin given peripherally was partially reduced. Pre-treatment with domperidone decreased the inhibitory effect of peripherally injected amylin, but no effect was observed when the peptide was centrally injected.
Reports from various countries suggest that tobacco smoking might protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection, since the prevalence of smoking in COVID-19 hospitalized patients is lower than in the respective general population. Apart from nicotine or other chemicals contained in tobacco smoke, we propose that a single-stranded RNA virus that infects tobacco leaves, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), might be implicated in this effect. TMV, though non-pathogenic, is found in smokers’ airways, and stimulates adaptive and innate immunity, with release of specific antibodies and interferons. The latter may have preventive and/or therapeutic effects against COVID-19.
If confirmed by epidemiological and interventional studies, this might lead to the use of TMV as an immunological adjuvant against SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease.
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