Studies on the mechanism of action of the bipyridine milrinone on the heart

Abstract

Milrinone is a positive inotropic and vasodilator agent when tested in experimental animals and in human heart-failure patients. It is generally believed that milrinone acts by inhibiting phosphodiesterase IV, thus increasing cyclic AMP, [Ca++]i and cardiac contractile force and relaxation. Maximal force produced by milrinone is greater when single-dose response curves are compared to cumulative dose-response curves. In vitro, milrinone produces a tachyphylaxis, the extent of which is both dose- and time-dependent. Recovery of tachyphylaxis is both dose- and time-dependent and is not influenced by inhibitors of protein or RNA synthesis. There is a specific cross-tachyphylaxis between milrinone and amrinone, theophylline, papaverine, and Bay K8644. This tachyphylaxis may explain the low maximal contractile response of the cumulative dose-response observed in isolated tissues. Milrinone increased cyclic AMP in dog and guinea pig cardiac muscle. As previously shown by Endoh et al., milrinone in low doses produced a biphasic effect on cyclic AMP. The early increase (first 60-70 s) in cyclic AMP shows a good correlation with contractile force changes. If cyclic AMP is determined at maximal contractile force this correlation was poor. Here we also present instances where the increase in cyclic AMP after milrinone (determined at maximal effect) does not correlate with the contractile response. The cross-tachyphylaxis of milrinone with Bay K8644 suggests that milrinone has an action on the sarcolemmal Ca++ channels. Bay K8644 suppresses the positive inotropic effect of catecholamines by 50%, but not the cyclic AMP response. The inotropic effect of milrinone, in contrast to norepinephrine is highly sensitive to [Ca++]0, stimulation rate, and [K+]0. In this respect milrinone behaves more like Bay K8644. We postulate that the main inotropic action of milrinone is due to a sarcolemmal effect. The early cyclic AMP production described could be in the sarcolemmal compartment and this may explain some of the similarities of milrinone's actions with those of Bay K8644. The tachyphylaxis observed with the inotropic effect of milrinone does not extend to the decreases in relaxation time. This and other findings to be discussed suggest that the positive inotropic and reduction in relaxation time by milrinone depend on different mechanisms, possibly through differential compartmentalization of cyclic AMP.