Effect In Papillary Muscles Research Articles

Rate-dependent activation failure in isolated cardiac cells and tissue due to Na+ channel block.

While it is well established that class-I antiarrhythmics block cardiac sodium channels, the mechanism of action of therapeutic levels of these drugs is not well understood. Using a combination of mathematical modeling and in vitro experiments, we studied the failure of activation of action potentials in single ventricular cells and in tissue caused by Na(+) channel block. Our computations of block and unblock of sodium channels by a theoretical class-Ib antiarrhythmic agent predict differences in the concentrations required to cause activation failure in single cells as opposed to multicellular preparations. We tested and confirmed these in silico predictions with in vitro experiments on isolated guinea-pig ventricular cells and papillary muscles stimulated at various rates (2-6.67 Hz) and exposed to various concentrations (5 × 10(-6) to 500 × 10(-6) mol/l) of lidocaine. The most salient result was that whereas large doses (5 × 10(-4) mol/l or higher) of lidocaine were required to inhibit action potentials temporarily in single cells, much lower doses (5 × 10(-6) mol/l), i.e., therapeutic levels, were sufficient to have the same effect in papillary muscles: a hundredfold difference. Our experimental results and mathematical analysis indicate that the syncytial nature of cardiac tissue explains the effects of clinically relevant doses of Na(+) channel blockers.

Possible reasons for the variability of the inotropic insulin effect in papillary muscles of ground squirrel myocardium

The effects of insulin (0.1-50 nM) on isometric twitch force (0.1 to 1.0 Hz; 30 +/- 1 degree C; 1.8 mM Ca(2+)) were studied in right ventricular papillary muscles from active ground squirrels of different seasons (summer, n = 14; autumn, n = 16 and winter interbout, n = 16) in control conditions and after one-hour pretreatment of PM with 2 mkM nifedipine (an L-type Ca(2+)-channel inhibitor) and 1.0 mM orthovanadate (a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor). In active animals of different seasonal periods insulin causes both positive and negative inotropic effects. At low frequencies (0.1-0.5 Hz), insulin of low concentrations (0.1-1.0 nM) induces a transient (within the first 20 min after application) positive effect (about 15-25%). Application of high hormone concentration (10 nM) in a low range of stimulation frequencies causes a biphasic effect (a small initial positive inotropic effect followed by a marked negative one). At frequencies above 0.5-Hz stimulation, insulin of 10 nM concentration causes presumably a negative inotropic effect. It was proposed that ICaL is possibly involved in the insulin-induced negative inotropy in ground squirrels hearts. Alteration of protein phosphorylation in tyrosine residues is known to be a major link in the mechanism of insulin action. We performed a study on orthovanadate action (a known inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatase) on the inotropic insulin effect. In the group of summer animals the pretreatment of papillary muscles with orthovanadate (100 mkM) does not change the negative inotropic effect of insulin in a low range of stimulation frequencies but almost completely removes this effect at stimulation frequencies above 0.3 Hz (n = 4). Nifedipine (1-1.5 hr pretreatment), a blocker of L-type calcium channel, reduces the inhibitory effect of insulin in autumn and winter animals, and on the contrary intensifies it in summer animals. This fact indicates that different mechanisms must be involved in insulin actions in animals of summer and winter periods. The main findings of the present study are that insulin induces positive, negative or no inotropic effects in papillary muscles of ground squirrels myocardium. The character of the effects of insulin depends on the physiological state of animals; time and concentrations of the hormone applied; affected by conditions that alter cellular Ca(2+) loading and the ratio of protein-tyrosine kinases/phosphatases activity.

Studies on the chemistry of thienoanellated O, N- and S, N-containing heterocycles. Part 30: Synthesis and pharmacological properties of thieno[2,3- b][1,4]thiazines with potential vasopressin receptor antagonistic activity

A series of new nonpeptide vasopressin antagonists with a 6-ethyl-thieno[2,3- b][1,4]thiazine or 6-benzyl-thieno[2,3- b][1,4]thiazine skeleton and structural modifications of the aryl side chain were synthesized in this study. The effects on guinea pig heart and smooth muscle preparations were investigated. In the presence of AVP the compounds showed an antagonistic effect. The compounds did not change spontaneous rate in right atria and exerted a slight but not significant negative inotropic effect in papillary muscles. The relaxing effect on vascular smooth muscle and terminal ileum was far more pronounced. Generally the relaxing effect on terminal ilea was more potent maybe due to difference in V 1a receptor density. Our results demonstrate that compounds with an ethyl group in position six on the thienothiazine ring ( 14, 16, 18 and 22) exerted the most potent relaxing activity in terminal ilea, whereas compounds with a phenyl ring in position six reduced this effect.

On minimum cyclic AMP formation rates associated with positive inotropic effects mediated through ?1-adrenoceptors in kitten myocardium

The agonist (-)-denopamine was used as a tool to study relationships between pharmacological effects and adenylate cyclase stimulation mediated through beta 1-adrenoceptors. 1. (-)-Denopamine was a full agonist in kitten papillary muscles (force), kitten left atria (force) and kitten and guinea-pig atria (sinoatrial frequency). (-)-Denopamine was a strong partial agonist in guinea-pig tracheae (relaxation). None of these effects was influenced by blockade of beta 2-adrenoceptors. beta 1-Adrenoceptors mediated all effects of (-)-denopamine in atria and effects of low (-)-denopamine concentrations in papillary muscles and tracheae, as assessed with beta 1-selective antagonists. 2. High (-)-denopamine concentrations caused positive inotropic effects in papillary muscles and tracheorelaxant effects that were resistant to blockade by beta 1-, beta 2- and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists (non-adrenergic effects). 3. (-)-Denopamine stimulated the adenylate cyclase of membranes derived from kitten ventricle and calf tracheal cells with an intrinsic activity of 0.3 and 0.2, respectively, compared to catecholamines. The contribution of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors to cyclase stimulation was assessed by selective blockade. Cyclase stimulation through beta 2-adrenoceptors by (-)-denopamine was 12% in ventricle and 82% in trachea but is not associated with positive inotropic effects and tracheal relaxation. 4. (-)-Denopamine exhibited only a 2- to 5-fold selectivity for beta 1-adrenoceptors compared to beta 2-adrenoceptors, as estimated consistently from binding assays and blockade of cyclase stimulation in myocardial and tracheal cell membranes. 5. Desensitization of kitten ventricular tissues, caused by a 3 h exposure to 30 mumol/l (-)-isoprenaline followed by 5 h washout, reduced the inotropic sensitivity of papillary muscles without decreasing the maximum inotropic effects of (-)-denopamine. In desensitized tissues, the nonadrenergic effect contributed by 30% to the maximum inotropic effect of (-)-denopamine. 6. In membranes, derived from desensitized tissues, the maximum adenylate cyclase stimulation induced by (-)-isoprenaline, (-)-denopamine and xamoterol was reduced to 1/2 of the corresponding stimulations observed in membranes from sham desensitized tissues. The density of beta-adrenoceptors, assessed with 3H-(-)-CGP 12,177, was not changed by the desensitization procedure suggesting that part of the receptors was uncoupled from the adenylate cyclase. The partial inotropic agonist xamoterol, which has an intrinsic activity of 0.5 in non-desensitized tissues, failed to cause positive inotropic effects in desensitized papillary muscles suggesting that not all cyclic AMP possesses inotropic relevance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The effect of the Fusarium metabolite beauvericin on electromechanical and -physiological properties in isolated smooth and heart muscle preparations of guinea pigs.

The electromechanical and -physiological effects of beauvericin were studied in isolated smooth and heart muscle preparations of the guinea pig. Beauvericin concentration-dependently decreased the force of contraction in precontracted (60 mM KCl) terminal ilea with an IC50 of 0.86 microM, and in electrically stimulated (1 Hz) papillary muscles with an IC50 of 18 microM. This negative inotropic effect in papillary muscles was antagonised in a non-competitive way by increased extracellular calcium concentrations. Spontaneous activity in right atria was affected at concentrations > 10 microM beauvericin. The negative chronotropic effect was less pronounced than the negative inotropic effect. In action potentials of electrically driven (1 Hz) papillary muscles, 10 microM beauvericin significantly decreased membrane resting potential until unexcitability of the preparation occurred. Despite depolarisation of the membrane the maximum rate of rise of the action potential was not changed. The action potential duration was shortened, but the decrease was only significant at times to 20% and 50% repolarisation. These data, derived from the electrophysiological experiments, not only imply an effect on the calcium current as suggested by the effects on contractility, but also an interaction with the sodium inward and potassium outward currents.

Small doses of canrenone block the effects of ouabain on the mechanical activity of the heart and vessels of the rat.

Canrenone has been described as an antihypertensive drug that blocks endogenous ouabain effects in volume-dependent hypertensive models. Considering that some canrenone metabolites may be putative mutagenic factors, therapeutic dose reduction might be advantageous if the blockade of ouabain effects is maintained. In this study, the effects of low doses or concentrations of canrenone were investigated in rats by using isolated papillary muscles, Langendorff-perfused hearts, perfused rat-tail vascular bed, and anesthetized animals. Canrenone (0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mg/ml) produced a dose-dependent negative inotropic effect in papillary muscles contracting isometrically and blocked the positive inotropic effect produced by 660 microM ouabain. In Langendorff-perfused hearts beating spontaneously, a low concentration of canrenone (10 microg/ml) increased the isovolumic systolic pressure obtained at several diastolic pressures. Higher concentrations of canrenone (20, 30 microg/ml) brought the isovolumic pressure toward control values, and 100 microg/ml canrenone produced an isovolumic pressure reduction. In these preparations, 20 microg/ml canrenone reduced significantly the positive inotropic effects of 100 microM ouabain. Investigating the vascular smooth muscle reactivity to phenylephrine (PE; 0.5, 1, and 2 microg bolus injections) in the perfused rat-tail vascular bed, it was observed that canrenone blocked completely the enhancement of PE pressor effect produced by 1-h treatment with 100 microM ouabain. Similar results were obtained with the arterial blood pressure reactivity to PE in anesthetized rats. In these animals, canrenone (1 mg/kg) blocked the sensitizing effect of 18 microg/kg ouabain on PE reactivity. In conclusion, results presented here suggest that canrenone may block ouabain effects at very low concentrations. It blocked myocardial positive inotropic effects of ouabain on both papillary muscle and perfused hearts, and the sensitization of PE pressor effects. The results also suggest that canrenone at very small doses might be used to reduce arterial blood pressure in hypertensive conditions accompanied by increased ouabain plasma levels as the main therapeutic procedure or as an adjunct treatment to prevent ouabain sensitizing effects on pressor responses.

Differences between the third cardiac beta-adrenoceptor and the colonic beta 3-adrenoceptor in the rat.

1. The heart of several species including man contains atypical beta-adrenoceptors, in addition to coexisting beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors. We now asked the question whether or not the third cardiac beta-adrenoceptor is identical to the putative beta 3-adrenoceptor. We compared the properties of the third cardiac beta-adrenoceptor with those of beta 3-adrenoceptors in isolated tissues of the rat. To study the third cardiac beta-adrenoceptor we used spontaneously beating right atria, paced left atria and paced left ventricular papillary muscles. As a likely model for putative beta 3-adrenoceptors we studied atypical beta-adrenoceptors of the colonic longitudinal muscle precontracted with 30 mM KCl. We used beta 3-adrenoceptor-selective agonists, antagonists and non-conventional partial agonists (ie high-affinity blockers of both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors know to exert also stimulant effects through beta 3-adrenoceptors). 2. The non-conventional partial agonist (-)-CGP 12177 caused positive chronotropic effects in right atria (pD2 = 7.3) and positive inotropic effects in left atria (pD2 = 7.5). The stimulant effects of (-)-CGP 12177 were resistant to blockade by 200 nM-2 microM (-)-propranolol and 3 microM ICI 118551 (a beta 2-selective antagonist) but antagonized by 1 microM (-)-bupranolol (pKB = 6.4-6.8), 3 microM CGP 20712A (a beta 1-selective antagonist) (pKB = 6.3-6.4) and 6.6 microM SR 59230A (a beta 3-selective antagonist, pKB = 5.1-5.4). 3. The non-conventional partial agonist cyanopindolol caused positive chronotropic effects in right atria (pD2 = 7.7) and positive inotropic effects in left atria (pD2 = 7.1). The stimulant effects of cyanopindolol were resistant to blockade by 200 nM (-)-propranolol but antagonized by 1 microM (-)-bupranolol (pKB = 6.8-7.1). 4. Neither (-)-CGP 12177 nor cyanopindolol caused stimulant effects in papillary muscles at concentrations between 0.2 nM and 20 microM. 5. In the presence of 200 nM (-)-propranolol the beta 3-adrenoceptor-selective agonists BRL 37344 (6 microM), SR 58611A (6 microM), ZD 2079 (60 microM) and CL 316243 (60 microM) did not cause stimulant effects or modify the potency and efficacy of the effects of (-)-CGP 12177 in right and left atria. The combination of 2 microM (-)-propranolol and 2 microM (-)-noradrenaline did not modify the chronotropic potency and efficacy of (-)-CGP 12177 compared to the potency and efficacy in the presence of 2 microM (-)-propranolol alone. 6. (-)-CGP 12177 relaxed the colon with a pD2 of 6.9 and a maximum effect of 55% compared to (-)-isoprenaline. The relaxant effects of (-)-CGP 12177 were resistant to blockade by 200 nM (-)-propranolol, 3 microM CGP 20712A, 3 microM ICI 118551 but blocked by 2 microM (-)-propranolol (pKB = 6.0), 1 microM (-)-bupranolol (pKB = 6.4) and 3 microM SR 59230A (pKB = 6.3). In the presence of 200 nM (-)-propranolol, (-)-CGP 12177 (20 microM) antagonized surmountably the relaxant effects of BRL 37344 (pKP = 7.3) (-)-noradrenaline (pKP = 7.0); and CL 316243 (pKP = 7.0). 7. Cyanopindolol in the presence of 200 nM (-)-propranolol relaxed the colon with a pD2 of 7.0 and a maximum effect of 40% compared to (-)-isoprenaline. As expected from a partial agonist, cyanopindolol antagonized the relaxant effects of both BRL 37344 and CL 316243 with a pKP = 7.6 and (-)-noradrenaline with a pKP = 7.4. 8. The following beta 3-adrenoceptor-selective agonists were potent colonic relaxants (pD2 values between parentheses): BRL 37344 (9.1), ZD 2079 (7.0), CL 316243 (9.0) and SR 58611A (8.2). The relaxant effects of these agonists were only marginally affected by 200 nM (-)-propranolol, not blocked by 3 microM CGP 20712A or 3 microM ICI 118551, and blocked by SR 59230A 3 microM (pKB = 6.9-7.5), 1 microM (-)-bupranolol (pKB = 6.2-6.4) and 2 microM (-)-propranolol (pKB = 6.3-6.5). 9...

Relation between contractile function and regulatory cardiac proteins in hypertrophied hearts.

The aim of this study was to examine the mechanism(s) underlying the reduced isoproterenol-induced positive inotropic and lusitropic effects in hypertrophied hearts. Chronic beta-adrenergic stimulation (2.4 mg isoproterenol.kg-1. day-1 for 4 days) induced cardiac hypertrophy by 33 +/- 2% in rats. A parallel downregulation of phospholamban (PLB) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase (SERCA2) protein expression by 49 and 40%, respectively, was observed, whereas troponin I (TNI) and C protein remained unchanged. In papillary muscles from chronically beta-adrenergically stimulated rats, the isoproterenol-induced positive inotropic and lusitropic effects, as well as adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation, were attenuated compared with those in control animals. Acute exposure to isoproterenol induced phosphate incorporation into PLB, TNI, and C protein of 48 +/- 4.6, 55 +/- 5.0, and 27 +/- 4.9 pmol/mg homogenate protein, respectively, in control animals. In the hypertrophied hearts, phosphate incorporation into PLB was reduced by 76%, whereas phosphate incorporation into TNI or C protein remained unchanged. In conclusion, chronic beta-adrenergic stimulation reduced the isoproterenol-stimulated positive inotropic and lusitropic effects in papillary muscles, which were accompanied by 1) diminished cAMP formation, 2) attenuation of cAMP-mediated PLB phosphorylation, and 3) downregulation of PLB and SERCA2 protein.

Synthesis and calcium antagonistic activity of 8-[N-[2-(3,4-dimethoxy- phenyl)ethyl]-beta-alanyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrothieno[3,2-b][1,4]thiazepi ne fumarate.

KT-362 is an antiarrhythmic and antihypertensive agent with vasodilating activity. Since it carries a homoveratryl group in the side chain, an obvious relation exists to the verapamil-type calcium antagonists. Replacement of the fused aromatic moiety in KT-362 with thiophene provided 8-[N-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) ethyl]-beta-alanyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrothieno[3,2-b][1,4] thiazepine (1). Compound 1 shows a negative chronotropic activity in spontaneously beating right atria (IC50 = 23 microM, n = 7), and a negative inotropic effect in papillary muscles (IC50 = 2.7 microM, n = 7) and left atria (IC50 = 4 microM, n = 6) of the guinea-pig heart. The decrease of contractility in papillary muscles could be antagonized by increasing the extracellular calcium concentration. Compound 1 was found to affect high (IC50: 70 +/- 5 microM) and low (IC50: 129 +/- 34 microM) voltage-activated calcium channel currents as well as voltage-activated sodium channel currents (IC50: 80 +/- 13 microM) in chick dorsal root ganglion neurons. In addition nicotine-induced currents were potently inhibited (IC50: 6 +/- 0.7 microM) in bovine chromaffin cells.

Activators of sodium, calcium and potassium channels modulate the cardiac effects of quinidine in vitro.

Quinidine (25.5 mumol/l) reduced the beating frequency of isolated right guinea-pig atria, caused a negative inotropic effect in papillary muscles and slightly raised the contractile force of left atria. The functional refractory period of both tissues was prolonged. A 20% increase of the extracellular sodium concentration did not reverse the effects of quinidine. The Na-channel activator BDF 9148 (1 mumol/l) and the Ca-channel agonist Bay-K-8644 (0.5 mumol/l) further increased the contractile force and caused an additional prolongation of the functional refractory period in quinidine-pretreated atria. Only Bay-K-8644 was able to reverse the negative inotropic effect of quinidine in papillary muscles. The influence of Bay-K-8644 on the contractile force in quinidine-pretreated muscles was not attenuated by lemacalim (3 mumol/l), an activator of ATP-dependent potassium channels, but the duration of the functional refractory period was significantly reduced. These results suggest that a combination of a calcium channel activator and a potassium channel opener might be able to improve the treatment of quinidine intoxications.

Autonomic modulation of action potential and tension in guinea pig papillary muscles

The effects of α 1-adrenoceptor and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor stimulation on action potential and tension were studied in guinea pig papillary muscles obtained from both right and left ventricles. Stimulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors with carbachol produced a reduction of the action potential duration and a positive inotropic effect in papillary muscles from both ventricles. Both effects were concentration dependent and atropine sensitive. However, differential responsiveness was found upon α 1-adrenoceptor activation in muscles obtained from left and right ventricles. In right side papillary muscles, the α 1-adreneceptor agonist, methoxamine, decreased the action potentail duration and produced a positive inotropic effect. In contrast, methoxamine decreased the action potential duration but failed to produce a positive inotropic effect in left side papillary muscles. All methoxamine effects were antagonized by prazosin. Responses to maximum concentration of carbachol and methoxamine on the action potential duration and contractility were additive in right side papillary muscles. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB), a direct protein kinase C activator, also decreases the action potential duration in a manner that was additive to both carbachol and methoxamine. However, PDB reversed the positive inotropic effect of carbachol indomethacin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, blockers of arachidonic acid metabolism, but not by the protein kinase C antagonist, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7). These results demonstrate (1) a side-dependent effect of methoxamine, and not carbachol, on muscle contraction, (2) additivity of the effects of α 1-adrenoceptor and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor activation on the action potential duration and tension, and (3) that these receptor-mediated effects may involve different second messenger system and/or distinct substrate pools.

Enhancement of amrinone-induced positive inotropy in rabbit papillary muscles with depressed contractile function: effects on cyclic nucleotide levels and phosphodiesterase isoenzymes.

The inotropic activity of amrinone and its effects on cyclic nucleotide levels in rabbit papillary muscles with normal and depressed contractile function have been compared. The effects of amrinone on the cyclic (c) AMP hydrolytic activity of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes were also examined. Amrinone (2.4 x 10(-4) - 1.2 x 10(-3) M) produced a relatively weak (maximal increase 11%) positive inotropic effect in papillary muscles stimulated at the near optimal stimulation frequency of 1 Hz. In contrast, large positive inotropic responses (maximal 138-200%) were obtained with amrinone in papillary muscles in which contractile force had been depressed by: (a) lowering stimulation frequency to 0.4 Hz, (b) reducing extracellular Ca2+ concentration from 2.5 x 10(-3) M to 6.3 x 10(-4) M, (c) prior addition of sodium pentobarbitone (6.5 x 10(-4) M). The EC50 values for amrinone under conditions (a), (b), and (c) were 3.0 x 10(-3), 2.6 x 10(-3), and 2.8 x 10(-3) M, respectively. Force-frequency curves in rabbit papillary muscles were compared at normal (2.5 x 10(-3) M) and low (6.3 x 10(-4) M) extracellular Ca2+ concentration. Contractions at low frequencies of stimulation (less than 0.4 Hz) were less sensitive to removal of extracellular Ca2+ than higher stimulation rates indicating that in the former situation, recycling of intracellular Ca2+ is more important for maintaining contractile force.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of MDL 11,939 on Action Potential and Contractile Force in Cardiac Tissues: A Comparison with Bretylium, Clofilium, and Sotalol

The effect of MDL 11,939 hydrochloride [alpha-phenyl-1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinemethanol HCl], a novel antiarrhythmic agent, was studied using microelectrode recording techniques. MDL 11,939 (10(-7) - 10(-6) M increased the action potential (AP) duration in both guinea pig papillary muscle and dog Purkinje fiber with a maximum effective concentration of 10(-6) to 3 x 10(-6) M. MDL 11,939 up to and including 10(-6) M did not alter upstroke velocity (Vmax) of the AP in either tissue but 10(-5) M decreased the Vmax in Purkinje fibers. Compared to the other class III antiarrhythmic agents (bretylium, clofilium, and d-sotalol), MDL 11,939 was among the most potent in increasing AP duration in the papillary muscle, while being relatively less effective in increasing AP duration in Purkinje fiber. Bretylium did not increase the AP duration in papillary muscle unless it was reserpinized. MDL 11,939, clofilium, and d-sotalol all produced negative inotropic effects in papillary muscle, whereas bretylium produced a positive inotropic effect. The positive inotropic effect of bretylium was abolished by reserpinization. In papillary muscle preparations depolarized with 22 mM K+, MDL 11,939 at concentrations greater than or equal to 10(-5) M depressed Vmax of the slow AP, suggesting that it inhibited the inward Ca2+ current, and such an effect may contribute to the negative inotropic effect of this agent. In the depolarized preparations, the slow AP duration was still increased by concentrations of MDL 11,939 greater than or equal to 10(-6) M. In conclusion, MDL 11,939 has cellular electrophysiological properties that suggest a class III antiarrhythmic activity.

Inability of endothelin to increase Ca2+ current in guinea‐pig heart cells

Effects of endothelin, a novel vasoconstrictor peptide derived from vascular endothelial cells, on cardiac contractility and membrane currents, were examined in guinea-pig cardiac preparations. Endothelin (3-1000 nM) produced a positive inotropic effect in papillary muscles in a concentration-dependent manner. In whole-cell voltage clamp recording, endothelin (250 nM) decreased the amplitude of Ca2+ current (ICa, 25.0 +/- 6.6%) in ventricular myocytes. The endothelin-induced decrease in ICa was abolished by pretreatment with ryanodine (1 microM). These results suggest that endothelin does not activate cardiac sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels. The enhancement of the sarcoplasmic reticulum function may play an important role in the positive inotropic effect of endothelin.

Inotropic and chronotropic effects of N6‐substituted derivatives of cyclic AMP as assessed in guinea‐pig isolated right atria and papillary muscle

1. The inotropic and chronotropic actions of N6-substituted adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) derivatives (N6-R cyclic AMPs) were studied in guinea-pig isolated right atrial preparations and in the papillary muscle preparations from guinea-pig right ventricle. 2. All the N6-R cyclic AMPs except N6-C14H29 produced positive inotropic effects in papillary muscle. The C5H11, C6H13, C7H15, C8H17 and C9H19 compounds were the most potent as inotropic agents, the potency being lower with compounds having longer or shorter N6-side chains than these. 3. In right atria N6-C2H5-C7H15 cyclic AMPs produced negative chronotropic effects. However, after treatment of the preparations with 8-phenyltheophylline the negative chronotropic effects were either much attenuated or abolished, indicating the involvement of adenosine receptors. 4. All the N6-R cyclic AMPs except N6-C14H29 were more potent activators of bovine myocardial protein kinase than cyclic AMP. The partition coefficients between octanol and an aqueous phase of N6-R cyclic AMPs became greater as the numbers of carbon atoms increased, and there appeared to be a relationship between partition coefficient and inotropic potency. It was concluded that membrane penetrativeness rather than potency as activators of protein kinase determined the potencies of N6-R cyclic AMPs as positive inotropic agents. 5. Derivatives such as N6-C7H15 cyclic AMP, which have positive inotropic activity without any marked negative chronotropic effect, may be useful as cardiotonic agents in heart failure.

Differential effects of histamine mediated by histamine H 1- and H 2-receptors on contractility, spontaneous rate and cyclic nucleotides in the rabbit heart

The effects of histamine on the contractile force, spontaneous rate of contraction, and cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP content were investigated in isolated rabbit cardiac preparations. Histamine had a positive inotropic effect in the left atrium and papillary muscle, and a positive chronotropic effect in the right atrium. Both effects were produced in a concentration-dependent manner. Impromidine also induced the same effect in the left and right atrium as histamine did. The effects produced by histamine and impromidine were antagonized by cimetidine and tiotidine. On the other hand, the positive inotropic response of papillary muscle to histamine was antagonized by mepyramine and chlorpheniramine and was mimicked by 2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine. Impromidine at a high concentration induced a small increase in the contractile force, an effect which was antagonized by cimetidine. Histamine significantly increased the cyclic AMP levels in both atria but not in papillary muscles. The increase in cyclic AMP was abolished by cimetidine. Histamine also increased cyclic GMP levels in all of the preparations. The increase in cyclic GMP was abolished by chlorpheniramine. The results suggest that both H 1- and H 2-receptors exist in all parts of the rabbit heart. However, the positive inotropic and chronotropic effects induced by histamine in left and right atrium are mediated predominantly via H 2-receptors, whereas the positive inotropic effect in papillary muscle is predominantly mediated via H 1 receptors.

Blockade of the inotropic effect of Bay K 8644 by cytochalasin‐B and phloretin

1. The positive inotropic effect in rabbit atria and papillary muscles of Bay K 8644 is blocked by cytochalasin-B (Cyto-B) and phloretin, two compounds known to block the facilitated diffusion of glucose. These compounds do not change the concentration-response curve of calcium. 2. Cyto-B is more potent in atria than in papillary muscles, 10(-7) M having a maximal effect in atria whereas 2 x 10(-5) M was required for a maximal effect in papillary muscles. Phloretin was fully effective at 10(-4) M, the only concentration tested. 3. The inotropic effect of Bay K 8644 was virtually abolished in atria bathed in a glucose-free medium or one containing 5 mM pyruvate. The contractile response to Bay K 8644 of papillary muscles was not changed significantly in glucose-free or in pyruvate-containing medium. 4. Cyto-B (2 x 10(-5) M) caused a slight but significant increase in the KD for the binding of nitrendipine to a crude sarcolemnal preparation from rabbit ventricles. The Bmax was unchanged. 5. These results may best be explained by the hypothesis that there is a metabolic requirement for the inotropic effect of Bay K 8644.

Mechanism of action and cardiotonic activity of a new phosphodiesterase inhibitor, the benzimidazole derivative adibendan (BM 14.478), in guinea-pig hearts

1. The effects of adibendan (BM 14.478; 7,7-dimethyl-2-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-3H,5H-pyrrolo[2,3-f] benzimidazole-6-one) on force of contraction and beating frequency were analysed in guinea-pig electrically driven papillary muscles and spontaneously beating right auricles, respectively. The effects of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and milrinone were studied for comparison. 2. Adibendan exerted a concentration-dependent (0.03-300 mumol/l) positive inotropic effect in papillary muscles (EC50 = 1.3 mumol/l) which was only partially reversible. The efficiency of adibendan was less than that of milrinone, but adibendan was about two orders of magnitude more potent and had only slight positive chronotropic effects (113% of pre-drug values) at most. Milrinone increased the frequency of beating maximally to 140% of pre-drug values. The positive inotropic effect of adibendan is probably at least partially mediated by cAMP since carbachol reduced the increase in force of contraction by about 75%. 3. To elucidate the mechanism of action of adibendan we investigated its effects on phosphodiesterase I-III and adenylate cyclase activity in isolated preparations from guinea-pig hearts. 4. Adibendan selectively inhibited phosphodiesterase III (PDE III) activity concentration-dependently (IC50 = 2.0 mumol/l). The IC50 values for the inhibition of PDE I or II were more than 60-fold higher. Since adibendan did not affect adenylate cyclase activity a stimulation of the cAMP synthesis as a mechanism of action can be ruled out. 5. The results provide evidence that the positive inotropic action of adibendan is at least in part due to an inhibition of cAMP-PDE III.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of isomazole on the responsiveness to calcium of the contractile elements in skinned cardiac muscle fibres of various species

We report here that the new cardiotonic agent isomazole increases the Ca 2+ responsiveness of skinned myocardial fibres from different species. Isomazole (0.01–1 mM) increased the half-maximal, Ca 2+-activated force development in atrial fibres from humans and in ventricular fibres from pigs, monkeys, guinea-pigs and rats in a concentration-dependent manner. The maximal force development was also increased in fibres from all species except pig. Isomazole shifted force-calcium curves to the left and enhanced maximal force as demonstrated for guinea-pig and human fibres, indicating increases in both calcium sensitivity and maximum force-generating capability of the contractile apparatus. In guinea-pig tissue, the concentration dependence for the activation of skinned fibres was similar to that for the positive inotropic effect in papillary muscle. These results suggest a direct effect of isomazole on contractile proteins, but the degree to which this effect contributes to the overall positive inotropic action of isomazole remains to be determined.

Influence of the optical isomers (+)- and (-)-naloxone on beating frequency, contractile force and action potentials of guinea-pig isolated cardiac preparations.

Naloxone in concentrations ranging from 7.5 to 120 mumol l-1 reduced the beating frequency of guinea-pig isolated atria. The ED50 was 7.9 mumol l-1 for the (-)-isomer and 10.8 mumol l-1 for the (+)-isomer. Concentrations up to 120 mumol l-1 of either (-)- or (+)-naloxone did not affect the force of contraction of left atria stimulated at 1 Hz. In concentrations from 30 to 120 mumol l-1 (-)-naloxone increased the action potential (AP) duration and the functional refractory period (FRP) of papillary muscles. The resting membrane potential and the AP amplitude remained unchanged, while a small decrease of Vmax was seen with the larger drug concentrations. The influence of (+)-naloxone (120 mumol l-1) was comparable to that of the (-)-isomer. The influence of morphine (120 mumol l-1) on papillary muscle AP was small. AP duration and FRP showed a marginal prolongation while Vmax was slightly decreased. (-)-Naloxone 60 mumol l-1 had no effect on slow-response APs of K+-depolarized papillary muscles. Slow-response APs were abolished by verapamil (1 mumol l-1). In left atrial strips the prolongation of the AP duration produced by 120 mumol l-1 of either (-)- or (+)-naloxone resembled the drug effect in papillary muscles. Most of the observed changes can be explained by an inhibition of the time-dependent membrane K+ outward current, an effect of naloxone that may be classified as a Class III antiarrhythmic action. Apparently this effect is not mediated by stereospecific opioid receptors.