Induction Of Tachyphylaxis Research Articles

A Novel Class of Nitrovasodilators: Potency and In Vitro Tolerance of Organic Aminoalkylnitrates

Experimental studies on organic alkylnitrates have shown that both vasodilator potency and development of in vitro tolerance (tachyphylaxis) correlate with the number of nitrate groups in the molecule. However, introduction of an amino group to ethylnitrate yielded 2-nitrooxyethylammoniumnitrate (1), which is highly active but without inducing in vitro tolerance. Therefore, we prepared a series of aminoalkylnitrates and investigated vasorelaxation and tachyphylaxis on isolated prostaglandin F2alpha-precontracted porcine pulmonary arteries with intact endothelium. Tachyphylaxis was studied by incubating the arteries with EC100 of the respective aminoalkylnitrate and, after a 45-minute washout phase, measuring vasorelaxation again. All of the aminoalkylnitrates caused vasodilation, but the effect did not correlate with the number of nitrate moieties in the molecule. None of the substances was able to outperform compound 1, not even oligonitrates. Generally, structure–activity relationships found for alkylnitrates are obviously not valid for aminoalkylnitrates. Whereas the most potent aminomononitrate 1 evokes no in vitro tolerance, others exhibit tachyphylaxis independently of their vasodilator potency. We have shown that vasorelaxant activity and induction of tachyphylaxis are modulated significantly by introduction of an amino group to the alkylnitrate scaffold. Our results indicate that aminoalkylnitrates have to be considered as an individual class of nitrovasodilators with different structure–activity relationships and vasodilator properties.

New approaches to overcome tolerance to nitrates.

In isolated cells (vascular smooth muscle, endothelium, platelets), perfused hearts, in vivo experiments, conscious instrumented animals, and in human subjects the induction of tachyphylaxis and tolerance to various exogenous NO-donors was analyzed. Various ways to circumvent tolerance were successfully tested. Different nitrovasodilators were associated with different rates and magnitudes of generation of tolerance and reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) in all models tested, beginning with PETN (pentaerithrityltetranitrate) (lowest rate) and concluding with GTN (highest rate). This pattern was found in all models tested (isolated cells, perfused organs, and in vivo experiments). The observed changes in ROS production in isolated cells were identical to changes in ROS production in vascular smooth muscle, endothelial cells, and platelets. Thus, blood cells such as washed platelets could be used as marker cells to identify induction of tolerance and rise in platelet activity, closely reflecting changes in the rate of tolerance generation to nitrates associated with enhanced oxidant stress (ROS generation). Generation of tachyphylaxis could be suppressed or even avoided by supplementation of appropriate antioxidants (SOD, vitamin C, DMSO, beta-blockers with antioxidant capacity, modulators of prostanoid metabolism such as ASS) in all models tested, including human subjects. Even fully developed tolerance (during non-intermittent GTN-administration) could be reversed by starting an appropriate antioxidant supplementation. This indicates that other potential factors involved in the generation of nitrovasodilator-associated tolerance (reducing the intended vasodilation and the concovactent decreases in blood pressure, namely augmented sympathetic and RAS-activity, changes in the activity of soluble guanylyl cyclase, protein kinase C, phosphodiesterase, etc.) are of minor importance. Thus, the treatment of tolerance under clinical conditions should closely target changes in redox potential and antioxidant capacity.

Tachykinin‐induced bronchoconstriction in sheep is NK‐1 receptor mediated and exhibits tachyphylaxis

Tachykinins are mediators of airway hyper-reactivity and inflammation. There is in vitro evidence that ovine responses to tachykinins correlate closely to human responses. This study was designed to characterize the effect of intravenously administered tachykinins on sheep lung resistance in vivo to determine the effect of dose timing on reproducibility of responses and the induction of tachyphylaxis. We then used this information to help further characterize the response with several pharmacological agents. Substance P (SP) was administered by infusion to conscious merino ewes and lung resistance (RL) was measured. Infusions were given at 30, 60, 120 min and 24 h intervals. The effect of various agents on the response to SP was then assessed. Substance P led to a transient increase in RL, mean (+/- SEM) 754.8 (+/- 139)% of baseline, with marked tachyphylaxis at 30, 60 and 120 min. Phosphoramidon increased the peak response to 1151.5 +/- 196%. Atropine and CP 96 345 abolished the response to SP, while indomethacin, sodium cromoglycate and pyrilamine had no significant effect. Substance P had a greater effect on RL than did neurokinin A. Substance P increases RL in sheep via a cholinergic mechanism which is mediated by NK-1 receptors, and is subject to tachyphylaxis. These findings have implications for the design of studies using the ovine model in the evaluation of tachykinin antagonists as potential therapeutic agents.

PACAP is a stimulator of neurogenic contraction in guinea pig ileum.

The myotropic effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a novel brain-gut peptide with high sequence homology to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), was studied in the isolated guinea pig ileum in vitro. PACAP contracts the guinea pig ileum significantly more potently and efficiently compared with VIP. PACAP-induced contraction was abolished by tetrodotoxin, dynorphin, and somatostatin, partially reduced by atropine, and not affected by ganglionic and adrenergic blockade. The atropine-resistant component was sensitive to spantide, to the induction of tachyphylaxis with substance P, and to omega-conotoxin. Ileal strips desensitized to PACAP did not respond to VIP, although they maintained their sensitivity to PACAP after desensitization to VIP. COOH-terminal-truncated derivatives of PACAP exhibited full biological activity, although some of them showed substantially reduced potency. Deletion of NH2-terminal amino acids abolished biological activity. PACAP produced a concentration-dependent increase in the release of [3H]acetylcholine from longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparations preloaded with [3H]choline. This effect was Ca2+ dependent, tetrodotoxin sensitive, and resistant to hexamethonium and scopolamine. In contrast, PACAP inhibited release of acetylcholine evoked by field stimulation. In summary, PACAP-induced contraction of the guinea pig ileum is mediated via release of acetylcholine and substance P through interaction with PACAP-1 and VIP/PACAP-2 receptors. PACAP has to be added to the list of myotropic neuropeptides of the gastrointestinal tract.

Further studies on the tachyphylaxis to DSCG. The effects of concentration and temperature.

The tachyphylaxis to DSCG's inhibition of anaphylactic histamine release has been demonstrated in passively sensitized rat lung fragments. The induction of tachyphylaxis appears to depend on the concentration of the drug and the length of pretreatment. Tachyphylaxis is relatively independent of the concentration of the second exposure to DSCG. The development of tachyphylaxis is highly temperature dependent; it can be prevented by cooling the tissues to 2-4 degrees C after a brief (30 sec) preincubation with DSCG. It is suggested that DSCG inhibits histamine release by binding to 'receptor' site(s). Once the site is occupied by DSCG, it is modified by a temperature-dependent process, thus losing the ability as a 'receptor' for inhibition of histamine release. The tachyphylaxis is the result of such a modification.