Effects of phenothiazines on the membrane-bound guanylate and adenylate cyclase in tetrahymena pyriformis

The particulate-bound guanylate cyclase activity of Tetrahymena pyriformis was shown previously to be Ca²⁺-dependent and to be activated by an endogenous calmodulin-like protein (Tetrahymena Ca²⁺-binding protein, TCBP) [S. Nagao, Y. Suzuki, Y. Watanabe and Y. Nozawa, Biochem. biophys. Res. Commum.90, 261 (1979)]. Phenothiazine derivatives, such as chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine, that interact with calmodulin were found to inhibit the Ca²⁺-dependent guanylate cyclase activity and the TCBP-induced activation of the guanylate cyclase activity. Ethylene glycol-bis (β-aminoethyl ether)-N, N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), a Ca²⁺ chelator, also inhibited the activation of guanylate cyclase. However, the mechanisms by which EGTA and trifluoperazine act were different. The EGTA-induced inhibition could not be overcome by increasing the concentration of TCBP, whereas the trifluoperazine-induced inhibition could be overcome by increasing the concentration of TCBP, but not by increasing the concentration of Ca²⁺. These findings suggest that the mechanism by which trifluoperazine inhibits the activation of guanylate cyclase involves competition with TCBP.     

Effects of vinpocetine on cyclic nucleotide metabolism in vascular smooth muscle

A novel vasodilating agent, vinpocetine (14-ethoxycarbonyl-(3α, 16α-ethyl-14, 15-eburnamenine) inhibits Ca²⁺-dependent phosphodiesterase, selectively, among the three forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase identified in the rabbit aorta. The concentration of vinpocetine producing 50% inhibition of Ca²⁺-dependent phosphodiesterase activity was approximately 21 μM, both in the presence and absence of Ca²⁺-calmodulin (CaM). Increasing the concentration of CaM in the presence of Ca²⁺ did not prevent vinpocetine-induced inhibition of Ca²⁺-dependent phosphodiesterase, thereby indicating that vinpocetine inhibited the enzyme by interacting with the enzyme and not with CaM. To determine the influence of vinpocetine-induced inhibition of Ca²⁺-dependent phosphodiesterase on cyclic nucleotide metabolism in vascular smooth muscle, cyclic nucleotide levels in isolated rabbit aortic strips were also investigated. Addition of vinpocetine produced dose-dependent increases in only the cyclic GMP levels and there was no significant effects on the cyclic AMP levels. These results provide pharmacological evidence that Ca²⁺-dependent phosphodiesterase mainly hydrolyzes cyclic GMP in vascular smooth muscle. Vinpocetine may induce vascular relaxation by increasing cyclic GMP contents in vascular smooth muscle through selective inhibition of Ca²⁺-dependent phosphodiesterase.     

Calcium-dependent modulation of guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate in renal cortex: Possible relationship to calcium-dependent release of fatty acid

The effects of Ca²⁺ on cGMP accumulation in rat renal cortical slices were correlated with the effects on ¹⁴C-fatty acid release in tissue prelabeled with ¹⁴C arachidonate. Ca²⁺ in the presence and absence of ionophore A23187 exerted parallel effects on the release of labeled arachidonate from slices and on slice cGMP content. Thus, Ca²⁺ stimulated both arachidonate release and tissue cGMP accumulation 2 to 3-fold when added to slices of renal cortex previously deprived of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, whereas Mg²⁺ had no stimulatory effect on either arachidonate release or tissue cGMP content. In the presence of A23187, Ca²⁺ increased arachidonate release and tissue cGMP accumulation 4 to 6-fold. Tetracaine partially inhibited Ca²⁺-induced arachidonate release and completely blocked Ca²⁺-induced cGMP accumulation. Ca²⁺-induced arachidonate release was unaffected by the absence of O₂. Addition of exogenous arachidonate to slices of renal cortex increased tissue cGMP content 2-fold. Linoleate exerted a lesser effect on tissue cGMP, while palmitate and oleate had no effect. Ca²⁺- and arachidonateinduced cGMP contents in renal cortical slices were not additive, and both were abolished by exclusion of O₂. Since nitroprusside increased cGMP accumulation 10- to 15-fold in O₂-deprived slices, loss of the Ca²⁺ and arachidonate responses under these incubation conditions was selective. Ca²⁺-induced cGMP accumulation was unaffected by indomethacin (100 μg/ml), but was abolished by 200 μM 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (TYA). The results are consistent with the possibility that the Ca²⁺-dependent processes regulating cGMP in renal cortex include Ca²⁺-dependent acyl hydrolase activity, which limits the availability of free polyunsaturated fatty acids. A role for fatty acid oxygenation products in the stimulation of cGMP is suggested, but not established, by the O₂ dependence of the actions of both Ca²⁺ and exogenous fatty acids. The failure of exogenous arachidonate or linoleate to mimic quantitatively the actions of Ca²⁺ on cGMP may reflect the involvement of other Ca²⁺- and O₂-dependent processes in modulation of cGMP in this tissue or limited access of exogenous fatty acid to cGMP regulatory sites in the cell.     

The alpha-adrenergic control of rabbit liver glycogenolysis.

We have confirmed that the electrical stimulation of the splanchnic nerve in the rabbit causes glycogenolysis m a cyclic AMP-independent way as found by Shimazu and Amakawa [1]; glycogen phosphorylase (1,4-α-d-Glucan: orthophosphate α-glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.1) was activated, but phosphorylase b kinase (ATP: phosphorylase b phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.38) was not. We could, however, not confirm the observation of a decrease in phosphorylase phosphatase (phosphorylase a phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.17) activity. Pretreatment of the rabbits with the α-adrenergic blocking agent phentolamine prevented the splanchnic nerve stimulation from activating glycogen phosphorylase.The addition of norepinephrine (10^?7 M) to isolated rabbit hepatocytes activated glycogen phosphorylase without an activation of phosphorylase b kinase. At 10^?6 M, norepinephrine activated both enzymes. Phentolamine blocked the activation of glycogen phosphorylase by norepinephrine at 10^?7M but not at 10^?6M. Absence of Ca²⁺ from the incubation medium prevented norepinephrine (10^?7 M) from activating glycogen phosphorylase. The ionophore A 23187 also caused an activation of phosphorylase (but not of phosphorylase b kinase) provided that Ca²⁺ was present in the incubation medium. These data indicate that sympathetic nervous control of liver glycogenolysis is achieved, via α-adrenergic receptors, by an increased concentration of cytosolic Ca²⁺ ions which stimulate rather than activate phosphorylase b kinase. The neurotransmitter involved is most probably norepinephrine.     

Phosphodiesterase in the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica.

Phosphodiesterase was found in homogenates of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, and was distributed between a supernatant and particulate fraction after centrifugation at 2000 g. Mg²⁺ was necessary for enzyme activity; Ca²⁺ in the presence of Mg²⁺ did not affect enzyme activity. Enzyme kinetics followed the Michaelis-Menten model with a K_m of 8 μM for cAMP and 300 μM for cGMP as the substrate. The most potent inhibitor tested was 1-ethyl-4-(isopropylidenehydrazino)-1 H-pyrazolo- (3,4-b)-pyridine-5-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester, HC1 (SQ 20009) which had a K_i of 26 μM. The K_i for isobutyl methyl xanthine (IBMX) was 45 μM; for 6,7 dimethyl-4 ethylquinazoline (Quazodine) 75 μM; papaverine. 100 μM; theophylline, 550 μM; and for caffeine or D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 800 μM. The effects on fluke motility of these phosphodiesterase inhibitors were tested. All phosphodiesterase inhibitors except caffeine stimulated the rhythmical movement of the flukes. None of the inhibitors tested significantly increased the endogenous cAMP concentrations of fluke heads. IBMX potentiated the rise in endogenous cAMP caused by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) but SQ 20009, LSD, and papaverine prevented it. The latter results could not be explained on the basis of phosphodies-terase inhibition, but might be attributed to interference with the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by 5-HT.     

Cyclic AMP as a Mediator of the Relaxing Action of Papaverine,Nitroglycerine, Diazoxide and Hydralazine in Intestinal and Vascular Smooth Muscle

Abstract: Papaverine and nitroglycerine relaxed rabbit colon muscle. The relaxation was preceded by an increase of the cyclic AMP content of the muscle. There was a correlation between the degree of relaxation and the increase of cyclic AMP. A reduction of ATP content was obtained with these drugs; this effect was not present in the Ca⁺⁺-poor preparation in spite of the fact that the cyclic AMP level was still increased. Papaverine but not nitroglycerine reduced the phosphodiesterase activity of the intact rabbit colon. In a homogenate of colon muscle a marked inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity was obtained. The phosphodiesterase activity from different cell fractions was also studied. Phosphodiesterase from the cytoplasmic fraction was activated by papaverine and nitroglycerine, while that of a Ca⁺⁺-binding microsomal fraction like that of mitochondria was inhibited. Diazoxide and hydralazine relaxed bovine mesenteric artery but not rabbit colon. The relaxation was associated and correlated with an increase in the cyclic AMP content. A reduction in the ATP content and an activation of phosphorylase a activity was also obtained; the ATP reduction was Ca⁺⁺-dependent. A weak inhibitory effect on phosphodiesterase activity was observed in hornogenate of the artery after diazoxide. Hydralazine activated phosphodiesterase in a homogenate of mesenteric artery in a low concentration but inhibited it in a high concentration. It is suggested that cyclic AMP mediates, at least partly, the relaxing action of these four drugs probably by stimulating a Ca⁺⁺-binding process in the smooth muscle cell.     

Effects of local anesthetics on calmodulin-dependent guanylate cyclase in the plasma membrane of Tetrahymena pyriformis

A highly purified preparation of Tetrahymena calmodulin activated a membrane-bound guanylate cyclase by more than 40-fold. This activation of guanylate cyclase by calmodulin was inhibited completely by local anesthetics such as dibucaine, tetracaine, lidocaine and procaine at concentrations that had no appreciable effect on the activities of basal guanylate cyclase (without calmodulin) and adenylate cyclase. The inhibition by dibucaine of calmodulin-mediated activation of the enzyme activity was not reversed by calcium but was partially overcome by increasing the concentration of calmodulin. Kinetic analysis of local anesthetic-induced inhibition of activation of guanylate cyclase demonstrated a mixed type of antagonism. These results suggest the possibility that the inhibition of calmodulin-dependent guanylate cyclase resulted, in part, from interaction of the drugs with calmodulin.     

Comparative hydrolysis of O-hexyl O-2,5-dichlorophenyl phosphoramidate and paraoxon in different tissues of vertebrates

The Ca²⁺-dependent and EDTA-resistant hydrolysis of O-hexyl O-2,5-dichlorophenyl phosphoramidate (HDCP) and paraoxon was studied in serum and subcellular fractions of liver, kidney and brain of hen, rat and rabbit. HDCP was the best substrate among all the tissues studied, except that of rabbit serum which showed the highest Ca²⁺-dependent paraoxon hydrolysing activity (paraoxonase). High HDCP hydrolysing activity (HDCPase) was detected in the brain tissue of the three species studied, whereas low or no paraoxonase was found. The HDCPase/paraoxonase ratio of Ca²⁺-dependent hydrolysing activities ranged from 0.5 to 83 for tissues of the same species. EDTA-resistant HDCPase activity was more than 50% of the total activities in hen tissues, with an almost undetectable Ca²⁺-dependent paraoxonase activity in most organs. The same response was observed in rat tissues, except for serum where the Ca²⁺-dependent HDCPase and paraoxonase activities were higher (70 and 25% of total activities, respectively). EDTA-resistant HDCPase and paraoxonase activities represented less than 25% of all activities in rabbit tissues. Paraoxon has traditionally been the substrate for measuring organophosphorus hydrolysing activities. However, HDCP could be a good substrate in addtion to paraoxon for monitoring other phosphotriesterases in biological tissues.     

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 positive allosteric modulators are neuroprotective in a mouse model of Huntington's disease

Background and Purpose

Huntington''s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein. We have previously demonstrated that the cell signalling of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is altered in a mouse model of HD. Although mGluR5-dependent protective pathways are more activated in HD neurons, intracellular Ca²⁺ release is also more pronounced, which could contribute to excitotoxicity. In the present study, we aim to investigate whether mGluR5 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) could activate protective pathways without triggering high levels of Ca²⁺ release and be neuroprotective in HD.

Experimental Approach

We performed a neuronal cell death assay to determine which drugs are neuroprotective, Western blot and Ca²⁺ release experiments to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in this neuroprotection, and object recognition task to determine whether the tested drugs could ameliorate HD memory deficit.

Key Results

We find that mGluR5 PAMs can protect striatal neurons from the excitotoxic neuronal cell death promoted by elevated concentrations of glutamate and NMDA. mGluR5 PAMs are capable of activating Akt without triggering increased intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i); and Akt blockage leads to loss of PAM-mediated neuroprotection. Importantly, PAMs'' potential as drugs that may be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases is highlighted by the neuroprotection exerted by mGluR5 PAMs on striatal neurons from a mouse model of HD, BACHD. Moreover, mGluR5 PAMs can activate neuroprotective pathways more robustly in BACHD mice and ameliorate HD memory deficit.

Conclusions and Implications

mGluR5 PAMs are potential drugs that may be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases, especially HD.     

SERCA2 activity is involved in the CNP-mediated functional responses in failing rat myocardium

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSES

Myocardial C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) levels are increased in heart failure. CNP can induce negative inotropic (NIR) and positive lusitropic responses (LR) in normal hearts, but its effects in failing hearts are not known. We studied the mechanism of CNP-induced NIR and LR in failing hearts and determined whether sarcoplasmatic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase2 (SERCA2) activity is essential for these responses.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Contractility, cGMP levels, Ca²⁺ transient amplitudes and protein phosphorylation were measured in left ventricular muscle strips or ventricular cardiomyocytes from failing hearts of Wistar rats 6 weeks after myocardial infarction.

KEY RESULTS

CNP increased cGMP levels, evoked a NIR and LR in muscle strips, and caused phospholamban (PLB) Ser¹⁶ and troponin I (TnI) Ser^23/24 phosphorylation in cardiomyocytes. Both the NIR and LR induced by CNP were reduced in the presence of a PKG blocker/cGMP analogue (Rp-8-Br-Pet-cGMPS) and the SERCA inhibitor thapsigargin. CNP increased the amplitude of the Ca²⁺ transient and increased SERCA2 activity in cardiomyocytes. The CNP-elicited NIR and LR were not affected by the L-type Ca²⁺ channel activator BAY-K8644, but were abolished in the presence of isoprenaline (induces maximal activation of cAMP pathway). This suggests that phosphorylation of PLB and TnI by CNP causes both a NIR and LR. The NIR to CNP in mouse heart was abolished 8 weeks after cardiomyocyte-specific inactivation of the SERCA2 gene.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

We conclude that CNP-induced PLB and TnI phosphorylation by PKG in concert mediate both a predictable LR as well as the less expected NIR in failing hearts.     

Cyclic GMP and protein kinase-G in myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion: opportunities and obstacles for survival signaling

It is clear that multiple signalling pathways regulate the critical balance between cell death and survival in myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion. Recent attention has focused on the activation of survival or salvage kinases, particularly during reperfusion, as a common mechanism of many cardioprotective interventions. The phosphatidyl inositol 3'-hydroxy kinase/Akt complex (PI3K/Akt) and p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades have been widely promoted in this respect but the cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate/cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGMP/PKG) signal transduction cassette has been less systematically investigated as a survival cascade. We propose that activation of the cGMP/PKG signalling pathway, following activation of soluble or particulate guanylate cyclases, may play a pivotal role in survival signalling in ischaemia-reperfusion, especially in the classical preconditioning, delayed preconditioning and postconditioning paradigms. The resurgence of interest in reperfusion injury, largely as a result of postconditioning-related research, has confirmed that the cGMP/PKG pathway is a pivotal salvage mechanism in reperfusion. Numerous studies suggest that the infarct-limiting effects of preconditioning and postconditioning, exogenously donated nitric oxide (NO), natriuretic peptides, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and other diverse drugs and mediators such as HMG co-A reductase inhibitors (statins), Rho-kinase inhibitors and adrenomedullin, whether given before and during ischaemia, or specifically at the onset of reperfusion, may be mediated by activation or enhancement of the cGMP pathway, either directly or indirectly via endogenous NO generation downstream of PI3K/Akt. Putative mechanisms of protection include PKG regulation of Ca(2+) homeostasis through the modification of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) uptake mechanisms, and PKG-induced opening of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels during ischaemia and/or reperfusion. At present, significant technical obstacles in defining the precise roles played by cGMP/PKG signalling include the heavy reliance on pharmacological PKG inhibitors of uncertain selectivity, difficulties in determining PKG activity in intact tissue, and the growing recognition that intracellular compartmentalisation of the cGMP pool may contribute markedly to the nucleotide's biological actions and biochemical determination. Overall, the body of experimental evidence suggests that cGMP/PKG survival signalling ameliorates irreversible injury associated with ischaemia-reperfusion and may be a tractable therapeutic target.     

Ethanol-induced changes in cyclic guanosine 3',5'-phosphate metabolism in mouse vestibular region

The content of cyclic guanosine 3',5'-phosphate (cGMP) in the region of the vestibular nuclei of mice increased after 10–14 days of ethanol intake. The increase was preceded by an increase in guanylate cyclase activity. A second increase was noted after 4 weeks on an ethanol-containing diet at the same time as decreased cGMP-phosphodiesterase activity was noted. The early increases were less pronounced in the alcohol-rejecting DBA/2J strain but were reproduced by preincubation or addition of arachidonic acid. Cerebellectomy had no effect on early or late rises in cGMP levels.     

Xanthine‐analog,KMUP‐2, enhances cyclic GMP and K+ channel activities in rabbit aorta and corpus cavernosum with associated penile erection

The pharmacological properties of KMUP‐2 were examined in isolated rabbit aorta and corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM). KMUP‐2 caused relaxations that were attenuated by removed endothelium, high K⁺, and pretreatment with the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitors methylene blue (10 μM) and ODQ (1 μM), a NOS inhibitor, L‐NAME (100 μM), a K⁺ channel blocker TEA (10 mM), a K_ATP channel blocker glibenclamide (1 μM), a voltage‐dependent K⁺ channel blocker 4‐AP (100 μM), and the Ca²⁺‐dependent K⁺ channel blockers apamin (1 μM) and charybdotoxin (ChTX, 0.1 μM). The relaxant responses of KMUP‐2 (0.01, 0.05, 0.1 μM) together with a PDE inhibitor, IBMX (0.5 μM), had additive effects on rabbit aorta and CCSM. Additionally, KMUP‐2 (100 μM) also affected cGMP metabolism, due to its inhibiting activity on PDE in human platelets. KMUP‐2 (0.1–100 μM) further induced an increase of intracellular cGMP levels in the primary cultured rabbit aortic and CCSM cells. These increases in cGMP content were abolished in the presence of methylene blue (100 μM) and ODQ (10 μM). Obviously, the relaxant effects of KMUP‐2 on rabbit isolated tissues are more sensitive in CCSM than in aorta. Moreover, KMUP‐2 also stimulated NO/sGC/cGMP pathway and subsequent elevation of cGMP by blockade of PDE and enhanced opening of K⁺ channels in rabbit aorta and CCSM. KMUP‐2 (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 mg/kg), similar to KMUP‐1 and sildenafil, caused increases of intracavernous pressure (ICP) and duration of tumescene (DT) in a dose‐dependent manner. It is concluded that both the increases of cGMP and the opening activity of K⁺ channels play prominent roles in KMUP‐2‐induced aortic smooth muscle and CCSM relaxation and increases of ICP in rabbits. Drug Dev. Res. 55:162–172, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Mechanism of asynchronous Ca2+ waves underlying agonist-induced contraction in the rat basilar artery

Background and purpose:

Uridine 5''-triphosphate (UTP) is a potent vasoconstrictor of cerebral arteries and induces Ca²⁺ waves in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This study aimed to determine the mechanisms underlying UTP-induced Ca²⁺ waves in VSMCs of the rat basilar artery.

Experimental approach:

Isometric force and intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) were measured in endothelium-denuded rat basilar artery using wire myography and confocal microscopy respectively.

Key results:

Uridine 5''-triphosphate (0.1–1000 µmol·L⁻¹) concentration-dependently induced tonic contraction (pEC₅₀ = 4.34 ± 0.13), associated with sustained repetitive oscillations in [Ca²⁺]_i propagating along the length of the VSMCs as asynchronized Ca²⁺ waves. Inhibition of Ca²⁺ reuptake in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) by cyclopiazonic acid abolished the Ca²⁺ waves and resulted in a dramatic drop in tonic contraction. Nifedipine reduced the frequency of Ca²⁺ waves by 40% and tonic contraction by 52%, and the nifedipine-insensitive component was abolished by SKF-96365, an inhibitor of receptor- and store-operated channels, and KB-R7943, an inhibitor of reverse-mode Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange. Ongoing Ca²⁺ waves and tonic contraction were also abolished after blockade of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate-sensitive receptors by 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate, but not by high concentrations of ryanodine or tetracaine. However, depletion of ryanodine-sensitive SR Ca²⁺ stores prior to UTP stimulation prevented Ca²⁺ waves.

Conclusions and implications:

Uridine 5''-triphosphate-induced Ca²⁺ waves may underlie tonic contraction and appear to be produced by repetitive cycles of regenerative Ca²⁺ release from the SR through inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate-sensitive receptors. Maintenance of Ca²⁺ waves requires SR Ca²⁺ reuptake from Ca²⁺ entry across the plasma membrane via L-type Ca²⁺ channels, receptor- and store-operated channels, and reverse-mode Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange.     

Alpha-naphthoflavone induces vasorelaxation through the induction of extracellular calcium influx and NO formation in endothelium

The effect of -naphthoflavone (-NF) on vascular function was studied in isolated ring segments of the rat thoracic aorta and in primary cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). -NF induced concentration-dependent relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted aorta endothelium-dependently and -independently at lower and higher concentrations, respectively. The cGMP, but not cAMP, content was increased significantly in -NF-treated aorta. Pretreatment with N -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or methylene blue attenuated both -NF induced vasorelaxation and the increase of cGMP content significantly. The increase of cGMP content induced by -NF was also inhibited by chelating extracellular Ca²⁺ with EGTA. These results suggest that the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by -NF is mediated most probably through Ca²⁺-dependent activation of NO synthase and guanylyl cyclase. In HUVECs, -NF induced concentration-dependent formation of NO and Ca²⁺ influx. -NF-induced NO formation was abolished by removal of extracellular Ca²⁺ and by pretreatment with the Ca²⁺ channel blockers SKF 96365 and Ni²⁺, but not by the L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker verapamil. The Ca²⁺ influx, as measured by ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake, induced by -NF was also inhibited by SKF 96365 and Ni²⁺. Our data imply that -NF, at lower concentrations, induces endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by promoting extracellular Ca²⁺ influx in endothelium and the activation of the NO-cGMP pathway.     

Relationship between myoglobin contents and increases in cyclic GMP produced by glyceryl trinitrate and nitric oxide in rabbit aorta,right atrium and papillary muscle

Summary Effects of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) and nitric oxide (NO) on the cardiac functions and myocardial cyclic GMP (cGMP) contents were examined in comparison with those in the aorta and correlated with myoglobin (an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase) contents using the preparations isolated from the reserpinized rabbit.GTN (10^–10-10^–4mol/l) produced a dose-dependent relaxation in the aorta. However, this compound exerted no effect on the rate of the spontaneous beat of the right atrium and the contraction of the papillary muscle. A transient and significant increase in cGMP was observed in the aorta with GTN (3 × 10^–6 mol/l). Although the increase was also observed in the right atrium, it was much smaller. No definite change was observed in papillary muscle. Increases in cGMP produced by NO (3 × 10^–6 mol/l) were larger and significant in all tissues; (AUC_cGMP(GTN)/AUC_cGMP(NO)) ratio was 30.1 for the aorta, 65.0 for the right atrium and 16.3% for the papillary muscle. Although higher concentrations of NO were necessary in the right atrium and papillary muscle to induce increases in cGMP, no differences were noted in the three tissues as regards the maximum accumulation of this substance. Furthermore, kinetic analysis of NO-induced increases in tissue cGMP indicated no marked difference in the production rate among the three tissues, while the rate of elimination of cGMP was lower in the aorta than in the atrium or the papillary muscle. The increases in cGMP observed in these three tissues were inversely related to the contents of myoglobin in respective tissues. No effect on myocardial function was observed with NO up to the concentration of 3 × 10^–5 mol/l.These results suggest that myoglobin, an endogenous inhibitor of activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by NO, was responsible for the lower production of cGMP by NO and GTN in the myocardial tissue. Correspondence to T. Ishibashi at the above address     

Relaxation of rat thoracic aorta induced by 2,2′,2″-tripyridine

The pharmacological and toxicological activity of 2,2′,2″-tripyridine was determined in rat thoracic aorta. 2,2′,2″-Tripyridine inhibited norepinephrine (3 μM)-induced phasic and tonic contractions in the thoracic aorta as well as the endothelium-denuded aorta of the rat. The tonic pre-contraction elicited by norepinephrine was also relaxed by the addition of 2,2′,2″-tripyridine and this relaxing effect was not affected by indomethacin (20 μM) but partially antagonized by methylene blue (50 μM). In high-K⁺ medium (80 mM), 2,2′,2″-tripyridine inhibited the Ca²⁺ concentration dependent vasocontraction. Moreover, in Ca²⁺-free medium, the phasic contraction induced by either norepinephrine (3 μM) or caffeine (10 mM) was also supressed by 2,2′,2″-tripyridine. Although the cAMP level of rat aorta was not changed by 2,2′,2″-tripyridine, cGMP level was significantly increased by 2,2′,2″-tripyridine. The increase in cGMP level caused by 2,2′,2″-tripyridine was completely blocked by methylene blue (50 μM). The ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ influx elicited by either norepinephrine or high-K⁺ was inhibited by 2,2′,2″-tripyridine. All of these findings indicate that 2,2′,2″-tripyridine relaxes rat thoracic aorta by virtue of its Ca²⁺-channel blocking properties and by elevating cGMP levels in vascular smooth muscle.     

Developmental changes in the effect of atrial natriuretic peptide on tissue cyclic GMP content and particulate guanylate cyclase activity of aorta, kidney and lung of rats.

To investigate possible developmental changes in the physiological effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) after birth, we studied the effect of ANP on the slice cGMP content and the particulate guanylate cyclase activity of aorta, kidney and lung in neonate, 2-week-old and adult rats of both sexes. Incubation with human ANP(99-126) (hANP) increased significantly the slice cGMP content of aorta, kidney and lung in three ages of rats. The hANP-stimulated fraction of cGMP contents of kidney decreased, that of lung increased with development, whereas that of aorta showed no significant change. Consistently, the hANP-responsive particulate guanylate cyclase activity decreased in kidney, increased in lung during development, without significant developmental change in aorta. These results indicate a differential change in the effect of hANP on the slice cGMP content among tissues during development. The developmental change in the effect of hANP on slice cGMP content is probably caused by the ontogenetic change in activation of ANP receptor-linked guanylate cyclase.     

Amplified NO/cGMP-mediated relaxation and ryanodine receptor-to-BKCa channel signalling in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle from phospholamban knockout mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) is induced by NO. NO promotes the formation of cGMP, which activates cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (PKGI). The large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK_Ca) channel is regarded as a major target of NO/cGMP signalling; however, the mechanism of BK_Ca activation remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine whether sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺ load and Ca²⁺ release from the SR via ryanodine receptors (RyRs) is important for BK_Ca channel activation in response to NO/cGMP.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

In vitro myography was performed on CCSM strips from wild-type and PLB knockout (PLB^−/−) mice to evaluate contraction and relaxation in response to pharmacological agents and electrical field stimulation (EFS).

KEY RESULTS

In CCSM strips from PLB^−/− mice, a model of increased SR Ca²⁺ load, contractile force in response to EFS or phenylephrine (PE) was increased by nearly 100%. EFS of strips precontracted with PE induced transient relaxation in CCSM, an effect that was significantly larger in PLB^−/− strips. Likewise, the relaxation of PE-induced contraction in response to SNP and cGMP was greater in PLB^−/−, as demonstrated by a shift in the concentration–response curve towards lower concentrations. Blocking RyRs and BK_Ca channels diminished the induced relaxations and eliminated the difference between wild-type and PLB^−/−.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

NO/cGMP activates BK_Ca channels through RyR-mediated Ca²⁺ release. This signalling pathway is responsible for approximately 40% of the NO/cGMP effects and is amplified by increased SR Ca²⁺ concentrations.     

Modulation of Calmodulin Properties by Amiodarone and its Major Metabolite Desethylamiodarone*

Abstract: Long-term amiodarone therapy is invariably associated with some side effects. Although its mechanism of action, as an antiarrhythmic drug is well understood, the side effect profile of amiodarone is not yet established. To determine possible mechanisms, the interaction of amiodarone and its major metabolite desethylamiodarone with calmodulin was investigated, since calmodulin is known to regulate Ca²⁺ transport, cell proliferation and the enzymes involved in signal transduction and nucleotide metabolism. The interaction between the drugs and calmodulin was studied by monitoring intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence of calmodulin and by using a fluorescent probe, N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPN). ¹⁴C-Chlorpromazine displacement studies were conducted to differentiate the specific binding sites. The effect on the biological activity of calmodulin was determined with calmodulin dependent phosphodiesterase and Ca²⁺-ATPase. The dansyl calmodulin was used as fluorescent probe to study the effect of these drugs on complex formation between calmodulin and phosphodiesterase. Both amiodarone and desethylamiodarone decreased tyrosine fluorescence of calmodulin with IC50 of 4.9 and 4.4 μM respectively and these interactions were Ca²⁺-dependent. NPN fluorescence was also affected in a concentration dependent manner. These drugs also displaced bound ¹⁴C-chlorpromazine from calmodulin and the effect was biphasic. However, desethylamiodarone was more potent than amiodarone. The binding of ³H-amiodarone to calmodulin was modified by a variety of compounds, one class of compounds decreased and the other increased ³H-amiodarone binding to calmodulin. Only, desethylamiodarone inhibited the phosphodiesterase activation by calmodulin with IC50 of 13.2 μM without changing the basal enzyme. Desethylamiodarone was more potent in altering calmodulin-dependent synaptic membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase activity than amiodarone. Desethylamiodarone also inhibited Ca²⁺-dependent complex formation between dansyl calmodulin and phosphodiesterase more effectively than amiodarone. These data suggest that amiodarone and desethylamiodarone interact with calmodulin at specific sites altering its active conformation and some of the side effects associated with amiodarone therapy may be due to this interaction with calmodulin.