Reversal of GABA-mediated inhibition of the electrically and potassium chloride evoked [3H]-GABA release from rat substantia nigra slices by DL-3-hydroxy-3-phenyl pentanamide

The phenyl alcohol amides, DL-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl butyramide (CAS 52839-87-9), DL-3-hydroxy-3-phenyl pentanamide (CAS 131802-69-2, DL-HEPP) and DL-4-hydroxy-4-phenyl hexanamide (CAS 67880-30-2) and their fluorine and chlorine analogs, at a concentration of 100 micromol/L, did not displace [3H]-gamma-aminobutyric acid ([3H]-GABA, CAS 108158-36-7) from GABAA receptors and only weakly displaced [3H]-GABA and [3H]-CGP62349 (CAS 186986-97-0), a GABAB receptor antagonist, from GABAB receptors in rat brain crude synaptic membranes. The electrically and potassium chloride (15 mmol/L) evoked [3H]-GABA release in the presence of DL-HEPP, GABA and GABAB receptor ligands from rat brain substantia nigra (SN) slices was studied. R-Baclofen (CAS 69308-37-8) (10 micromol/L), a GABAB receptor agonist, produced an inhibition of the electrically evoked [3H]-GABA release and this inhibition was blocked by CGP 55845A (CAS 149184-22-5) (10 micromol/L), a GABAB receptor antagonist, but was not affected by DL-HEPP (100 micromol/L). CGP 55845A (10 micromol/L) did not alter the electrically evoked [3H]-GABA release in the absence of baclofen. The addition of DL-HEPP (100 micromol/L) alone did not affect the electrically-evoked release of [3H]-GABA release control, but it was able to significantly reduce the inhibitory effect of GABA (CAS 56-12-2) (10 micromol/L) on [3H]-GABA release evoked both by electrical and potassium chloride stimulation, in the presence of tiagabine (CAS 115103-54-3) (10 micromol/L), a GABA uptake blocker. In three preliminary experiments, bicuculline (CAS 485-49-4) (10 micromol/L) and picrotoxinin (CAS 17617-45-7) (10 micromol/L), two GABAA antagonists, inhibited the electrically evoked release of [3H]-GABA from rat SN slices, and DL-HEPP (100 micromol/L) reversed this inhibition. The mechanism of action of DL-HEPP is not known but, it might act as a negative GABA modulator in rat brain slices.     

Complexes of ruthenium(III) with some 2-aminothiazole derivatives/synthesis, properties and pharmacological studies

Four new complexes of Ru(III) with a general formula [Ru(L)2Cl2]Cl, where L = 2-amino-4-phenylthiazole (CAS 2010-06-2), 2-amino-4-methylthiazole (CAS 1603-91-4), ethyl 2-amino-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylate (CAS 7210-76-6) and ethyl 2-amino-4-phenyl-5-thiazolecarboxylate (CAS 64399-23-1), were prepared. The syntheses were carried out in polar medium and inert atmosphere at a molar ratio Ru:L = 1:2 or 1:3. The compounds obtained were characterised by IR-, 1H-NMR- 13C-NMR-, UV-VIS-, EPR spectroscopy, magnetochemical and conductivity measurements. The ligands behaved as bidental, bounding Ru(III) through the nitrogen atoms from the amino group and the heterocycle. The complex of ethyl 2-amino-4-phenyl-5-thiazolecarboxylate showed significant antileukaemic activity on various human cells (IC50 values ranging from 20 to 92 micromol/l). Toxicological studies on mice indicated that such concentrations could be reached without mortality. This compound exhibited a promising antineoplastic potential and needs further pharmacological and toxicological evaluation.     

Searching for new chemotherapies for tropical diseases: ruthenium-clotrimazole complexes display high in vitro activity against Leishmania major and Trypanosoma cruzi and low toxicity toward normal mammalian cells

Eight new ruthenium complexes of clotrimazole (CTZ) with high antiparasitic activity have been synthesized, cis,fac-[Ru(II)Cl(2)(DMSO)(3)(CTZ)] (1), cis,cis,trans-[Ru(II)Cl(2)(DMSO)(2)(CTZ)(2)] (2), Na[Ru(III)Cl(4)(DMSO)(CTZ)] (3), Na[trans-Ru(III)Cl(4)(CTZ)(2)] (4), [Ru(II)(η(6)-p-cymene)Cl(2)(CTZ)] (5), [Ru(II)(η(6)-p-cymene)(bipy)(CTZ)][BF(4)](2) (6), [Ru(II)(η(6)-p-cymene)(en)(CTZ)][BF(4)](2) (7), and [Ru(II)(η(6)-p-cymene)(acac)(CTZ)][BF(4)] (8) (bipy = bipyridine; en = ethlylenediamine; acac = acetylacetonate). The crystal structures of compounds 4-8 are described. Complexes 1-8 are active against promastigotes of Leishmania major and epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Most notably, complex 5 increases the activity of CTZ by factors of 110 and 58 against L. major and T. cruzi, with no appreciable toxicity to human osteoblasts, resulting in nanomolar and low micromolar lethal doses and therapeutic indexes of 500 and 75, respectively. In a high-content imaging assay on L. major-infected intraperitoneal mice macrophages, complex 5 showed significant inhibition on the proliferation of intracellular amastigotes (IC(70) = 29 nM), while complex 8 displayed some effect at a higher concentration (IC(40) = 1 μM).     

Clotrimazole is a selective and potent inhibitor of rat cytochrome P450 3A subfamily-related testosterone metabolism.

In this study, clotrimazole (CTZ) and ketoconazole (KTZ) were evaluated for their inhibition of testosterone metabolism catalyzed by rat hepatic microsomes differentially expressing certain cytochrome P450 enzymes. The objective was to compare the inhibitory potencies using hepatic microsomes from adult female rats treated with dexamethasone (F-DEX) and hepatic microsomes from vehicle-treated adult male rats (M-VEH), which are known to contain high levels of isozymes CYP3A1 (3A23) and 3A2, respectively. The results demonstrate that CTZ is a very potent and selective inhibitor of the 6beta-hydroxylation of testosterone, a CYP3A-mediated reaction, in all rat metabolic systems tested. The IC(50) value was 9.7 nM in F-DEX, and 6.7 nM in M-VEH for CTZ. The in vitro inhibitory potency for CTZ significantly exceeds the same parameters for KTZ, a well established specific inhibitor of human CYP3A-mediated reactions. It was found that the IC(50) values of KTZ in F-DEX and M-VEH were 69 and 780 nM, respectively. These values for KTZ are 10-fold and 100-fold higher, respectively, than for CTZ. CTZ, at the concentration that inhibits 90% and more of CYP3A-mediated reactions (40 nM), has less than a 10% inhibitory effect on the activities of other rat liver enzymes, such as CYP1A1, -1A2, -2A1, -2B1, -2B2, -2C11, and -2E1. In summary, CTZ is a more potent and selective inhibitor of all CYP3A-mediated reactions than KTZ in rat hepatic microsomes.     

Drug-drug interactions evaluated by a highly active reconstituted native human cytochrome P4503A4 and human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase system

Catalytic activities of native human CYP3A4-mediated reactions as well as drug interactions were directly evaluated by isolated reconstituted human CYP3A4: NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase systems. The SDS-PAGE pure CYP3A4 and human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase had been incorporated into a binary vesicular phospholipid system of dilauroyl-phosphatidyl-choline and phosphatidyl-serine which had proven to achieve optimal nifedipine oxidase activity (19.6 nmol nifedipine oxidized x min(-1) x nmol CYP3A4(-1)). The IC50 values of ketoconazole (CAS 65 277-42-1) (approximately 3 micromol/l), quinidine (CAS 56-54-2) (approximately 5 micromol/l), mifepristone (CAS 84 371-65-3) (-8 micromol/l), 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (CAS 57-63-6) (approximately 17 micromol/l), cimetidine (CAS 51 481-61-9) (approximately 46 micromol/l), FK 506 (tacrolimus) (CAS 104 987-11-3) (approximately 53 micromol/l), naringenin (CAS 480-41-1) (approximately 87 micromol/l), and cyclosporine A (CAS 59 865-13-3) (approximately 90 micromol/l) indicate that all these drugs have an inhibitory effect on nifedipine (CAS 21 829-25-4) metabolism, whereas the drug quinine (CAS 130-95-0) did not elicit any significant inhibition.     

Possible participation of chloride ion channels in ATP release from cancer cells in suspension

1. Cancer cells must detach from the primary focus to initiate the process of metastasis. Previously, we demonstrated that intracellular Ca(2+) levels are increased in endothelial cells in the presence of cancer cells and that ATP derived from these cells causes this increase. The present study clarifies the mechanism of ATP release from cancer cells by investigating the effects of Cl(-) channel inhibitors and other drugs on ATP release from human fibrosarcoma cells (HT-1080 cells). 2. Levels of extracellular ATP and its metabolites were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescent detection. 3. Significantly more extracellular ATP was released by suspended than by adherent HT-1080 cells. The Cl(-) channel inhibitors 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (100 micromol/L), gadolinium (100 micromol/L) and niflumic acid (100 micromol/L) all significantly inhibited ATP release from HT-1080 cells (1 x 10(3) /mL) to 39.7 +/- 6.5, 28.5 +/- 2.5 and 82.5 +/- 4.1% of control, respectively. 4. Neither of the p-glycoprotein inhibitors (i.e. 50 micromol/L quinidine and 90 micromol/L verapamil) had any effect on ATP release from HT-1080 cells. The gap junction hemichannel inhibitor Gap26 (300 micromol/L) slightly, but significantly, decreased ATP release by approximately 20%. The gap junction inhibitor 18-alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid (10 micromol/L) tended to inhibit ATP release from HT-1080 cells, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. 5. These findings indicate that Cl(-) channels play the most important role in ATP release from detached cancer cells and that gap junction hemichannels are also associated with ATP release.     

1H NMR studies of reactions of copper complexes with human blood plasma and urine.

Reactions of the copper complexes Cu(II)Cl2, [Cu(II)(EDTA)]2-, [Cu(II)2(DIPS)4] and [Cu(I)(DMP)2]+ (where DIPS is 3,5-diisopropylsalicylate and DMP is 2,9-dimethylphenanthroline) with human blood plasma and urine have been studied by 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy, and CD spectroscopy has been used to monitor the transfer of Cu(II) onto albumin in plasma. The rate of transfer of Cu(II) from [Cu(II)(EDTA)]2- onto albumin as measured by CD (T1/2 26 min, 0.5 mM Cu, 21 degrees), was similar to the rate of Cu(II) binding to amino acids and citrate, and to the rate of formation of [Ca(II)(EDTA)]2- in plasma. Reactions of Cu(II)Cl2 and [Cu(II)2(DIPS)4] in plasma followed a similar course, but were more rapid. The latter complex also appeared to give rise to the displacement of lactate from protein binding. Reactions of copper complexes in plasma therefore involve a range of low Mr ligands as well as albumin, and the ligands play a major role in determining the kinetics of the reactions. These factors, as well as the partitioning of both complexes and displaced ligands into lipoproteins, are likely to play important roles in the molecular pharmacology of copper-containing drugs. In urine, His and formate were involved in EDTA and DIPS displacement from their respective copper complexes, and peaks for free DIPS and [Ca(II)(EDTA)]2- were observed. The complex (Cu(I)(DMP)2]+ appeared to be relatively stable in both plasma and urine.     

Involvement of non-selective Ca2+ channels in the contraction induced by alkalinization of rat anococcygeus muscle cells

Intracellular pH is a modulator of cellular functions such as smooth muscle contraction. Changes in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)) associated with contraction are brought about by Ca(2+) influx and release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and alterations in the intracellular pH can affect both processes. In this work, therefore, we have investigated the Ca(2+) influx pathway that contributes to the contraction induced by the alkalinizing agent NH(4)Cl in the rat anococcygeus smooth muscle. For this purpose, we measured the isometric tension in muscle preparations, and [Ca(2+)](c) was measured on isolated cells loaded with 5 micromol/l FURA2/AM by using the ratio 340/380 nm. NH(4)Cl (10 mmol/l) induced a larger increase in [Ca(2+)](c) (100%) when compared with the [Ca(2+)](c) increase induced by 0.1 micromol/l phenylephrine (57.0+/-12.3% n=4). Incubation of the muscle preparations for 1 min in Ca(2+)-free medium reduced the contractions induced by 10 mmol/l NH(4)Cl to 11.5+/-5.1% (n=5), when compared with the contractions induced in 2.5 mmol/l Ca(2+) solution (100%). After 3 min in Ca(2+) free medium, contractions stimulated with NH(4)Cl were almost abolished (0.6+/-0.4%, n=5). In the same way, incubation with 10 micromol/l 1-[beta-[3[(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxyl]-4-methoxy-phenetyl]-1H-imidazole hydrochloride (SKF96365), a non-selective Ca(2+) channels, reduced the contractions stimulated with NH(4)Cl to 47.6+/-6.7% (n=7). On the other hand, 1 micromol/l verapamil, a voltage-operated Ca(2+) channel blocker and 0.05 micromol/l calphostin C, a protein kinase-C inhibitor, did not alter the contractions induced by NH(4)Cl. On isolated cells, [Ca(2+)](c) was reduced to 72.2+/-1.7% (n=4) by 10 micromol/l SKF96365. Taken together, our results suggest that NH(4)Cl induces contraction of rat anococcygeus smooth muscle cells, as well as [Ca(2+)](c) increase due to Ca(2+) influx through non-selective Ca(2+) channels.     

Monofunctional platinum complexes showing potent cytotoxicity against human liver carcinoma cell line BEL-7402

Three novel Pt(II) complexes [PtL(1)'Cl] I (L(1)' = glycine-N'-8-quinolylamide), [PtL(2)'Cl] II (L(2)' = l-alanine-N'-8-quinolylamide), and [PtL(3)Cl] III [L(3) = N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-methionine-N'-8-quinolylamide] have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of complexes II and III showed that the ligands are three-coordinated with only one Cl(-) as the leaving group. Complex II crystallized in the monoclinic system with space group P2(1), a = 9.502(2) A, b = 4.724(1) A, c = 14.800(3) A, while complex III crystallized in the orthorhombic system with space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 5.441(1) A, b = 12.978(3) A, c = 29.438(6) A. These complexes have been tested against a wide range of tumor cell lines including BEL-7402, HCT-116, SPC-A4, MOLT-4, P388, HL-60, A-549, SGC-7901, MKN-28, and HO-8910. Complex III is highly cytotoxic against the HCT-116 (IC(50) = 0.38 microM), SPC-A4 (IC(50) = 0.43 microM), BEL-7402 (IC(50) = 0.43 microM), and MOLT-4 (IC(50) = 0.61 microM) cell lines. The cell line most sensitive to III is human liver carcinoma cell line BEL-7402, which has a response rate of 75.1% at 6.6 x 10(-7) M, nearly 6 times higher than that of cisplatin.     

Synthesis and antimycobacterial activity of pyridylmethylsulfanyl and naphthylmethylsulfanyl derivatives of benzazoles, 1, 2, 4-triazole, and pyridine-2-carbothioamide/-2-carbonitrile

A set of four types of benzazoles, 1, 2, 4-triazole, and pyridine-2-carbonitrile/-2-carbothioamide substituted with 1-naphthylmethylsulfanyl or pyridylmethylsulfanyl was prepared to modify the structure of benzylsulfanyl derivatives of the above-mentioned heterocycles. The compounds were evaluated for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. avium, and two strains of M. kansasii. The activities were expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The MIC values fall into a range of 2 to >1000 micromol/L. Introduction of a pyridyl moiety into the molecule mostly decreased the activity. A naphthyl moiety did not influence the activity in comparison with a phenyl. The most active substances were 4-(3-pyridylmethylsulfanyl)pyridine-2-carbothioamide (7b) (MIC = 2 - >62.5 micromol/L) and 4-(1-naphthylmethylsulfanyl)pyridine-2-carbothioamide (7d) (MIC = 2 - >32 micromol/L).     

Preparation, characterization, and anticancer activity of a series of cis-PtCl2 complexes linked to anthraquinone intercalators

A new series of complexes of the type cis-PtL2X2 [where L is a monodentate AQ-Y(CH2)nNH2 and L2 is a bidentate AQ-Y(CH2)nNH(CH2)2NH2; AQ = anthraquinone, X = Cl, I, Y = NH, O] in which anthraquinone intercalators are tethered to the cis-PtCl2 unit via an (aminoalkyl)amino, (oxyalkyl)amino, or polyethylene glycol (aminoethyl)amino linker chains was prepared and screened in vitro against P388 leukemia. In vivo toxicity studies were carried out on selected complexes. All complexes were characterized by means of elemental analysis, 195Pt NMR spectroscopy, and FTIR. The 1:1 Pt-intercalator complexes displayed much higher in vitro cytotoxic activities than the 1:2 Pt-intercalator complexes. The dichloride complexes were consistently more active than their diiodide counterparts. Among the 1:1 Pt-intercalator complexes those with the shorter linker chains (n = 2, 3) exhibited the highest cytotoxic activities. Three compounds, [[2-[[2-(anthraquinon-1- ylamino)ethyl]amino]ethyl]amine-N,N']dichloroplatinum(II), [[2-[[3-(anthraquinon-1-ylamino)propyl]amino]ethyl]amine- N,N']dichloroplatinum(II), and [[2-[[3-anthraquinon-1- yloxy)propyl]amino]ethyl]amine-N,N']dichloroplatinum(II), were as active in vitro as cisplatin (ED50 = 2-4 x 10(-7) M) while on a molar basis their acute in vivo toxicity was significantly lower than that of cisplatin. In vivo screening against P388 leukemia indicated that these complexes have activity comparable to cisplatin.     

Effects of etodolac on P450 isoform-specific activities in human hepatic microsomes

The effects of etodolac (CAS 41340-25-4) on P450 isoform-specific activities in human hepatic microsomes were examined. Etodolac had little effect on 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (CYP1A2), coumarin hydroxylation (CYP2A6), 7-benzyloxyresorufin O-debenzylation (CYP2B6), S-mephenytoin hydroxylation (CYP2C19), bufuralol hydroxylation (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone hydroxylation (CYP2E1) and nifedipine oxidation (CYP3A4) at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 micromol/L. Etodolac inhibited tolbutamide hydroxylation (CYP2C9) with the Ki value of 64 micromol/L, suggesting that it is a weak inhibitor of CYP2C9. The in vivo drug interaction was predicted from the in vitro data using the [I]/([I] + Ki) value. Because the value was calculated to be almost 1, it is not likely that etodolac causes the drug interactions with the CYP2C9 substrates.     

埃他卡林对大鼠尾动脉平滑肌细胞［Ca2+］i， PKA和PKC活性的影响埃他卡林对大鼠尾动脉平滑肌细胞［Ca2+］i， PKA和PKC活性的影响

细胞内钙参与了对几乎所有类型细胞的各种生理活动的调节[1],并通过影响PKA和PKC等大分子蛋白,进一步调控细胞的分裂和增殖。以ATP敏感型钾通道(KATP)为靶点的钾通道开放剂(KCO)是一类新型的抗高血压药物[2,3]。KCO激活血管平滑肌KATP,间接抑制钙通道的开放,从而使[Ca2 ]i降低,     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of [2-[2-(N,N-disubstituted thiocarbamoyl-sulfanyl)-acylamino] thiazol-4-yl]acetic acid ethyl esters

[2-[2-(N, N-Disubstituted thiocarbamoyl-sulfanyl)acylamino ]thiazol-4-yl]acetic acid ethyl esters (3a-x) were synthesized by the reaction of potassium salts of N, N-disubstituted dithiocarbamoic acids with [2-(2-chloroalkanoyl)amino-thiazol-4-yl]acetic acid ethyl esters. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by elemental analyses, UV, IR, (1)H-NMR, and EI mass spectral data. The antimicrobial activities of all the compounds were investigated by microbroth dilution technique using Mueller-Hinton broth and Mueller-Hinton agar. In this study, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352, Pseudomonas aeruginosa AT CC 1539, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 14153 and Candida albicans ATCC10231 were used as test microorganisms. Among the tested compounds 3a, d, e, f, h, k, w activity against S. epidermidis ATCC 12228 (MIC: 156 mg/L, 78 mg/L, 62.5 mg/L, 78 mg/L, 62.5 mg/L, 312 mg/L, 250 mg/L, respectively), compound 3d had some activity against S. aureus ATCC 6538 (MIC: 156 mg/L) and C. albicans ATCC 10231(MIC: 156 mg/L). Compounds 3l, 3x also evaluated for antituberculosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using the BACTEC 460 radiometric system and BACTEC 12B medium. The preliminary results indicated that all of the tested compounds were inactive against the test organism.     

Effects of metal salophene and saldach complexes on lymphoma and leukemia cells

Schiff base transition metal complexes are an important class of compounds with great potential for therapeutic interventions. However, data on antileukemic and antilymphoma effects of these complexes are limited. The activity of N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine (salophene, 1), its iron(II/III) and manganese(II/III) complexes as well as rac-trans-N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine (saldach, 2) and its respective iron(II/III) complexes was evaluated against U-937 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and the HL-60, SUP-B15, and K-562 leukemia cell lines. The free ligands induced in all cell lines, if at all, only marginal, concentration-dependent growth inhibitory effects, and did not trigger Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) release or induce apoptosis. [Fe(II) (salophene)] (3) and [Fe(III) (salophene)Cl] (4) blocked cellular growth, caused a strong release of Cu/Zn SOD and induced apoptosis. In contrast, the manganese analogs [Mn(II) (salophene)] (5) and [Mn(III) (salophene)OAc] (6) inhibited cell growth, caused the programmed cell death only at higher concentrations and did not provoke release of Cu/Zn SOD in any of the four cell lines. Weaker cell death-promoting effects were observed when the salophene moiety of 3 and 4 was replaced with saldach (complexes 7 and 8), indicating the influence exerted by the ligand structure. In conclusion, Schiff base transition metal complexes induce strong inhibitory effects on human lymphoma and leukemia cells.     

水溶性金属卟啉的合成、表征及其清除有毒活性氧的研究

目的合成并结构表征了4种水溶性金属卟啉配合物［5，10，15，20-四［4-(4′-吡啶-1)丁氧基苯基］金属卟啉溴化盐［锌卟啉(I)、铜卟啉(II)、锰卟啉(III)和钴卟啉(IV)］，作为抗活性氧(O^-₂，H₂O₂，HO·)模拟酶。方法 核黄素-蛋氨酸光照测其清除O^-₂作用，H₂O₂氧化Vit C法测其催化H₂O₂的分解，Fenton-苯甲酸钠荧光法测其对HO·清除作用，小鼠肝匀浆法测其抗脂质过氧化作用。结果1.0×10^-5~1.0×10^-6 mol·L^-1均具有良好的清除O^-₂作用；1.5×10^-6~1.0×10^-6 mol·L^-1均具有分解H₂O₂作用；2.0×10^-8~1.0×10^-8 mol·L^-1均具有清除HO·的功能；1.0×10^-7 mol·L^-1均可使脂质过氧化产物明显减少。结论合成4种水溶性金属卟啉配合物可作为抗多种活性氧(O^-₂，H₂O₂，HO·)模拟酶。     

Sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry analysis of astragaloside-IV in rat plasma

Astragaloside-IV (3-O-beta-d-xylopyranosyl-6-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-cycloastragenol) is the major active constituent contained in Radix Astragali. This paper describes a rapid, sensitive and specific assay for quantitative determination of astragaloside-IV in rat plasma. After a liquid/liquid extraction (LLE) with n-butanol and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) gradient separation with acetonitrile-NH4Cl solution (0.5 micromol/L) as the mobile phase, the anions adduct [M + Cl]- at m/z 819.4 of astragaloside-IV, and [M + Cl]- at m/z 815.35 of internal standard (IS) digoxin were analyzed by electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Chromatographic separation was achieved in less than 9 min and calibration curve was linear over a concentration range of 2-200 ng/ml. The described assay method was successfully applied to the preclinical pharmacokinetic study of astragaloside-IV. After intragastric administration of astragaloside-IV to rats, Cmax and Tmax of astragaloside-IV were 134.73 +/- 39.86 ng/ml and 1.5 h, respectively, and the elimination half-life (t1/2) was 5.45 +/- 0.39 h.     

BAY 41-2272, a potent activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase, stimulates calcium elevation and calcium-activated potassium current in pituitary GH cells

The effects of BAY 41-2272, a nitric oxide-independent activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase, on Ca2+ signalling and ion currents were investigated in pituitary GH3 cells. Intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in these cells were increased by BAY 41-2272. Removing extracellular Ca2+ abolished the BAY 41-2272-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. After [Ca2+]i was elevated by BAY 41-2272 (300 nmol/L), subsequent application of 1-benzyl-3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl) indazole (YC-1; 1 micromol/L) did not increase [Ca2+]i further. In whole-cell recordings, BAY 41-2272 reversibly stimulated Ca2+-activated K+ current (I(K(Ca))) with an EC50 of 225 +/- 8 nmol/L. At 3 micromol/L, BAY 41-2272 slightly and significantly decreased L-type Ca2+ current.In the cell-attached configuration, BAY 41-2272 (300 nmol/L) enhanced the activity of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK(Ca)) channels. After BK(Ca) channel activity was stimulated by spermine NONOate (30 micromol/L) or YC-1 (10 micromol/L) in cell-attached patches, subsequent application of BAY 41-2272 (300 nmol/L) further increased the channel open probability. In the inside-out configuration, BAY 41-2272 applied to the intracellular surface of excised patches enhanced BK(Ca) channel activity. Unlike 1 micromol/L paxilline, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolol-[4,3a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 10 micromol/L) or heme (10 micromol/L) had no effect on BAY 41-2272-stimulated channel activity. BAY 41-2272 caused no shift in the activation curve of BK(Ca) channels; however, it did increase the Ca2+ sensitivity of these channels. At 300 nmol/L, BAY 41-2272 reduced the firing rate of spontaneous action potentials stimulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (10 micromol/L). The BK(Ca) channel activity was also enhanced by 300 nmol/L BAY 41-2272 in neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells. Therefore, the BAY 41-2272-induced increase in [Ca2+]i is primarily explained by an increase in Ca2+ influx. The BAY 41-2272-mediated simulation of IK(Ca) may result from direct activation of BKCa channels and indirectly as a result of elevated [Ca2+]i.