Mechanism of inhibition of the sodium current by bepridil in guinea-pig isolated ventricular cells.

1. Effects of bepridil, a sodium-, calcium-, and potassium-antagonistic agent, on the Na+ current were studied by the whole cell voltage clamp technique (tip resistance = 0.5 MOhm, [Na]i and [Na]o 10 mmol l-1 at 20 degrees C). 2. Bepridil produced tonic block (Kdrest = 295.44 mumol l-1, Kdi = 1.41 mumol l-1; n = 4). 3. Bepridil (100 mumol l-1) shifted the inactivation curve in the hyperpolarization direction by 13.4 +/- 2.7 mV (n = 4) without change in the slope factor. 4. In the presence of 50 mumol l-1 bepridil, bepridil showed use-dependent block at 2 Hz, whereas changes in pulse duration did not significantly effect this use-dependent block (81% +/- 2% at 10 ms, 84% +/- 3% at 30 ms, 86% +/- 3% at 100 ms; n = 4). 5. After removal of fast inactivation of the Na+ current by 3 mmol l-1 tosylchloramide sodium, bepridil (50 mumol l-1) still showed use-dependent block which was independent of the holding potential. 6. The recovery time constant from the bepridil-induced use-dependent block was 0.48 s at holding potential of -100 mV and 0.51 s at holding potential of -140 mV. 7. These results indicate that bepridil could bind to the receptor in the sodium channel through the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic pathway and leave the receptor through the hydrophobic pathway in the lipid bilayer. The binding and dissociation kinetics of this drug were shown to be fast, and the accumulation of the drug in the sodium channel appeared to be small.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of neutrophil and eosinophil induced chemotaxis by nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate.

1. Neutrophils and eosinophils infiltrate the airways in association with the allergen-induced late phase asthmatic reaction. Mobilization of these cells takes place via lipid-like and protein-like chemotactic factors. In this study platelet-activating factor (PAF), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) were used as illustrative examples of both groups. Chemotaxis was studied in human neutrophils and eosinophils. The inhibitory effects of nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate were evaluated. 2. All chemotactic factors tested attracted neutrophils with the following rank order of activity: ZAS greater than PAF identical to FMLP identical to LTB4. Eosinophils were only mobilized by PAF, LTB4 and ZAS with the following rank order of activity: ZAS greater than PAF greater than LTB4. 3. Nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate were equally active as the PAF antagonist BN 52021 in inhibiting the PAF-induced chemotaxis of neutrophils (IC50 approximately 10(-8) M). Both drugs were also equally active in inhibiting the chemotaxis of neutrophils induced by ZAS (IC50 approximately 10(-7)-10(-6) M), FMLP (IC50 approximately 10(-7) M) and LTB4 (IC50 approximately 10(-6) M). 4. Nedocromil sodium significantly inhibited the chemotaxis of eosinophils induced by PAF (IC50 approximately 10(-6) M) and LTB4 (IC50 approximately 10(-7) M). The inhibitory potency of BN 52021 was similar to that of nedocromil sodium on the PAF-induced chemotaxis of eosinophils. Sodium cromoglycate was incapable of eliciting significant inhibition of these chemotactic responses. However, sodium cromoglycate significantly inhibited the chemotaxis of eosinophils induced by ZAS (IC50 approximately 10(-7) M), whereas nedocromil sodium was ineffective.     

Studies on the bradycardia induced by bepridil.

Bepridil, a novel active compound for prophylactic treatment of anginal attacks, induced persistent bradycardia and a non-specific anti-tachycardial effect, the mechanisms of which were investigated in vitro and in vivo. In vitro perfusion of bepridil in the life-support medium for isolated sino-atrial tissue from rabbit heart, caused a reduction in action potential (AP) spike frequency (recorded by KCl microelectrodes) starting at doses of 5 X 10(-6) M. This effect was dose-dependent up to concentrations of 5 X 10(-5) M, whereupon blockade of sinus activity set in. Bepridil at a dose of 5 X 10(-6) M, induced a concomitant reduction in AP amplitude (falling from 71 +/- 8 mV to 47 +/- 6 mV), maximum systolic depolarization velocity (phase 0) which fell from 1.85 +/- 0.35 V/s to 0.84 +/- 0.28 V/s, together with maximum diastolic depolarization velocity (phase 4) which fell from 38 +/- 3 mV/s to 24 +/- 5 mV/s. In vivo injection of bepridil at a dose of 5 mg/kg (i.v.) into 6 anaesthetized dogs which had undergone ablation of all the extrinsic cardiac afferent nerve supply, together with a bilateral medullo-adrenalectomy, caused a marked reduction in heart rate which fell from 98.7 +/- 4.2 beats/min to 76 +/- 5.3 beats/min sustained for more than 45 min. It is concluded that bepridil reduces heart rate by acting directly on the sinus node.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of uptake1 by dopexamine hydrochloride in vitro.

1 Dopexamine hydrochloride, a compound under evaluation for the acute treatment of heart failure, was examined in vitro for its ability to prevent neuronal uptake of noradrenaline. 2 Despite possessing only weak beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist activity in paced guinea-pig left atria, dopexamine hydrochloride was only 23 times less potent than isoprenaline in augmenting responses of field-stimulated atrial preparations. 3 This potent effect was not observed in field-stimulated atria depleted of noradrenaline by reserpine and in the presence of cocaine was greatly reduced (1 microM) or abolished (50 microM). 4 Dopexamine hydrochloride (3 microM) potentiated the inotropic effect of exogenous noradrenaline in paced atria, thereby resembling cocaine (10 microM) and dopamine (30 microM), both of which are known inhibitors of Uptake. 5 The sodium-dependent uptake of [3H]-noradrenaline into rabbit brain synaptosomes was prevented by dopexamine hydrochloride (IC50 26 nM) and cocaine (IC50 108 nM), as well as by two other catecholamines used in the treatment of heart failure, dopamine (IC50 270 nM) and dobutamine (IC50 380 nM). 6 The cardiac stimulant effect of dopexamine hydrochloride reported in dogs and in patients with heart failure, may therefore be due in part to potentiation of endogenous catecholamines.     

Inhibition by alpha-adrenoceptor agonists of renin release in vitro.

A variety of alpha-adrenergic agonists encompassing a broad range of concentrations were used to investigate the existence and nature of a putative alpha-adrenergic mechanism inhibitory to renin release, which may operate at the level of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. For this purpose rat renal cortical tissue incubated in vitro was used. Concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and methoxamine of 10(-6), 10(-5), 10(-4) and 10(-3) M caused significant dose-related inhibition of renin release. The inhibition of release by these doses was reversed completely by 10(-4) M phentolamine. In contrast, phenylephrine, oxymetazoline and clonidine did not inhibit renin release. The results support the concept of an alpha-adrenergic mechanism inhibitory to renin release and show that high concentrations of alpha-adrenergic agonist are required for its operation in vitro. The manner in which this inhibitory mechanism affects renin release under physiological circumstances remains to be demonstrated.     

Inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase in thymocytes of rats treated by ditiocarb sodium.

The i.p. administration of ditiocarb sodium (diethyldithiocarbamate, DDC) at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg body wt. decreased within 1 h and in a competitive manner the ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) activity of rat thymocytes by about 25 and 40%, respectively. Under the same conditions, scheduled DNA synthesis was inhibited by almost 30 and 75%, whereas RNA synthesis remained unchanged. 1000 mg DDC/kg body wt. resulted in a long-lasting diminution in thymus weight; the spleen revealed no significant drug effects. It is suggested that the decrease of RNR activity in thymocytes of DDC-treated rats is a major determinant in the (reversible) inhibition of DNA synthesis which, in turn, may be implicated in the radio- and chemoprotective effects of the drug.     

Inhibition of thrombin by iopromide in vitro

Iopromide is a nonionic, iodinated, monomeric, radiographic contrast agent used in various indications, including coronary angiography and visceral and peripheral arteriography. Nonionic contrast media have been postulated to increase thrombogenicity when compared with ionic contrast media. The goal of this study was to characterize the interaction of iopromide with thrombin, specifically to determine the rate, extent, specificity, and reversibility of the thrombin inhibition by iopromide, the integrity of the thrombin-iopromide complex, and the inhibitory potency of iopromide using a validated assay methodology. Iopromide was mixed with purified thrombin or pooled serum from healthy male and female donors. The final concentrations of iopromide in the presence of estimated physiologic concentrations of thrombin (1 nmol/L) were 0-184 mmol/L. After incubation for defined time intervals, the activity of thrombin was determined by adding substrate and measuring the absorbance of the generated chromophores at 405 nm. The possible inhibition of the protease trypsin by iopromide was investigated to evaluate the specificity of thrombin inhibition by iopromide. Iopromide was compared with Thromstop, a known thrombin inhibitor, to assess the relative potency of iopromide. The inhibition of thrombin by iopromide was immediate, rapidly reversible, and proportionate to the iopromide concentrations. The minimum inhibitory concentration of iopromide was 50 mmol/L. At the highest iopromide concentration tested, 184 mmol/L, the mean inhibition of thrombin activity was 44.5%. The mean concentration of iopromide associated with a 50% inhibition was 206 mmol/L. The inhibitory potency of iopromide was 4 x 10(6) times smaller than that of Thromstop. The inhibition of thrombin by iopromide is specific, because trypsin was not inhibited by iopromide. The results indicate that in vitro iopromide at clinically relevant concentrations partially inhibits thrombin activity. However, the in vitro model used does not consider other factors that may be relevant for the overall coagulation response in vivo.     

Disposition of bepridil in laboratory animals and man.

1. The disposition and pharmacokinetics of bepridil (Bp) were studied in mouse, rat, rabbit, rhesus monkey, and man. Bp was essentially completely absorbed by all species. 2. Maximum plasma Bp concentrations were achieved within 2 h of drug administration. Linear but non-proportional, dose-related increases in the area under the curve (AUC) for plasma Bp vs. time were noted after increasing oral doses of Bp.HCl to rats (30-300 mg/kg) and monkeys (25-200 mg/kg). 3. Daily administration of Bp.HCl to rats (100 mg/kg per day for 15 days) and monkeys (200 mg/kg per day for 13 days) produced no statistically significant changes in Bp pharmacokinetic parameters. 4. Oral plasma clearance (CLp) of Bp was very low in man (ca. 0.93 l/h per kg) compared to experimental animals (14.8-63.8 l/h per kg). Terminal elimination half-lives were 1.5-2.0 h for mouse and rat, ca. 4.4 h for monkey and ca. 48 h for man. 5. Bp and a total of 12 metabolites were identified and quantified. Metabolite formation in the five species was adequately described by four interrelated pathways, namely, aromatic hydroxylation, followed by N-dealkylation, N-debenzylation, and N-acetylation. Metabolites produced by this pathway included 4-hydroxy-Bp, N-benzyl-4-aminophenol, 4-aminophenol, and N-acetyl-4-aminophenol. Comparison of the proposed pathways revealed qualitative similarity among species.     

Inhibition of gluconeogenesis by sodium nitroprusside in the perfused guinea pig liver.

Sodium nitroprusside was found to be a very strong inhibitor of the glucose formation from lactate in the perfused guinea pig liver. Hepatic cell respiration and oxidative phosphorylation appeared to be simultaneously suppressed by this compound. The pattern of some hepatic metabolite concentrations was similarly affected by nitroprusside as described for biguanides and pyridinium chloride derivatives. Cyanide had to be added to the perfusion medium in a tenfold higher concentration to achieve a comparable inhibition of gluconeogenesis from lactate.     

Inhibition of brain cation pump enzyme by in vitro lead ion: effects of low level [Pb] and modulation by homogenate

Rat brain homogenates were preincubated with lead chloride for 20 min at 0 degrees C. Inhibition of K-pnitrophenylphosphatase (K-pNPPase), which measures the dephosphorylation step of Na,K-ATPase, reached steady state within 10 min and was readily reversible. The activity in brain, homogenates prepared from 60-day-old rats, expressed (mean +/- SE) as a percentage of control (100.0 +/- 0.48%), fell to 89.4 +/- 0.52% at 0.25 microM [Pb] to 64.2 +/- 1.65% at 5 microM [Pb]. However, between 5 and 25 microM [Pb] K-pNPPase activity significantly increased (to 85.4 +/- 3.14% at 25 microM) before it again fell above 30 microM. Similar results were obtained with brain homogenates prepared from 10-day-old rats. The multiphasic nature of this dose-response curve did not change with changes in buffer, substrate, anion, test tube order, or test tube composition (glass vs plastic), and appeared to be intrinsic to homogenate-Pb interactions. Microsomal preparations also exhibited multiphasicity, but with a shift in the inflection points. However, there was no multiphasicity with commercial hog brain Na,K-ATPase, suggesting an interaction between a component in the rat brain preparations and lead ion. Addition of boiled rat brain homogenate to commercial Na,K-ATPase resulted in partial protection from lead inhibition but did not produce multiphasicity over the ranges tested. Bovine serum albumin provided less protection. We conclude that there is a complex interaction among K-pNPPase activity, some factor in the rat brain homogenate, and low levels of lead ion.     

An in vitro microcalorimetric method for studying the toxic effect of cadmium on microbial activity of an agricultural soil

Using TAM III multi-channel thermocalorimetry combined with direct microorganism counting (bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi) under laboratory conditions, we determined the microbial population count, resistance and activity toward cadmium (Cd) toxicity in soil. The thermokinetic parameters, which can represent soil microbial activity, were calculated from power-time curves of soil microbial activity obtained by microcalorimetric measurement. Simultaneous application of the two methods showed that growth rate constant (k), peak-heat output power (P _max) and the number of living microorganisms decreased with increasing concentration of Cd. Anncrease in Cd concentration resulted in the decrease of the peak-heat output power and increase in the time of the peak of power. However, the relationships between the thermokinetic parameters (k and P _max) and the number of microorganism were not linear, but the trend was similar. Our research also suggests that microcalorimetry is a very sensitive, simple and useful technique for in vitro investigation of the effects of toxic heavy metals on soil microbial activity.     

Inhibition of cytochrome P450 isozymes by curcumins in vitro and in vivo.

To study the mechanism(s) of turmeric-mediated chemoprevention and to compare the chemopreventive efficacy of turmeric/curcumin(s) against benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P) and 4-methylnitrosamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK, a tobacco-specific carcinogen), the effects of turmeric/curcumin (C), demethoxycurcumin (dmC), bis-demethoxycurcumin (bdmC) and phenyl and phenethyl-isothiocyanates (PITC and PEITC) on the dealkylation of ethoxyresorufin (ER), methoxyresorufin (MR) and pentoxyresorufin (PR) by rat liver microsomes (in vitro) were studied. These reactions are predominantly mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isozymes 1A1, 1A2 and 2B1, respectively. In vitro incubation of rat liver microsomes with each of the compounds--C, dmC, bdmC, PITC and PEITC--showed a dose-dependent decrease in carbon monoxide binding to microsomes and also showed a dose-dependent inhibition of CYP 1A1, 1A2 and 2B1 activity, as judged by a decrease in formation of resorufin from respective biochemical probes used. Both the isothiocyanates inhibited activity of CYP 2B1 more readily than that of CYP 1A1/1A2. Significantly lower concentrations of curcumin(s) than isothiocyanates achieved 50% inhibition of activity of CYP 1A1 and 1A2, while concentrations of C (4 microM), bdmC (2.5 microM) required to inhibit CYP 2B1 were slightly higher than that of PEITC (1.3 microM), suggesting curcumin(s) to be effective inhibitors of CYP 2B1 as well. Pretreatment of rats with 1% turmeric through the diet resulted in a significant decrease in induction of B(a)P-induced CYP 1A1 and 1A2 and phenobarbitone (PB)-induced CYP 2B1 in liver, lung and stomach, although the extent of the decrease was different. These results suggest that turmeric/curcumin(s) as in the case of isothiocyanate, PEITC, are likely to inhibit activation of carcinogens metabolized by CYP450 isozymes, namely, CYP 1A1, 1A2 and 2B1.     

Inhibition of cardiac sodium currents by toluene exposure

Toluene is an industrial solvent widely used as a drug of abuse, which can produce sudden sniffing death due to cardiac arrhythmias. In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that toluene inhibits cardiac sodium channels in Xenopus laevis oocytes transfected with Nav1.5 cDNA and in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. In oocytes, toluene inhibited sodium currents (INa+) in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 274 microm (confidence limits: 141-407 microm). The inhibition was complete, voltage-independent, and slowly reversible. Toluene had no effect on: (i). the shape of the I-V curves; (ii). the reversal potential of Na+; and (iii). the steady-state inactivation. The slow recovery time constant from inactivation of INa+ decreased with toluene exposure, while the fast recovery time constant remained unchanged. Block of INa+ by toluene was use- and frequency-dependent. In rat cardiac myocytes, 300 microm toluene inhibited the sodium current (INa+) by 62%; this inhibition was voltage independent. These results suggest that toluene binds to cardiac Na+ channels in the open state and unbinds either when channels move between inactivated states or from an inactivated to a closed state. The use- and frequency-dependent block of INa+ by toluene might be responsible, at least in part, for its arrhythmogenic effect.     

Inhibition by glucocorticoids of prostaglandin release from adipose tissue in vitro.

1 When rabbit chopped adipose tissue was incubated with a lipolytic agent (adrenocorticotrophic hormone, ACTH1-24, 0.1 microng/ml) in Krebs solution, prostaglandin E2 was formed in the tissue and about the same amount was found in the medium. 2 In the presence of indomethacin (1 microng/ml) the appearance of prostaglandin E2 was almost abolished both in the tissue and in the medium. 3 When the incubation was carried out in the presence of hydrocortisone or betamethasone (1-10 microng)ml) the concentration of prostaglandin E2 leaking or carried into the medium was significantly reduced, whereas that remaining in the tissue was significantly increased. This action of the steroids was not reversed by increasing substrate (arachidonic acid) concentration in the medium. 4 The steroids did not affect lipolysis, nor did they influence prostaglandin metabolism since such activity was not detectable in the adipose tissue. 5 Anti-inflammatory steroids therefore did not reduce prostaglandin formation but increased the tissue/medium ratio, which supports the view that they inhibit the release of prostaglandins after these have been synthesized.     

Design and evaluation of osmotic pump tablets of naproxen sodium.

Osmotic pump tablets (OPTs) deliver a constant, predetermined amount of drug in solution form over a fixed span of time, independent of external environmental conditions. OPTs of naxopren sodium (NPS) were made and evaluated with the principal aim of limiting the drug's frequently experienced gastrointestinal side effects, by preventing the undissolved drug from coming in to contact with the gastric mucosa. OPTs with and without the osmotic driving agent, sodium chloride (SCL), with different membrane thicknesses, and with and without an orifice were designed. In vitro release profiles of the OPTs, when compared to a conventional marketed tablet (Xenobid 275), were highly controlled and exhibited an almost perfect zero-order release pattern. The magnitudes of lag times and average release rates were found to depend on the amount of SCL present in the formulation which decreased the drug's solubility within the system. The release rates were found to be independent of stirring rate and decreased with increasing membrane thickness. Release profiles of the OPTs with and without an orifice were found to be comparable.     

Inhibition of glioblastoma growth and angiogenesis by gambogic acid: an in vitro and in vivo study

Gambogic acid (GA) is the major active ingredient of gamboge, a brownish to orange resin exuded from Garcinia hanburryi tree in Southeast Asia. The present study aims to demonstrate that gambogic acid (GA) has potent anticancer activity for glioblastoma by in vitro and in vivo study. Rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (rBMEC) were used as an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To reveal an involvement of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, the mitochondrial membrane potential and the western blot evaluation of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, caspase-9 and cytochrome c released from mitochondria were performed. Angiogenesis was detected by CD31 immunochemical study. The results showed that the uptake of GA by rBMEC was time-dependent, which indicated that it could pass BBB and represent a possible new target in glioma therapy. GA could cause apoptosis of rat C6 glioma cells in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner by triggering the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. In vivo study also revealed that i.v. injection of GA once a day for two weeks could significantly reduce tumor volumes by antiangiogenesis and apoptotic induction of glioma cells. Collectively, the current data indicated that GA may be of potential use in treatment of glioblastoma by apoptotic induction and antiangiogenic effects.