Effects of chemical modification of nitrobenzylthioinosine on its binding to high-affinity membrane binding sites and inhibition of nucleoside transport.

Nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBTI) was systematically modified by attachment of substituents at the 2-, 5'-, 3'- and 2'-positions in order to assess the importance of these positions in the binding of NBTI to high-affinity membrane binding sites (Kd < or = 1 nM) and the inhibition of NBTI-sensitive, equilibrative nucleoside transport by mammalian cells. We determined the effect of the derivatives on the equilibrium binding of 1 nM [3H]NBTI to human erythrocytes and mouse P388 leukemia cells and on the inhibition of zero-trans influx of formycin B in P388 cells and equilibrium exchange of uridine in human erythrocytes. Placement of substituent groups at the 5'-position of NBTI had relatively little effect on its binding to high-affinity binding sites or its inhibition of nucleoside transport, regardless of the size of the substituent group (up to about 1000 kDa). All substituents at the 2-position considerably reduced the affinity of NBTI to membrane binding sites and its potency as an inhibitor of nucleoside transport, but some substituent groups reduced the affinity of binding more than the inhibition of nucleoside transport. The effect of the 2-substituents was not directly related to their size. Attachment of a succinate at the 3'- or 5'-position also reduced to a greater extent the binding of NBTI than its inhibition of nucleoside transport, which was relatively little affected. Attachment of succinates at both the 3' and 5'-positions almost completely abolished both binding to high-affinity sites and inhibition of nucleoside transport. Both functions of NBTI were abolished completely by the simultaneous blockage of the 2'- and 3'-positions. None of the NBTI derivatives significantly inhibited NBTI-resistant equilibrative formycin B transport in P388 and Novikoff rat hepatoma cells at concentrations of < or = 1 microM.     

Inhibition of the transport of adenosine, other nucleosides and hypoxanthine in novikoff rat hepatoma cells by methylxanthines, papaverine, N6-cyclohexyladenosine and N6-phenylisopropyladenosine

Theophylline, caffeine, isobutylmethylxanthine, papaverine, N6-cyclohexyladenosine, N6-allyl-N6-cyclohexyladenosine ( ACHA ) and N6-L-phenylisopropyladenosine (L-PIA) inhibited the transport of adenosine, uridine and hypoxanthine in Novikoff rat hepatoma cells. The IC50 values for the inhibition of uridine transport ranged from 5 microM for ACHA to 3200 microM for caffeine and were inversely proportional to the lipid solubility of the inhibitors. L-PIA and papaverine inhibited uridine influx in a non-competitive manner, having a greater influence on the Michaelis-Menten constant than on maximum velocity, just as observed previously for the inhibition of nucleoside transport by dipyridamole and hypoxanthine. [3H]L-PIA rapidly accumulated in Novikoff cells at 25 degrees to about five times higher levels than present extracellularly. The initial rates of L-PIA uptake were directly proportional to its extracellular concentration between 0.01 and 240 microM and not affected by structurally related analogs, methylxanthines, papaverine, dipyridamole, or 2 mM uridine, but were dependent on temperature. We conclude that L-PIA inhibits nucleoside transport in these cells without being significantly transported by the carrier, that it equilibrates rapidly across the plasma membrane without carrier mediation consistent with its lipophilicity, and that it accumulates concentratively in cells due to partitioning into membrane lipids and binding to intracellular components.     

Inhibition of nucleoside uptake in human erythrocytes by a new series of compounds related to lidoflazine and mioflazine

The zero-trans influx of uridine in human erythrocytes is inhibited by lidoflazine and analogs thereof. The concentrations required for inhibition of nucleoside transport were higher when the compounds were simultaneously added with uridine than upon preincubation of the inhibitors with the erythrocytes. R70380 proved to be the most active compound in this respect, its IC50 value being 13 nM after preincubation. Even the reference compounds nitrobenzylthioinosine and dilazep were remarkably more potent with preincubation; dipyridamole, however, was not.     

Heterogeneity of nucleoside transport in mammalian cells. Two types of transport activity in L1210 and other cultured neoplastic cells

The characteristics of nucleoside transport were examined in L1210 murine leukemia cells and five other cultured neoplastic cells. The initial rates of uridine, adenosine, and thymidine transport in L1210 cells were only partially inhibited by 1 microM nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR), a potent inhibitor of nucleoside transport in other cells. The IC50 for NBMPR inhibition of uridine transport was 5 nM, but 20% of the activity remained insensitive to concentrations as high as 3 microM. Uridine uptake in the presence of 1 microM NBMPR was saturable and was inhibited by other nucleosides, suggesting the participation of an NBMPR-insensitive transport mechanism. There appeared to be little difference in the specificity of NBMPR-sensitive and -insensitive transport for the physiological nucleosides. Uridine, adenosine, and thymidine were all substrates for both mechanisms, and the Km values for total and NBMPR-insensitive uridine transport were the same (250 microM). Furthermore, little difference was found in the ability of several other nucleosides to inhibit total or NBMPR-insensitive uridine transport. In both cases, adenosine was the most effective inhibitor while cytidine and deoxycytidine were the least effective. The two transport processes did, however, differ from each other in their sensitivity to p-mercuribenzenesulfonate (pMBS). NBMPR-insensitive uridine transport was inhibited by pMBS with an IC50 less than 25 microM, while the IC50 for NBMPR-sensitive transport was greater than 400 microM. Cloning of the parent L1210 cell line indicated that both NBMPR-sensitive and -insensitive transport occurred in the same cell. Both types of uridine transport activity were also observed in three other cell lines (RPMI 6410, L5178Y, and P388), while two lines, S49 and Walker 256, exhibited only NBMPR-sensitive and -insensitive transport, respectively. The level of NBMPR-insensitive transport was an important determinant in the ability of NBMPR to inhibit uridine uptake over prolonged periods (10 min), with as little as 20% NBMPR-insensitive transport sufficient to render uptake over 10 min virtually insensitive to NBMPR. The existence of these two types of nucleoside transport activity in mammalian cells may have important implications in the chemotherapeutic use of transport inhibitors in combination with cytotoxic nucleosides or with inhibitors of pyrimidine and purine biosynthesis.     

Comparative studies of galactose-6-mustard and L-phenylalanine mustard on cell growth and cell cycle kinetics in vitro.

The effect of galactose-6-mustard (G-6-M) on cell growth and cell cycle kinetics was studied in murine P388 leukemia and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in vitro and compared with the effect of L-phenylalanine mustard (L-PAM). The IC50 values of G-6-M for the P388 and CHO cells were 10 and 100 microM, respectively. No difference of the IC50 value of L-PAM (2 microM) between the two cell lines was found. The effect of G-6-M and L-PAM on cell kinetics was similar for the two cell lines at IC50 doses. The relative cell outflow from the G2 stage was inhibited to a higher extent than the relative cell outflow from the S phase. The relative cell outflow from the G1 stage was only partly inhibited. These results are discussed in relation to growth conditions, differences in DNA repair capacity, and cellular uptake of G-6-M between P388 and CHO cells.     

Subtypes of nucleoside transport inhibitory sites in heart: a quantitative autoradiographical analysis

We evaluated the interaction of several nucleoside transport inhibitors and substrates with the binding of [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine ([3H]NBMPR) to nucleoside transport sites in guinea pig cardiac sections. Using quantitative autoradiography, we determined inhibition constants for inhibition of [3H]NBMPR binding to both coronary endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes. We studied the interactions of NBMPR, nitrobenzylthioguanosine, dipyridamole, dilazep, hexobendine, lidoflazine, mioflazine, soluflazine, adenosine, inosine and uridine for these two cell types. Of the compounds tested in this study, lidoflazine (8.2X) and hexobendine (6.3X) have the greatest selectivity for coronary endothelial cell nucleoside transporters. All other compounds had 3-fold or less selectivity. Therefore, there is evidence of nucleoside transporter subtypes between endothelial cells and myocytes. This heterogeneity of transport inhibitory sites on nucleoside transporters may allow the development of agents to modulate selectively some of the cardiovascular effects of adenosine.     

Further characterization of an adenosine transport system in the mitochondrial fraction of rat testis

Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated the presence of high-affinity binding sites for [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine ([3H]NBTI), a marker of adenosine uptake systems, in the mitochondrial fraction of rat testis. Here, we characterize this system functionally through [3H]adenosine uptake assays. This system (K(m)=2+/-1.3 microM; V(max)=86.2+/-15.5 pmol/mg protein/min) was found to be saturable, non sodium-dependent and sensitive to temperature, pH and osmolarity. [3H]Adenosine incorporation was potently inhibited by hydroxynitrobenzylthioguanosine (HNBTG, IC(50)=3 nM) although NBTI inhibited this uptake weakly (IC(50)=72. 7+/-37.1 microM). Dilazep>dipyridamole>/=hexobendine inhibited [3H]adenosine incorporation at low micromolar concentrations. The nucleosides inosine and uridine were weak inhibitors of this system. The adenosine receptor ligands N(6)-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and 2-chloroadenosine inhibited the uptake only at micromolar concentrations. Neither 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)-adenosine (NECA) nor theophylline inhibited adenosine uptake by more than 60% but the mitochodrial benzodiazepine receptor ligands 4'-chloro-diazepam (Ro 5-4864) and 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-propyl) isoquinoline carboxamide (PK 11195) were able to inhibit it. The lack of inhibition by the blockers of the mitochondrial adenine-nucleotide carrier, atractyloside and alpha, beta-methylene-ATP, indicates that [3H]adenosine uptake occurs via a transporter other than this carrier. All these results support the existence of an equilibrative adenosine transport system, which might mediate the passage of adenosine formed in the mitochondria to the cytoplasm.     

Nitrobenzylthioinosine-sensitive nucleoside transport system: mechanism of inhibition by dipyridamole

Dipyridamole-mediated inhibition of nucleoside transport by the nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR)-sensitive facilitated diffusion system in mammalian erythrocytes was investigated. [3H]Dipyridamole was a competitive inhibitor of uridine equilibrium exchange influx into guinea pig erythrocytes (apparent Ki 1 nM). Analysis of the results using total inhibitor levels instead of cell-free inhibitor concentrations increased the apparent Ki value to 7 nM. Similarly, [3H]dipyridamole inhibition of zero-trans-[14C] uridine influx was consistent with simple competitive inhibition (apparent Ki 1.4 +/- 0.7 nM). In contrast, [3H]dipyridamole behaved as a noncompetitive inhibitor of zero-trans-[14C]uridine efflux (apparent Ki 0.7 +/- 0.2 nM). In a second series of experiments, [3H]dipyridamole was found to bind to a single class of high affinity sites on plasma membranes from human erythrocytes (apparent Kd 0.65 +/- 0.07 nM) with a maximum number of binding sites similar to that determined with the nucleoside transport inhibitor NBMPR. Binding of dipyridamole to these sites was blocked by the nucleoside transport inhibitors NBMPR, nitrobenzylthioguanosine, and dilazep and in a competitive manner by adenosine and uridine (apparent inhibition constants 0.1 and 0.9 mM, respectively). These inhibition constants are similar to the apparent Km for adenosine and uridine equilibrium exchange in human erythrocytes. These results are consistent with the notion that, in mammalian erythrocytes, dipyridamole interacts with the NBMPR-sensitive transporter at the same site as NBMPR, which is preferentially located on the outer surface of the cell membrane totally or partially within the permeation site.     

Role of adenosine uptake and metabolism by blood cells in the antiplatelet actions of dipyridamole, dilazep and nitrobenzylthioinosine

Adenosine (Ado, 10 microM) did not inhibit ADP-induced human platelet aggregation in whole blood. However, if the blood was preincubated with dipyridamole (10 microM), a potent inhibitor of the erythrocytic nucleoside transport system (NTS), Ado acted as a strong inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Similarly, Ado inhibited platelet aggregation in whole blood in the presence of other potent NTS inhibitors, dilazep (1 microM) and p-nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR, 1 microM). RA 233 (10 microM), an analog of dipyridamole which is a potent inhibitor of platelet cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE), did not evoke the Ado effect in whole blood. However, in platelet-rich plasma (PRP), RA 233 potentiated strongly Ado-mediated inhibition, whereas dipyridamole, dilazep and NBMPR were without activity. 5'-Methylthioadenosine (MTA), an Ado receptor antagonist, reversed the inhibition produced by a nucleoside transport system inhibitor plus Ado in whole blood. Dipyridamole (10 microM), dilazep (1 microM) or NBMPR (1 microM) blocked [14C]Ado (10 microM) uptake by blood cells in whole blood, whereas RA 233 (10 microM) was not effective. The combination of 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF, 5 microM), a tight-binding inhibitor of adenosine deaminase (ADA), plus 5-iodotubercidin (ITu, 10 microM), a potent inhibitor of adenosine kinase (Ado kinase), gave comparable Ado-mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation in whole blood as was obtained when the blood was pretreated with dilazep. These studies suggest that the in vivo antiplatelet actions of drugs such as dipyridamole and dilazep result from their abilities to block erythrocytic Ado uptake and subsequent metabolism, thus elevating the extracellular steady-state concentration of the physiologically occurring, antiplatelet agent, Ado.     

Adenosine metabolism in human whole blood. Effects of nucleoside transport inhibitors and phosphate concentration

Adenosine (Ado, 10 microM) was metabolized in whole blood within 1 min, primarily to hypoxanthine and ATP. The concentration of Ado, the activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and Ado kinase, the Km values for Ado with ADA and Ado kinase, and the substrate inhibition of Ado kinase are factors that govern the Ado metabolism between deamination and phosphorylation. If ADA activity was blocked by 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF, 5 microM), a tight-binding inhibitor of ADA, most of the Ado (96%) was incorporated into adenine nucleotides, whereas if Ado kinase activity was blocked with 5-iodotubercidin (10 microM), Ado was mainly (95%) metabolized into hypoxanthine. A high phosphate concentration (25 mM) caused marked increases in the formation of IMP. The nucleoside transport inhibitors dilazep (1 microM), dipyridamole (10 microM) and nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR, 1 microM) strongly blocked cellular Ado metabolism. In the presence of nucleoside transport inhibitors, Ado which slowly enters the cell was metabolized principally by Ado kinase rather than ADA. Dilazep, NBMPR and dipyridamole were more effective in blocking Ado uptake and metabolism by erythrocytes suspended in a protein-free medium than by cells suspended in plasma.     

Dideoxycytidine permeation and salvage by mouse leukemia cells and human erythrocytes

Transmembrane equilibration of dideoxycytidine (ddCyd) in P388 mouse leukemia cells and human erythrocytes was only 1% as rapid as that of uridine and 2'-deoxycytidine which is mediated by the facilitated nucleoside transporter of these cells. ddCyd entry was nonsaturable up to a concentration of 1 mM but was partially inhibited by dipyridamole, nitrobenzylthioinosine and nucleosides, but not by nucleobases. Thus, entry was partly (70-80%) mediated, though very inefficiently, by the nucleoside carrier. Intracellular phosphorylation of ddCyd in P388 cells was also very inefficient compared to that of 2'-deoxycytidine and uridine and not rate limited by its slow entry into the cells.     

Differential inhibition of nucleoside transport systems in mammalian cells by a new series of compounds related to lidoflazine and mioflazine

The sensitivity of facilitated-diffusion and Na(+)-dependent nucleoside transporters to inhibition by a series of novel compounds related to lidoflazine and mioflazine was investigated. Uridine transport by rabbit erythrocytes, which proceeds solely by the nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR)-sensitive facilitated-diffusion system, was inhibited with apparent Ki values of less than 10 nM by lidoflazine, mioflazine, soluflazine and R73-335. These compounds also blocked site-specific [3H]NBMPR binding to rabbit erthrocyte membranes in a competitive fashion. The NBMPR-sensitive system in rat erythrocytes was also inhibited by lidoflazine, mioflazine, soluflazine and R73-335 but was two to three orders of magnitude less sensitive to inhibition than the system in rabbit erythrocytes (apparent Ki 7.3, 2.4, 5.7 and 0.1 microM, respectively). Lidoflazine, mioflazine and R73-335 exhibited a similar potency for the NBMPR-sensitive and -insensitive nucleoside transporters in rat erythrocytes. In contrast, soluflazine was 20- to 100-fold more potent as an inhibitor of the NBMPR-insensitive nucleoside transport component in rat erythrocytes (IC50 of 0.08-0.2 microM) compared to the NBMPR-sensitive nucleoside carrier in these cells (IC50 approximately 10 microM). None of the test compounds were potent inhibits of Na(+)-dependent uridine transport in bovine renal brush-border membrane vesicles. These results indicate that lidoflazine, mioflazine, soluflazine and R73-335 are selective inhibitors of nucleoside transport in animal cells and that the potency of these compounds as nucleoside transport inhibitors is species dependent.     

5'-Deoxyadenosine metabolism in various mammalian cell lines

5'-Deoxyadenosine (5'-dAdo) was rapidly cleaved to adenine by cell-free, dialyzed extracts of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO), Novikoff rat hepatoma and HeLa cells in a phosphate-dependent reaction, but not by extracts from L929, L1210 and P388 cells. Radioactivity from [5'-3H]5'-dAdo was incorporated into the acid-soluble pool (uptake) by whole CHO, Novikoff and HeLa cells almost as rapidly as from labeled adenosine or adenine (all at 5 microM extracellular concentration). Radioactivity in the acid-soluble pool was mainly associated with a component identified as 5-deoxyribose-1-phosphate. Compared to ribose-1-phosphate, 5-deoxyribose-1-phosphate was metabolically highly stable. A second labeled component, however, was formed slowly and accumulated mainly in the medium. Its formation was greatly stimulated by hypoxanthine and, under conditions where their deamination was not blocked, by adenosine and 2'- and 3'-deoxyadenosine. The second product was 5'-deoxyinosine synthesized from hypoxanthine and 5-deoxyribose-1-phosphate by purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Cleavage of 5'-dAdo by whole cells was dependent on the continuous removal of the product adenine, since uptake was greatly reduced in cells deficient in adenine phosphoribosyl transferase and 50 microM adenine strongly inhibited 5'-dAdo cleavage. The results are consistent with the view that 5'-dAdo is a substrate for 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase and that its use as a non-metabolizable substrate for the nucleoside transport measurements is limited to cells lacking this enzyme.     

The mechanism of adenosine release from hypoxic rat liver cells.

Uptake of [14C]-adenosine into freshly dispersed rat hepatocytes was inhibited 44% by dipyridamole (50 microM) and 60% by nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBTI, 20 microM). The results are consistent with the known ability of these drugs to inhibit adenosine transport in other cell types. The nucleotide analogue, alpha, beta-methylene adenosine diphosphate (AOPCP, 50 microM), inhibited by 84% the degradation of exogenous 5' AMP that occurred rapidly when this substrate alone was presented to isolated hepatocytes. This confirms the ecto-5'-nucleotidase inhibitory properties of this analogue in isolated hepatocytes. During hypoxic incubation, isolated hepatocytes released adenosine, which accumulated in the extracellular volume. Dipyridamole and NBTI each markedly attenuated this extracellular adenosine accumulation. In contrast, AOPCP had no inhibitory effect on net hypoxic adenosine release. It is concluded that hypoxic rat hepatocytes produce adenosine intracellularly and that this adenosine is released via facilitated diffusion to the extracellular space, based on the inhibition observed with the transport inhibitors. The plasma membrane enzyme ecto-5'-nucleotidase does not appear to participate in hypoxic adenosine release from these cells as indicated by the lack of effect of the nucleotidase inhibitor, AOPCP.     

Transport of deoxycoformycin in human erythrocytes. Measurement by adenosine deaminase titration and radioisotope assays

The assay of residual adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was used as a sensitive measure of the transport of deoxycoformycin (dCF) into human erythrocytes. Contrary to prior reports from this laboratory, the inactivation of intraerythrocytic ADA by dCF was linear rather than log-linear, with time. Linear inactivation rates were also seen when erythrocytes were preloaded with a 5-fold excess of calf intestinal ADA. The uptake of tritium-labeled dCF molecules and the rate of inactivation of ADA molecules showed an approximate 1:1 stoichiometry. The nucleoside transport inhibitors, 6-[(4-nitrobenzyl)thio]-9-beta-D-ribofuranosylpurine (NBMPR) and dipyridamole, and the permeant, uridine, inhibited dCF transport with Ki values of 35 nM, 45 nM, and 340 microM respectively. The affinity of dCF for the nucleoside transporter was low with a Ki of approximately 10 mM for the inhibition of adenosine influx.     

2-Chloroadenosine, a permeant for the nucleoside transporter

Human erythrocytes were shown to possess a saturable uptake mechanism for 2-chloroadenosine (apparent Km 23 microM, 22 degrees). Uptake by this route was inhibited by nitrobenzylthioinosine, uridine and adenosine, but adenine had no effect. In addition, uridine caused the countertransport of 2-chloroadenosine and vice versa. 2-Chloroadenosine was also shown to be an apparent competitive inhibitor of uridine influx (apparent Ki value of 33 microM) and high-affinity nitrobenzylthioinosine binding (apparent Ki 0.18 mM). The apparent Ki value for inhibition of uridine influx was close to the apparent Km value for 2-chloroadenosine uptake. Previous studies [Jarvis et al., Biochem. J. 208, 83 (1982)] have demonstrated that dog erythrocytes do not possess a saturable transport system for uridine and adenosine. Similarly, in the present study, the entry of 2-chloroadenosine into dog erythrocytes was slow and linear with concentration. Nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) had no effect on the uptake of 2-chloroadenosine into dog erythrocytes. These results demonstrate that 2-chloroadenosine enters human erythrocytes by the same nucleoside carrier as other nucleosides. It is suggested from these data that the previous explanation that the inability of nucleoside transport inhibitors to potentiate the pharmacological effects of 2-chloroadenosine was due to the failure of the nucleoside carrier to accept 2-chloroadenosine as a permeant may have to be reassessed.     

Permeation and salvage of dideoxyadenosine in mammalian cells

Transmembrane equilibration of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (ddAdo) was measured by rapid kinetic techniques in deoxycoformycintreated P388 and L1210 mouse leukemia cells and human erythrocytes, at 25 degrees. It was only about 10% as rapid as that of other purine nucleosides that are known substrates for the nucleoside transporters of these cells. ddAdo entry was nonsaturable up to a concentration of 1 mM and was not inhibited by other nucleosides or two nucleoside transport inhibitors, dipyridamole and nitrobenzylthioinosine. Thus, ddAdo permeation was mainly nonmediated. It was relatively rapid because of the high lipid solubility of ddAdo. ddAdo entered the cells at least 100 times more rapidly than dideoxycytidine but less rapidly than trideoxythymidine, with an even greater lipophilicity than ddAdo. ddAdo was not phosphorylated in human erythrocytes, but there was some phosphorylation in deoxycoformycin-treated P388 and L1210 cells. In situ conversion of 10 microM ddAdo to ddATP, however, was slow and ceased after 5-10 min at 25 degrees or 37 degrees. Cessation of net uptake was not due to turnover of dideoxy-ATP or deamination of dideoxy-AMP. The results suggest that ddAdo salvage in the absence of deamination is limited by feedback inhibition of its phosphorylation, perhaps by deoxycytidine kinase. Permeation into the cells was not rate limiting to ddAdo salvage. In P388 and L1210 cells that had not been treated with deoxycoformycin, ddAdo was salvaged at least 100 times more efficiently than in deoxycoformycin-treated cells and converted to nucleoside triphosphates, but the end-products and pathways of salvage have not been resolved entirely. Salvage of ddAdo required deamination but was not primarily via dideoxyinosine----hypoxanthine----IMP, as is the case for 2'-deoxyadenosine salvage, because [3H]ddAdo salvage was only little inhibited by unlabeled hypoxanthine, whereas it was strongly inhibited by 2'-deoxyadenosine, adenosine, and adenine.     

Influence of hexobendine, prenylamine and verapamil on the contractile response of isolated rabbit left atria and aortae to calcium (author's transl)

In isolated rabbit left atria driven electrically at a frequency of 30/min, the contraction was abolished by increasing external K+ concentrations from 5.4 to 22mM. Addition of isoproterenol (10(-6)M) restored the atrial contraction and the magnitude of contractions increased by raising external concentrations of Ca++ to 4.4 and 6.6. mM. Hexobendine attenuated the magnitude of contractions restored by isoproterenol and excess Ca++ in a dose-dependent manner, as did prenylamine and verapamil. Hexobendine did not significantly influence the membrane depolarization induced by excess K+ and there was no evidence of a beta-adrenergic blocking action. In helical strips of rabbit aortae exposed to Ca++-free media and depolarized by excess K+, the addition of Ca++ caused a marked contraction. Hexobendine, prenylamine and verapamil caused a dose-related attenuation of the Ca++-induced contraction. Relative potencies of the inhibition by hexobendine, prenylamine and verapamil were 1:16.5:100. Inhibitory effects of these drugs were partially antagonized by excess Ca++. Greater attenuation of the contractile response to 25 mM K+ than the response to 2 X 10(-6)M noradrenaline was observed in preparations treated with hexobendine. It may be concluded that interference with the influx of Ca++ across cell membrane in atrial muscles and aortic smooth muscles participates in the inhibition of contractility by hexobendine.     

Characterization of the adenosine receptor responsible for the inhibition of histamine and SRS-A release from human lung fragments

The inhibitory effects of a range of natural and synthetic derivatives of adenosine on the antigen-induced release of histamine and slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) from human lung has been studied. The nucleotides ATP, ADP and AMP appear to act by being converted to adenosine. The rank order of inhibitory potency of the synthetic analogues indicates that these compounds act at an extracellular A2/Ra purinoceptor. The xanthines, 1, 3-diethyl-8-phenylxanthine, 8-phenyltheophylline and theophylline antagonized the inhibitory action of N-ethyl-carboxamideadenosine competitively. Theobromine was inactive. This supports the view that the inhibitory receptor is of the A/R type. Hexobendine and dipyridamole, reported to antagonize the uptake of adenosine, failed to modify the response of human lung fragments to adenosine. The P site agonist 2',5' dideoxyadenosine inhibited the release of histamine and SRS-A. This effect was not prevented by the inhibitors of uptake, hexobendine and dipyridamole, nor was it antagonized by 8-phenyltheophylline.     

Effects of 1, 4-bis-(3-(3, 4, 5-trimethoxy benzoyl oxy)-propyl) perhydro-1, 4-diazepine (dilazep) on the isolated smooth muscles]

The effects of a new coronary vasodilator (dilazep) on isolated intestine, taenia coli, trachea, vas deferens, uter, aorta and coronary arteries were investigated in rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and dogs. Dilazep showed relaxant effects on isolated smooth muscle in a concentration of 10(-5) 3 X 10(-4) M and non-competitive inhibition on contraction induced by agonists (pD'2: 4.405.05). In guinea pig taenia coli, dilazep had a relaxant effect on K-contracture. The effect was qualitatively similar to that of papaverine. In guinea pig taenia coli, dilazep showed a Ca++ antagonistic effect in a concentration as high as 3 X 10(-6)M. The potency was stronger than dipyridamole, NaNO2 and aminophylline and equalled that of papaverine and hexobendine. In guinea pig taenia coli, dilazip potentiated relaxant effects induced by adenosine and adenine nucleotides in a concentration as high as 10(-8)M. The potency was stronger than that of dipyridamole. From these results, it is suggested that the potentiating effect of both adenosine and adenine nucleotides and Ca++ antagonistic effect of dilazep may play an important role in producing the coronary vasodilating effect.