Mechanism of action of calcium antagonists on myocardial and smooth muscle membranes

Although calcium channel blockers vary considerably in their chemical structure and pharmacologic profile, the widely accepted mechanism of their action is an inhibition of Ca2+ influx - via voltage-activated slow channels - into smooth and cardiac muscle. Other ways of Ca2+ entry, such as passive diffusion and Na+/Ca2+ and K+/Ca2+ exchange, are not affected by these compounds. However, various blockers exert a slightly different inhibitory action on the slow channels, which indicates that various binding sites in the cell membranes, or even in intracellular sites, may be involved. Potential sites of action of calcium channel blockers in the myocardium include: the slow calcium channels; Na+/Ca2+ channels; mitochondria; sarcoplasmic reticulum; myofilaments; and calcium efflux. However, experimental evidence has been given for only the first site, and the third and fourth sites are still controversial. In the vascular smooth muscles, calcium channel blockers could possibly block the potential-dependent or receptor-operated channels, or bind to calmodulin. Again, only the first site of action has been experimentally proven. An important feature of calcium channel blockers is their different affinities for various tissues. For instance, cinnarizine and its difluorinated derivative flunarizine are 1000 times more effective in blocking slow channels in vascular smooth muscles than those in the myocardium. Even within the same system, such as the cardiovascular system, differences in tissue specificity are encountered. Thus, while nimodipine acts preferentially on cerebral vessels, diltiazem has more affinity for the coronary vasculature. Tissue specificity is exhibited even for different myocardial structures; thus, while verapamil affects the nodal and conductive tissues in the myocardium (hence its use as an antiarrhythmic agent), nifedipine is almost devoid of such activity. Organ selectivity of calcium channel blockers is one of the attractive features of this group of compounds; hence their use in a variety of cardiovascular conditions.     

Effect of forskolin on endothelin-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis and calcium mobilization in cultured canine tracheal smooth muscle cells

1 The effects of increase in intracellular adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) on endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced generation of inositol phosphates (IPs) and increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) were investigated in canine cultured tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). 2 Pretreatment of TSMCs with either cholera toxin (CTX; 10 μg ml^??1, 4 h), forskolin (10 μm , 30 min), or dibutyryl cAMP (1 mm , 30 min) inhibited ET-1-stimulated Ca²⁺ mobilization (by 23 ± 5%, n = 8) and IPs accumulation (by 32 ± 6%, n = 4). While after treatment with forskolin for 24 h, the cells retained the ability to respond to ET-1-induced Ca²⁺ mobilization to the same extent as the control group. 3 Forskolin (1–100 μm ) inhibited the ET-1-induced increase in [Ca²⁺]_i, but the lower concentrations had little effect on this response. The inhibitory effects of these agents produced both depression of the maximal response and a shift to the right of the concentration–response curve of ET-1 without changing the –logEC₅₀ values. 4 The water-soluble forskolin analogue L-858051, 7-deacetyl-7β-(γ-N-methylpiperazino)-butyryl forskolin, significantly inhibited ET-1-stimulated IPs accumulation. In contrast, the addition of 1,9-dideoxy forskolin, an inactive analogue of forskolin, had little effect on stimulated responses. Moreover, SQ-22536, 9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9H-purin-6-amine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, and both H-89, N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide, and HA-1004, N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide, inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), attenuated the ability of forskolin to inhibit ET-1-induced IPs accumulation. These results suggest that activation of cAMP/PKA was involved in these inhibitory effects of forskolin. 5 The locus of this inhibition of forskolin treatment on AlF4??-stimulated IPs accumulation was investigated in canine TSMCs. The AlF4??-induced IPs accumulation was inhibited by forskolin, supporting that G protein(s) are directly activated by AlF4?? and uncoupled to phospholipase C by forskolin treatment. 6 We conclude that cAMP elevating agents inhibit ET-1-stimulated generation of IPs and Ca²⁺ mobilization in canine cultured TSMCs. Since generation of IPs and increases in [Ca²⁺]_i are very early events in the activation of ET-1 receptors, attenuation of these events by cAMP elevating agents might well contribute to the inhibitory effect of cAMP on tracheal smooth muscle function.     

The effect of forskolin on smooth muscle cells of guinea-pig taenia caeci

Forskolin (0.5-10 microM) caused hyperpolarization and relaxation of the smooth muscle cells of guinea-pig taenia caeci (35 degrees C) as measured with the sucrose-gap method. Membrane conductance, reflected by the amplitude of the electrotonic potential, was not changed during the response. The hyperpolarization could also be evoked in the absence of extracellular calcium, calcium and potassium, or calcium and sodium. Further, the 45Ca2+ efflux from taenia caeci was enhanced by forskolin. The results support the concept that calcium extrusion across the plasma membrane is promoted in the presence of forskolin by stimulation of electrogenic calcium pumping.     

Haloperidol-induced catalepsy is influenced by calcium channel antagonists

The effect of pretreatment of some voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists was studied on haloperidol-induced catalepsy in male Wistar rats. Cataleptogenic effect of haloperidol (0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) was enhanced dose-dependently by nitrendipine (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) and the highest dose of nimodipine (20 mg/kg, i.p.). Neither verapamil (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) nor diltiazem (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) influenced the score of haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats. These results suggest the involvement of calcium-dependent mechanisms in the generation of haloperidol-induced catalepsy. The possible involvement of dopaminergic mechanisms and modification by calcium channel antagonists are discussed.     

On the enzyme-inducing action of calcium antagonists

The effects of three calcium antagonists, nifedipine (NF), verapamil (V) and diltiazem (DL), on rat liver monooxygenases were studied. The drugs were administered in oral doses of 50, 40 and 30 mg/kg daily for 3 weeks in male Wistar rats. NF and V shortened the hexobarbital (HB) sleeping time and increased benzphetamin-N-demethylase (BND), ethylmorphine-N-demethylase (EMND), aniline hydroxylase (AH), ethoxycoumarineO-deethylase (ECOD), ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities and the content of cytochrome P-450 and microsomal heme, but did not change the content of cytochrome b₅. The data suggest that these calcium antagonists exert an enzyme-inducing effect on the hepatic monooxygenases. DL significantly increased only the EROD and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities and shortened HB sleeping time to a lesser extent, suggesting a weaker enzymeinducing effect as compared to NF and V. The three drugs increased the -aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthetase activity and decreased heme oxygenase (HO) activity. The increased cytochrome P-450 content is probably due to the increased synthesis and the decreased breakdown of this hemoprotein.     

The action of prostanoid receptor agonists and antagonists on smooth muscle and platelets.

1. Prostanoid receptors have been characterized in a range of guinea-pig and rat smooth muscle and platelets, according to the scheme of Coleman et al., (1985a), using agonists (prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), PGE1, PGE2, 16,16 dimethyl PGE2, PGF2 alpha, PGI2 and U46619) and putative selective antagonists (AH 6809 and SQ 29,548). 2. The ileum possesses EP1- and IP-receptors; the trachea, EP1-EP2- and TP-receptors; the oesophageal muscularis mucosa, EP1- and TP-receptors; the aorta and the portal vein TP-receptors. The rat colon possesses IP-, FP- and TP-receptors. 3. Guinea-pig platelets possess both IP and DP receptors mediating an inhibition of aggregation and TP receptors mediating proaggregation responses. No evidence was found for the presence of EP1-, EP2- or FP-receptors. 4. Misoprostol and fenprostalene were characterized using the above preparations. Misoprostol acts as a selective EP1-agonist, and has little or no DP, FP, IP and TP activity. In the trachea precontracted with carbachol no evidence of EP2-receptor stimulation was observed. Fenprostalene possesses FP and TP activity but no EP1, EP2, DP or IP activity.     

Interactions between forskolin, calcium and Bay K 8644 in K+-depolarized rat uterine muscle

1. Forskolin (FORS) (0.03 to 10 microM) caused a concentration-dependent rightward shifts of the dose-response curves to CaCl2 in the isolated K+-depolarized rat uterus, with apparent, pA2 value of 8.3, but the slope was different from unity (0.55). 2. In presence of Bay K 8644 (10 and 100 nM), the pA2 values for FORS against CaCl2 contractions were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner and increased the slopes of Schild plots to values no longer different from unity. 3. In presence of low Ca2+ concentration (0.22 nM), the potency of FORS in antagonizing CaCl2 contractions was reduced in about 2-fold. 4. FORS (0.3-3 microM) caused a dose- and time-dependent relaxation of sustained contraction induced by CaCl2 (0.5 mM). 5. FORS (0.3 microM) like nifedipine (NIF, 30 pM) caused a concentration-dependent displacement to the right of the dose-response curve to Bay K 8644 (0.1-100 nM) in K+-depolarized preparations. 6. Higher concentration of both FORS (1 and 3 microM) and NIF (0.01 and 0.03 nM) also reduced the maximal response of Bay K 8644. 7. Both drugs caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of uterine muscle contracted by Bay K 8644 (100 nM) and K+ (80 nM), but neither FORS nor NIF discriminated the two types of contraction.     

The role of calcium in amrinone action on intestinal smooth muscle

In the guinea-pig isolated ileum amrinone (3 microM to 0.3 M) induced transient, dose-dependent contractions which were followed by pronounced relaxation only at the highest amrinone concentrations tested (30 mM to 0.3 M). The contractile effect was potentiated by eserine and abolished by scopolamine. Verapamil, at concentrations (0.1-1 microM) that did not affect basal tension of the preparations or the contractile response to exogenous acetylcholine, selectively reduced amrinone-evoked contraction, while the relaxing component was abolished by verapamil concentrations (5-10 microM) that per se reduced muscle tension as well as acetylcholine-induced contraction. Similarly, when external Ca2+ concentration was reduced from 2.5 to 1.25 and 0.5 mM, the contractile component of amrinone effect was markedly reduced, while relaxation was not significantly altered. Any further decrease of Ca2+ content in the superfusion medium (0.25 to 0 mM) also reduced the relaxing effect of amrinone and the response of the ileum to exogenous acetylcholine. The present results indicate that in guinea-pig ileum amrinone-induced contractions are sustained by acetylcholine release as well as by Ca2+ entry into smooth muscle cells through verapamil-sensitive channels, while other Ca2+ pools may play a role in the relaxing effect of the drug.     

Long-lasting contractile action and the inhibitory action of cupric ions on ileal longitudinal muscle

Cupric ions (Cu(2+)), at concentrations above 0.03 mM, induced a progressive increase in the tonic contraction of guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscle. Maximal contraction of 0.1 mM Cu(2+) attained a level above that of the 60-mM K(+)-induced tonic response, within 20 min of application. The tension induced by Cu(2+) persisted for more than several hours. Tetrodotoxin (3 x 10(-6) M) had no effect on the contraction induced by 0.1 mM Cu(2+). After incubation in a Ca(2+)-free medium, the ileal response to 0.1 mM Cu(2+) was lost. Nifedipine, a L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker, dose-dependently inhibited contractions induced by Cu(2+). As the duration of the first application of 0.1 mM Cu(2+) increased above 30 min, after washing with normal medium, the contractile response to a second application of 0.1 mM Cu(2+) decreased gradually. After 150 min of the first application of 0.1 mM Cu(2+), a second application of Cu(2+) could not evoke any contraction. After the application of 0.1 mM Cu(2+) for 150 min, when muscles were washed with a medium containing 1 mM EDTA, the response to 0.1 mM Cu(2+) returned to a greater extent in the normal Ca(2+) medium. In conclusion, Cu(2+) (0.1 mM) induced a maximal ileal tension above that of the K-induced tonic response within 20 min. The ileal contraction to Cu(2+) persisted for more than several hours and depended on extracellular Ca(2+) concentrations. It is possible that a part of Cu(2+), bound to a EDTA-inaccessible site, also has a tension inhibitory effect.     

The effects of nifedipine and other calcium antagonists on the glibenclamide-sensitive K+ currents in smooth muscle cells from pig urethra

1. The effects of nifedipine on both levcromakalim-induced membrane currents and unitary currents in pig proximal urethra were investigated by use of patch-clamp techniques (conventional whole-cell configuration and cell-attached patches).
2. Nifedipine had a voltage-dependent inhibitory effect on voltage-dependent Ba²⁺ currents at −50 mV (K_i=30.6 nM).
3. In current-clamp mode, subsequent application of higher concentrations of nifedipine (⩾30 μM) caused a significant depolarization even after the membrane potential had been hyperpolarized to approximately −82 mV by application of 100 μM levcromakalim.
4. The 100 μM levcromakalim-induced inward current (symmetrical 140 mM K⁺ conditions, −50 mV) was inhibited by additional application of three different types of Ca antagonists (nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem, all at 100 μM). In contrast, Bay K 8644 (1 μM) possessed no activating effect on the amplitude of this glibenclamide-sensitive current.
5. When 100 μM nifedipine was included in the pipette solution during conventional whole-cell recording at −50 mV, application of levcromakalim (100 μM) caused a significant inward membrane current which was suppressed by 5 μM glibenclamide. On the other hand, inclusion of 5 μM glibenclamide in the pipette solution prevented levcromakalim from inducing an inward membrane current.
6. The levcromakalim-induced K⁺ channel openings in cell-attached configuration were suppressed by subsequent application of 5 μM glibenclamide but not of 100 μM nifedipine.
7. These results suggest that in pig proximal urethra, nifedipine inhibits the glibenclamide-sensitive 43 pS K⁺ channel activity mainly through extracellular blocking actions on the K⁺ channel itself.

     

Effect of calcium agonists and antagonists on cerebellar granule cells

In cerebellar cultures, comprising predominantly granule neurones, dihydropyridine (DHP) Ca²⁺ agonists were potent stimulators of voltage-sensitive ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake. Their effect was maximal in partially depolarized cells; at 15 mM K_e⁺ half maximal stimulation occurred at about 5 × 10⁻⁸ M BAY K 8644 and 10⁻⁷ M(+)-(S)-202 791. Organic Ca²⁺ antagonists were effective inhibitors of voltage-sensitive calcium entry into granule cells: the order of potency in blocking uptake induced by sub-maximal concentration of K⁺ and BAY K 8644 was nifedipine > (−)-202 791 > D600. BAY K 8644 also stimulated the release of glutamate, the transmitter of the granule cells, from depolarized cells. Granule cells are therefore a class of neurones whose responsiveness to organic Ca²⁺ effectors is similar to that of cardiac and smooth muscle. The discrepant findings on the effect of calcium effectors in various preparations of nervous tissues may thus reflect a differential distribution of voltage-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels in different neuronal cell types.     

The negative inotropic action of canrenone is mediated by L-type calcium current blockade and reduced intracellular calcium transients

Background and purpose:

Adding spironolactone to standard therapy in heart failure reduces morbidity and mortality, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We analysed the effect of canrenone, the major active metabolite of spironolactone, on myocardial contractility and intracellular calcium homeostasis.

Experimental approach:

Left ventricular papillary muscles and cardiomyocytes were isolated from male Wistar rats. Contractility of papillary muscles was assessed with force transducers, Ca²⁺ transients by fluorescence and Ca²⁺ fluxes by electrophysiological techniques.

Key results:

Canrenone (300–600 µmol·L⁻¹) reduced developed tension, maximum rate of tension increase and maximum rate of tension decay of papillary muscles. In cardiomyocytes, canrenone (50 µmol·L⁻¹) reduced cell shortening and L-type Ca²⁺ channel current, whereas steady-state activation and inactivation, and reactivation curves were unchanged. Canrenone also decreased the Ca²⁺ content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, intracellular Ca²⁺ transient amplitude and intracellular diastolic Ca²⁺ concentration. However, the time course of [Ca²⁺]_i decline during transients evoked by caffeine was not affected by canrenone.

Conclusion and implications:

Canrenone reduced L-type Ca²⁺ channel current, amplitude of intracellular Ca²⁺ transients and Ca²⁺ content of sarcoplasmic reticulum in cardiomyocytes. These changes are likely to underlie the negative inotropic effect of canrenone.     

The action of GABA receptor agonists and antagonists on muscle membrane conductance in Schistocerca gregaria.

1. The properties of postsynaptic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the extensor tibiae muscle of Schistocerca gregaria were studied by conventional electrophysiological recording techniques. 2. GABA and other active GABA receptor agonists produced rapid, dose-dependent, reversible increases in membrane conductance. 3. In two microelectrode experiments the ED50 for GABA was approximately 1 mM. In three microelectrode experiments (assuming short cable theory conditions) the ED50 for GABA was 2.3 mM. The Hill coefficient for GABA estimated from the latter experiments was 1.4. 4. The relative potency of muscimol/GABA at the ED50 for GABA was 1.36. 3-Aminopropane sulphonic acid (3-APS) and isonipecotic acid were weakly active, baclofen and piperidine-4-sulphonic acid (P4S) were inactive. Isoguvacine produced depolarizations and increases in conductance in preparations which hyperpolarized in response to GABA. These depolarizations were enhanced by both picrotoxin and pitrazepin although the increases in input conductance were depressed. 5. Picrotoxin (20 microM), (+)-bicuculline (20-100 microM) and pitrazepin (1-10 microM) all reversibly antagonized GABA-induced responses. Such antagonism was not competitive in the case of picrotoxin and (+)-bicuculline but was competitive for pitrazepin. Schild plot analysis gave an average pA2 value of 5.5 for pitrazepin. 6. The significance of these results is briefly discussed.