Comparison of the effects of some muscarinic agonists on smooth muscle function and phosphatidylinositol turnover in the guinea-pig taenia caeci.

1. The effects of the muscarinic agonists acetylcholine (ACh), carbachol (CCh), AHR-602, and McN-A-343 on contractility and on inositol phosphate accumulation in the presence of lithium were compared in the taenia of the guinea-pig caecum. 2. Compared to CCh, ACh was a full agonist for contraction but AHR-602 and McN-A-343 were partial agonists producing 80-85% of the maximal response to CCh. Similar to previous findings with CCh, tonic contractions produced by AHR-602 and McN-A-343 were less sensitive to inhibition by nifedipine or verapamil than tonic contractions to ACh. 3. CCh and ACh produced similar increases in inositol phosphate accumulation and the effect of CCh (0.1 mM) was inhibited by atropine (IC50 8.5 nM) and pirenzepine (IC50 450 nM). The accumulation of inositol phosphates in the presence of AHR-602 or McN-A-343 was not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from basal levels. 4. A concentration of 0.2 mM AHR-602 produced a parallel shift of the concentration-response curve to CCh on inositol phosphate accumulation. The IC50 value for inhibition of CCh (0.1 mM) was greater than 50 fold higher than the EC50 value for contraction produced by the partial agonist. McN-A-343 (20 microM) produced a flattening of the concentration-response curve to CCh for inositol phosphate accumulation. 5. The results suggest that the increase in phosphatidylinositol turnover produced by muscarinic agonists, like the contractile response, involves an M2-muscarinic receptor. AHR-602 and McN-A-343 are partial agonists for the contractile response and while producing no significant increase in phosphatidylinositol turnover inhibit the response to CCh.     

Effects of opioid compounds on basal and muscarinic induced accumulation of inositol phosphates in cultured bovine chromaffin cells

The mammalian adrenal medulla expresses a variety of both opioid peptides and opioid receptors. The function of this adrenal opioid system is, however, largely unknown. We have examined the ability of a number of opioid compounds to influence basal and muscarinic stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates in cultured bovine chromaffin cells. Muscarine produced a dose-dependent 1.5-fold increase in total inositol phosphates. This response was sensitive to atropine inhibition. The ten opioid compounds examined were chosen because between them they possess selectivity for all of the identified opioid receptor subtypes. However, none of these opioids in the concentration range 10nM-10 microM had any significant effect on either basal or muscarinic induced total inositol phosphate accumulation. We conclude that it is unlikely that opioid peptides released from either the chromaffin cells themselves or the splanchnic nerve can modulate the inositol phosphate second messenger system within the adrenal chromaffin cells.     

抗肽抗体在大鼠心肌M_2胆碱受体的免疫组织化学研究

目的　探讨在扩张型心肌病患者新发现的心脏M2 胆碱受体自身抗体与用人M2 胆碱受体肽段经免疫制备的抗受体抗体对大鼠左右心房和心室M2 胆碱受体的分布位置及其特性的影响。方法　利用免疫组织化学方法及图象分析技术测定M2 胆碱受体在大鼠心房和心室肌细胞的分布位置及其密度的变化。结果　M2 胆碱受体的免疫反应阳性颗粒主要位于远离胞核的胞浆内 ;心房和心室肌细胞均明显存在有免疫阳性反应产物 ,但其分布密度存在有明显差异 ,心房免疫阳性颗粒明显多于心室。用阿托品后 ,心房心室细胞的免疫阳性反应产物明显降低。结论　大鼠M2 胆碱受体主要位于心房和心室肌细胞表面 ,心房M2 胆碱受体的分布密度明显大于心室 ,M2 胆碱受体抗体和受体结合的位点可部分被M2 胆碱受体拮抗剂阿托品所阻断     

Pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein but not NO/cGMP pathway mediates the negative inotropic effect of carbachol in adult rat cardiomyocytes

Previous studies have shown that muscarinic inhibition of cardiac contractility is mediated by either activation of nitric oxide (NO)/guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) pathway or stimulation of inhibitory G protein (G(i)). However, it still remains controversial as to whether NO/cGMP pathway or G(i) protein or both mediate(s) the negative inotropic effect of muscarinic agonists in adult ventricular myocytes. In the present study that involves the use of adult rat ventricular myocytes, the muscarinic agonist, carbachol, inhibited beta-adrenergic (isoproterenol) stimulation of contractility (cell shortening) by 82% and increased cGMP levels by 49% within 6 min. Pretreatment of myocytes with soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, ODQ) or NO synthase inhibitor (N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, L-NMMA) for 30 min blocked carbachol-induced increases in cGMP levels. However, neither ODQ nor L-NMMA pretreatment had any effect on carbachol inhibition of isoproterenol-induced contractility. In addition, carbachol did not attenuate increases in myocyte contractility induced by forskolin (a direct activator of adenylyl cyclase) or 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (a cell-permeable cAMP analog which activates cAMP-dependent protein kinase). Pretreatment of myocytes with G(i) protein inhibitor, pertussis toxin (PTX, 1 microg/ml), for 18-20 h abolished carbachol inhibition of isoproterenol-induced contractility. Furthermore, in ventricular myocytes isolated 3 days after in vivo treatment of rats with PTX (3 microg/100 g, i.p.), there was a complete loss of the negative inotropic effect of carbachol. These data indicate that pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein but not NO/cGMP pathway is required for muscarinic inhibition of beta-adrenoceptor-mediated increases in contractility in adult rat ventricular myocytes.     

Muscarinic receptors in canine colonic circular smooth muscle. II. Signal transduction pathways.

We have, in the accompanying work, demonstrated the coexistence of M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors in the circular smooth muscle of canine colon. In the present study, the effects of muscarinic receptor stimulation on phosphoinositide turnover and adenylate cyclase activity were examined. In myo-[3H]inositol-labeled circular smooth muscle strips, carbachol caused a concentration-dependent (EC50 = 5 microM) increase in [3H]inositol phosphate production. The more M3 receptor-selective muscarinic antagonist pirenzepine (KB = 53 nM) was approximately 60 times more potent than the more M2-selective agent AF-DX 116 (KB = 3 microM) in blocking carbachol-elicited accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates. The carbachol-stimulated increase in [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation was not affected by pretreatment of the tissue with pertussis toxin (200 ng/ml, 3 hr). Within the first minute, carbachol (100 microM) caused a rapid and transient increase of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production that oscillated continuously in the presence of agonist (120 min). The accumulation of [3H]inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate was also extremely rapid, reaching a peak at 15 sec. The accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate was delayed and progressively increased over 30 min. [3H]inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, although not detectable in the first minute, accumulated to significant levels over 30 min in the presence of agonist. Addition of carbachol in the adenylate cyclase assay caused inhibition of forskolin-stimulated [32P]cAMP production and blocked forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in the intact tissue. The inhibitory effects of carbachol on adenylate cyclase were blocked by atropine, AF-DX 116, and 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methobromide but were unaffected by the more M3-selective agent pirenzepine (1 microM). Pretreatment of tissues with pertussis toxin completely eliminated M2 receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity, without altering inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate accumulation. We conclude that muscarinic receptor stimulation of inositol trisphosphate production is mediated by the M3 receptor coupled to a pertussis toxin-insensitive GTP-binding protein and results in the rapid formation of inositol tetrakisphosphate, whereas inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity is mediated by the M2 subtype of muscarinic receptor coupled to the pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein Gi.     

Local anesthetics: comparison of effects on batrachotoxin-elicited sodium flux and phosphoinositide breakdown in guinea pig cerebral cortical synaptoneurosomes

Local anesthetics inhibited the sodium influx and the inositol phosphate accumulation elicited by the sodium channel activator batrachotoxin in guinea pig cortical synaptoneurosomes. Inhibitory effects of local anesthetics on sodium influx correlated with inhibitory effects on binding of a tritiated batrachotoxin analog to sodium channels in synaptoneurosomes. There was also a correlation between inhibitory effects on sodium influx and on inositol phosphate accumulation; most local anesthetics inhibited sodium influx at concentrations similar to those required for inhibition of inositol phosphate accumulation. Indeed, euprocin, bupivacaine, lidocaine, and certain analogs were nearly equipotent with respect to inhibition of sodium influx and inositol phosphate accumulation. Local anesthetics also inhibited inositol phosphate accumulation that was induced by carbamylcholine through both a tetrodotoxin-sensitive and tetrodotoxin-insensitive pathway. Certain local anesthetics, such as dibucaine, inhibited the tetrodotoxin-sensitive pathway with higher potency than for the tetrodotoxin-insensitive pathway, while others, such as quinacrine, inhibited tetrodotoxin-sensitive and tetrodotoxin-insensitive pathways with equal potency. Diphenhydramine and chlorpromazine appeared to inhibit carbamylcholine-elicited phosphoinositide breakdown through blockade of muscarinic cholinergic receptors rather than because of local anesthetic activity of inhibitory effects on phospholipase C.     

Receptor-mediated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in astrocytes

Astrocyte-enriched cultures of the neonatal rat cortex were incubated for 24 h with [3H]inositol to prelabel the membrane inositol phospholipids. Exposure of the cultures to either noradrenaline or carbachol in the presence of Li+ produced a time- and dose-dependent accumulation of intracellular [3H]inositol phosphates. The separation of the individual inositol phosphates formed in response to receptor stimulation revealed that the major 3H-metabolite accumulated under these conditions was inositol monophosphate but that at least some of this was due to the initial formation of inositol trisphosphate. The use of selective receptor antagonists showed that noradrenaline- and carbachol-induced [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation was the result of the activation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors and muscarinic acetylcholine (probably of the M1 subtype) receptors respectively. Agonist-evoked [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation were found to be additive but the simultaneous addition of agonists and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, which also promoted inositol phospholipid hydrolysis, was not. Agonist-induced [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation was only partially dependent on extracellular Ca2+, whilst that elicited by A23187 was entirely Ca2+-dependent. The results suggest that alpha 1-adrenoceptors and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in these cultures are present either on the same cells and linked to separate inositol lipid pools or associated with different subpopulations of astrocytes in these cultures. Moreover, inositol lipids other than phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate may be hydrolysed in response to agonist stimulation.     

Pirenzepine indicates heterogeneity of muscarinic receptors linked to cerebral inositol phospholipid metabolism

Muscarinic receptor-mediated inositol phospholipid metabolism was examined in rat cerebral cortex and medulla-pons slices prelabelled with 3H-inositol. Carbachol stimulated accumulation of 3H-inositol phosphate in both regions with identical EC50 values though the maximal stimulation was considerably greater in cortex. The carbachol response was potently suppressed by atropine with very similar affinities in both regions. However, the M1 antagonist pirenzepine displayed a 10-fold greater affinity for the cortical carbachol response. The data supports the concept of heterogeneity of cerebral muscarinic receptors and suggests that both M1 and M2 sites may be linked to inositol phospholipid metabolism in brain.     

Interactions between cyclic AMP and inositol phosphate transduction systems in astrocytes in primary culture

Astroglial cells in primary culture possess receptors with cyclic AMP and inositol phosphates (IP) as second messengers. The beta-receptor agonist, isoproterenol induces an increase in the accumulation of cyclic AMP, the alpha 2-receptor agonist clonidine inhibits the isoproterenol-induced accumulation of cyclic AMP, while the alpha 1-receptor agonist phenylephrine acts only on the inositol phosphate system. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) stimulates, the formation of inositol phosphate, while isoproterenol and clonidine per se do not affect the inositol phosphate system. In the present paper the possibility of interactions between the cyclic AMP and the inositol phosphate transduction systems were investigated. In the presence of 10(-5) M 5-HT, in itself ineffective on the formation of cyclic AMP, isoproterenol stimulated the accumulation of cyclic AMP far more than in the absence of 5-HT. The potentiation was blocked by the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin. On the other hand, there were no indications for a beta-receptor influence on the 5-HT-induced inositol phosphate formation. Stimulation of the alpha 2-receptor did not induce accumulation of inositol phosphate but significantly potentiated 5-HT2-receptor transduction, as measured by hydrolysis of phosphoinositide and formation of inositol phosphate. Stimulation by 5-HT also increased the formation of inositol phosphate after adrenergic stimulation and this effect was found to be synergistic at certain concentrations of adrenergic agonists. In addition, there was a statistically significant accumulation of cyclic AMP in the presence of both 5-HT and phenylephrine, none of which stimulated cyclic AMP alone. The results suggest specific interactions between the cyclic AMP and inositol phosphate systems on cultured astroglial cells.     

Relationship between stimulated inositol lipid hydrolysis and contractility in guinea-pig visceral longitudinal smooth muscle

Carbamylcholine caused a marked, concentration-dependent stimulation of [3H]Ins P, [3H] InsP2 and to a lesser extent [3H]InsP3 production in guinea-pig longitudinal smooth muscle prelabelled with myo-[3H]inositol. Accumulation of these three inositol phosphates showed differential sensitivity to LiCl. Muscle contraction was apparent at lower concentrations of carbamylcholine. Both responses were mediated via muscarinic-type receptors. An association of inositol phosphate production and contractility was also observed in response to substance P, histamine and noradrenaline, the latter via an alpha-adrenergic mechanism. The Ca2+-channel agonist CGP 28392 failed to stimulate inositol phosphate production despite inducing a contractile response. Carbamylcholine -induced inositol phosphate production persisted in the presence of D600 or Mn2+ despite loss of contractile activity. However, both responses showed a similar, marked dependence on the presence of Ca2+ in the extracellular medium. Mn2+ could restore basal and stimulated inositol phosphate production in low Ca2+ solutions but could not substitute for Ca2+ in restoring contractility. The results suggest that stimulated inositol lipid hydrolysis in longitudinal smooth muscle does not result from Ca2+ entry into the tissue, although the response does depend on the concentration of divalent cations in the extracellular medium. This dependency may be related to the maintenance of membrane potential and possibly phospholipid conformation.     

Functional and direct binding studies using subtype selective muscarinic receptor antagonists.

1. Muscarinic receptor antagonists were examined in direct binding studies on guinea-pig cardiac and cortical muscarinic receptors. Pirenzepine, dicyclomine and hexahydroadiphenine were shown to be selective ligands for the putative M1-muscarinic receptor. 2. Functional affinity estimates of the muscarinic ligands studied was determined from their ability to inhibit carbachol-stimulated inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation in guinea-pig cortical slices. 3. The affinity estimates for the inhibition of muscarinic agonist-stimulated IP accumulation were better correlated with affinity estimates obtained from binding studies on the M1 than the M2 muscarinic receptor. 4. These data provide additional evidence, both from direct binding and functional studies, for the presence of M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor subtypes.     

Effects of mitoxantrone on action potential and membrane currents in isolated cardiac myocytes.

1. The effects of mitoxantrone (MTO), an anticancer drug, on the membrane electrical properties of cardiac myocytes were investigated using the whole-cell clamp technique. 2. In isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes, 30 microM MTO induced a time-dependent prolongation of action potential duration (APD) which was occasionally accompanied by early afterdepolarizations. APD prolongation was preserved in the presence of 10 microM tetrodotoxin and showed reverse rate-dependence. 3. Both the inward rectifier K+ current (I(KI)) and the delayed rectifier K+ current (I(K)) of guinea-pig ventricular myocytes were significantly depressed by 30 microM MTO. The rapidly activating component of I(k) (I(Kr)) seemed to be preferentially blocked by MTO. The transient outward current was not affected by MTO in rat ventricular myocytes. 4. Thirty microM MTO had no direct effect on the L-type Ca2+ current (I(Ca(L))), but reversed the inhibitory effect of 1 microM carbamylcholine but not the A1-adenosine receptor agonist (-)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (1 microM) on I(Ca(L)) enhanced by 50 nM isoprenaline in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. In guinea-pig atrial mycotyes, 30 microM MTO inhibited by 93% the muscarinic receptor gated K+ current (I(K,ACh)) evoked by 1 microM carbamylcholine, whereas I(K,ACh) elicited by 100 microM GTPgammaS, a nonhydrolysable GTP analogue, was only decreased by 12%. 5. The specific binding of [3H]QNB, a muscarinic receptor ligand, to human atrial membranes was concentration-dependently displaced by MTO (1-1000 microM). 6. In conclusion, MTO blocks cardiac muscarinic receptors and prolongs APD by inhibition of I(KI) and I(Kr). The occasionally observed early afterdepolarizations may signify a potential cardiac hazard of the drug.     

Carbachol activates a novel sodium current in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes via M2 muscarinic receptors.

Carbachol induces a novel tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes bathed in Tyrode's solution with 20 mM Cs+. This action of carbachol, which initiates a series of reactions that culminates in a catecholamine-independent positive inotropic effect, occurs through muscarinic rather than nicotinic cholinoceptive sites. The concentrations of muscarinic antagonists required to suppress the carbachol-induced current by 50% were 2.1 nM, 270 nM, and 1700 nM for atropine, AF-DX 116, and pirenzepine, respectively. These results indicate that an M2-selective antagonist, AF-DX 116, is more potent than an M1-selective antagonist, pirenzepine, as an inhibitor. The M1-selective agonist McN-A-343 did not induce an inward current and blocked that caused by carbachol, in a rapid and reversible manner. This finding is also consistent with the conclusion that the muscarinic receptor involved in the regulation of myocardial Na+ channels by carbachol cannot be distinguished from the M2 subtype of such receptors. Treatment with pertussis toxin did not affect the ability of carbachol to induce an inward current in ventricular myocytes and reversed the current activated by carbachol in atrial cells from outward to inward. The electrophysiological and pharmacological nature of the carbachol-induced current in ventricular myocytes is very similar to that of the acetylcholine-induced current in Xenopus oocytes transfected with porcine M2, but not M1, muscarinic receptors. In both preparations, Na+ is the dominant charge carrier, intracellular Ca2+ is not involved in opening the Na+ channel, and an M2 receptor is involved.     

Selective parasympathectomy increases the quantity of inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding proteins in canine cardiac ventricle

In mammalian heart, vagal stimulation or the direct application of acetylcholine produces profound direct effects on the electro-physiologic characteristics of atrial myocytes. At the tissue level, these effects are observed as shortening of atrial action potential duration. Despite anatomic, biochemical, and physiologic evidence for significant vagal input to the mammalian ventricle, similar direct effects of acetylcholine on the ventricular action potential have been difficult to demonstrate. Chronic denervation via cervical vagotomy is one method that has been shown to render previously unresponsive ventricular myocytes sensitive to acetylcholine, but the molecular mechanism has not been defined. In the experiments described, selective cardiac para-sympathectomy was performed on mongrel dogs. Five to seven days after parasympathectomy, the dogs were sacrificed, electrophysiologic responses to acetylcholine were measured, and sarcolemmal vesicles were prepared. After parasympathectomy, ventricular myocytes were responsive to the effects of acetylcholine, manifested as shortening of the action potential duration. A quantitative and functional assessment of the transmembrane signalling mechanisms of the muscarinic receptor was carried out. After parasympathectomy, the density of muscarinic receptors in the sarcolemma was increased, compared with control ventricles. After parasympathectomy, ventricular sarcolemma displayed significant increases in both basal and oxotremorine-stimulated GTPase activity. ADP-ribosylation revealed significantly increased quantities of the pertussis toxin substrates Gi and Go. The quantity of ADP ribose incorporated was correlated with the increased level of GTPase activity in control and oxotremorine-stimulated membranes. Quantitation of the alpha and beta gamma subunits of the guanine nucleotide-binding proteins by immunoblot confirmed the increase in density of inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding proteins following parasympathectomy. The results offer new insights into possible mechanisms of altered electrophysiologic responsiveness to acetylcholine following cardiac parasympathectomy.     

Physostigmine stimulates phosphoinositide breakdown in the rat neostriatum

The reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine, stimulated in a dose-dependent manner the accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]IP1) in lithium-treated neostriatal slices. The muscarinic agonists, carbachol and oxotremorine, also stimulated [3H]IP1 accumulation. Atropine completely blocked the physostigmine-induced accumulation but had no effect on the basal accumulation. Tetrodotoxin partially inhibited the physostigmine-induced [3H]IP1 accumulation but had no effect on the carbachol-induced accumulation. 4-Aminopyridine stimulated the basal [3H]IP1 accumulation and potentiated the physostigmine-induced accumulation. This potentiation was blocked by tetrodotoxin. The physostigmine dose-response curve for the stimulation of [3H]IP1 accumulation was similar to its dose-response curve to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity in the neostriatum. The results suggest that, under our experimental conditions, the acetylcholine released spontaneously from intrinsic cholinergic neurons does not activate the striatal muscarinic receptors coupled to phosphoinositide breakdown unless the intrinsic acetylcholinesterases are inhibited.     

Effects of vasopressin on phosphoinositide hydrolysis and myocardial contractility.

The effects of vasopressin on phosphoinositide hydrolysis, ventricular contractility and adrenoceptor-mediated inotropy were studied in the rabbit. Vasopressin caused an accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate in ventricular slices prelabelled with myo-[3H]inositol, whereas it elicited a small but definite negative inotropic effect. In addition, vasopressin attenuated the positive inotropic effect elicited via alpha 1- and endothelin receptors without affecting the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated effect. The nonpeptide-selective V1 receptor antagonist OPC 21268 (a quinolinone derivative) inhibited the vasopressin-induced accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate. The present results indicate that vasopressin stimulates phosphoinositide hydrolysis via V1 receptors, but inhibits force and the alpha 1-mediated positive inotropic effect in the rabbit ventricular myocardium.     

Electrophysiological evidence for a gradient of G protein-gated K+ current in adult mouse atria

Whole cell current and voltage clamp techniques were used to examine the properties of acetylcholine-sensitive K+ current (IKACh) in myocytes from adult mouse atrium. Superfusion of a maximal dose of carbachol (CCh; 10 microM) caused a substantial increase in K+ current in all myocytes examined. The current-voltage (I-V) relation of maximally activated IKACh exhibited weak inward rectification. Consequently, CCh increased the amount of depolarising current necessary to evoke action potentials (APs), and APs evoked in CCh had significantly shorter durations than control APs (P<0.05). The effects of CCh on K+ current and on AP properties were blocked by the muscarinic receptor antagonist methoctramine (1 microM). ACh (10 microM) activated a K+ current with identical properties to that activated by CCh, as did the A1 receptor agonist adenosine (100 microM). Right atrial myocytes had significantly more IKACh than left atrial myocytes (P<0.05), regardless of whether IKACh was evoked by superfusion of muscarinic or A1 receptor agonists. IKACh current density was significantly higher in SA node myocytes than either right or left atrial myocytes. These data identify a gradient of IKACh current density across the supraventricular structures of mouse heart. This gradient, combined with the heterogeneous distribution of parasympathetic innervation of the atria, may contribute to the proarrhythmic ability of vagal nerve stimulation to augment dispersion of atrial refractoriness.     

Carbachol inhibits atrial contractility in the presence of potassium channel blocking agents

To elucidate the role of potassium channel activation in muscarinic inhibition of atrial contractility, we studied the influence of K+ channel blockers on the effects of the muscarinic agonist carbachol in isolated guinea pig auricles. We tested BaCl2, tetraethylammoniumchloride (TEA), and 9-aminotetrahydroacridine (THA), which block K+ channels, for their ability to antagonize the effects of carbachol on atrial contractility and functional refractory period. Due to inhibition of K+ outward currents, BaCl2, TEA, and THA markedly blocked the carbachol-induced shortening of refractory period and, to a lesser extent, antagonized its negative inotropic action. BaCl2, TEA, and THA shifted the concentration-response curve of the negative inotropic action of carbachol to the right; the most pronounced effect was obtained with TEA (DR = 30 at 3 x 10(-3) M). The maximum negative inotropic effect of carbachol, however, was only slightly reduced by the K+ channel blockers, and carbachol clearly inhibited atrial contractility even in the absence of any shortening of refractory period. These results suggest the existence of an additional cholinergic, negative inotropic mechanism, distinctly different from activation of atrial K+ channels.     

毒毛旋花子苷原对正常和心衰心肌单细胞收缩力和钙瞬变的作用

目的检测毒毛旋花子苷原(Str)对正常和心衰心肌单细胞收缩力和钙瞬变的作用。方法采用降主动脉缩窄建立豚鼠慢性充血性心力衰竭模型,酶解法急性分离左室心肌细胞,同步检测Str对单个正常细胞(NC)和心衰细胞(FC)收缩力和钙瞬变的影响,并检测Str是否具有钙增敏作用。结果0.1、1、10、25μmol.L-1Str可使NC和FC收缩幅度、钙瞬变幅度呈剂量依赖性增大;同剂量时,Str对FC的作用比NC更明显;但Str对NC和FC收缩时程及钙瞬变时程均无影响。Str对NC具有钙增敏作用,而对FC没有。结论Str增加FC的收缩力和钙瞬变作用比NC更明显,而Str仅对NC具有钙增敏作用。     

Evidence for a direct relationship between phosphoinositide metabolism and airway smooth muscle contraction induced by muscarinic agonists

The relationship between bovine tracheal muscle contraction and phosphoinositide metabolism was studied with the muscarinic agonists, methacholine, oxotremorine, and McN-A-343. Analysis of the dose-response curves for contraction and inositol phosphates accumulation with these agonists demonstrated a direct relationship between the two parameters, with a considerable reserve of inositol phosphate production for the full contractile agonists, methacholine and oxotremorine, and no reserve for the partial agonist, McN-A-343.