Activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase during canine lower esophageal sphincter relaxation

In isolated strips of opossum lower esophageal sphincter (LES) smooth muscle, elevation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) content is associated with relaxation. Because the activation state of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases may be a more sensitive measure of functionally important changes in cyclic nucleotide levels, we examined the ability of several pharmacological agents and electrical stimulation of the enteric neurons to activate cAMP dependent-protein kinase (cA-PK) and to relax isolated strips of LES smooth muscle. Addition of either isoproterenol or SK&F 94120, a selective inhibitor of the low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase to isolated strips of canine LES produced concentration-dependent increases in the activity ratio of cA-PK and concentration-dependent relaxations of canine LES. In contrast, although both zaprinast (M&B 22948), a selective inhibitor of the cyclic GMP selective phosphodiesterase, and sodium nitroprusside relaxed canine LES neither drug significantly increased the activity ratio of cA-PK. Furthermore, electrical stimulation of the enteric neurons produced a frequency-dependent relaxation but did not significantly activate cA-PK. To eliminate the possibility that the rapid metabolism of cAMP prevented us from observing a significant activation of cA-PK during electrical field stimulation, the ability of electrical field stimulation (1.0 Hz) to activate cA-PK was examined in the presence of 0.1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. At at concentration of 0.1 mM, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, by itself, significantly increased the activity ratio of cA-PK; however, there was no additional activation produced by electrical field stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Potentiation of nonadrenergic neural relaxation in guinea pig airways by a cyclic cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor

We have studied the effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on relaxation of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle in an attempt to elucidate the role of cyclic nucleotides in relaxation to stimulation of inhibitory nonadrenergic noncholinergic (i-NANC) nerves. SK&F 94120 (1-10 microM) potentiated relaxation induced by isoproterenol, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and electrical field stimulation (EFS) in the presence of atropine and propranolol but had no effect on relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside. Zaprinast (3-30 microM) potentiated relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside but not by isoproterenol or VIP. A small potentiation of relaxation to EFS was induced by 30 microM zaprinast but not by lower concentrations. Tetrodotoxin attenuated relaxations induced by EFS suggesting that they are at least partly neurogenic in origin. SK&F 94120 and zaprinast had no effect of tetrodotoxin-resistant relaxation to EFS. The guanylate cyclase inhibitor had no effect on EFS-induced relaxation. These findings suggest that cyclic AMP may mediate relaxation of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle in response to stimulation of i-NANC nerves, and are in agreement with the view that VIP may be the neurotransmitter released by i-NANC nerves in this tissue.     

Differential effects of methacholine and leukotriene D4 on cyclic nucleotide content and isoproterenol-induced relaxation in the opossum trachea

The effects of leukotriene D4 and methacholine on cyclic nucleotide content and isoproterenol-induced relaxation were examined in the isolated opossum trachea. Although leukotriene D4 (-log EC50 = 6.70) was a more potent contractile agent than methacholine (-log EC50 = 5.78), the maximal response to leukotriene D4 was only 65% of the maximum response to methacholine. Contraction of tracheal strips with leukotriene D4 was accompanied by a 3-fold increase in cyclic GMP accumulation. Methacholine-induced contraction was not associated with an increase in cyclic GMP. Neither agent altered basal cyclic AMP content. Additional experiments were carried out to examine functional inhibitory interactions between bronchoconstricting and bronchodilating pathways. In these studies, cumulative isoproterenol concentration-response curves were constructed in tracheal strips contracted with three different concentrations of methacholine and in tissues contracted with three corresponding equieffective concentrations of leukotriene D4. Although the relaxant response to isoproterenol decreased as tissues were contracted with higher concentrations of either agent, the inhibitory effect of methacholine on isoproterenol-induced relaxation was much greater than the inhibitory effect of leukotriene D4. Previous studies from our laboratory suggested that a potential explanation for the greater inhibitory effect of methacholine on the mechanical response to isoproterenol was that methacholine may inhibit isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation whereas leukotriene D4 may not. However, neither methacholine nor leukotriene D4 inhibited isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in the opossum trachea. The results of this study indicate that the sensitivity of airway smooth muscle to beta adrenoceptor agonists is influenced both by the initial contractile state of the tissue and by the type of agent used to induce tone.     

Inhibitory effect of beta3-adrenoceptor agonist in lower esophageal sphincter smooth muscle: in vitro studies

We investigated the effects of (R,R)-5-[2-[2-3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl] - amino]propyl] - 1,3 - benzodioxole - 2, 2 - dicarboxylate (CL 316243) (a typical beta3-agonist) on the spontaneously tonic smooth muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Studies were carried out in smooth muscle strips and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of opossum LES. Isometric tension was recorded in the basal state and after CL 316243, and before and after beta3-antagonist (S)-N-[4-[2-[[3-[-(acetamidomethyl)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl]amino]ethyl]phenyl]benzenesulfonamide (L 748337) and nonselective antagonist propranolol. In some experiments, the effects of nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) nerve activation by electrical field stimulation (EFS) were also examined. The effects of CL 316243 were compared with those of nonselective beta-agonist isoproterenol. CL 316243 caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of the LES smooth muscle. The relaxant action of CL 316243 was determined to be directly at the smooth muscle because it remained unmodified by the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin and other neurohumoral antagonists, and also was observed in the SMCs. L 748337 selectively antagonized the relaxant effect of CL 316243 and, conversely, had no significant effect on the inhibitory actions of isoproterenol. CL 316243 (1 x 10(-8) M) caused an augmentation of NANC relaxation in the LES. Another beta3-agonist, (S)-4-[hydroxy-3-phenoxy-propylamino-ethoxy]-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-phenoxyacetamide (ZD 7114), also caused concentration-dependent full relaxation of the LES that was selectively antagonized by beta3-anatagonist 3-(2-ethylphenoxy)-1-[(1S)1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-1-ylaminol]-(2S)-2-propanol oxalate (SR 59230A). These studies defined the effects of characteristic inhibitory beta3-adrenoceptors in the spontaneously tonic LES smooth muscle and suggested a potential therapeutic role in the esophageal motility disorders characterized by hypertensive LES.     

Nitroglycerin tolerance and cyclic GMP generation in the longitudinal smooth muscle of the guinea-pig ileum

The effects of in vitro nitroglycerin tolerance and methylene blue pretreatment on the ability of nitroglycerin and nitroprusside to promote relaxation and tissue accumulation of cyclic GMP were examined in the carbachol-contracted longitudinal smooth muscle of the guinea-pig ileum. Nitroglycerin and nitroprusside produced concentration-dependent increases in cyclic GMP levels. However, only nitroglycerin increased cyclic GMP levels before the onset of relaxation. Nitroglycerin tolerance produced approximately 200- and 5-fold shifts to the right of nitroglycerin and nitroprusside relaxation curves, respectively. Methylene blue pretreatment produced approximately 5-fold shifts to the right of both nitroglycerin and nitroprusside relaxation curves. Whenever there was an inhibition of nitroglycerin- or nitroprusside-induced relaxation, there was a corresponding reduction of cyclic GMP generation. Methylene blue inhibited the ability of 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-monophosphoric acid to promote smooth muscle relaxation, suggesting that it also may impair the subsequent actions of cyclic GMP. This study provides the first demonstration of nitroglycerin tolerance in a nonvascular smooth muscle and provides evidence that cyclic GMP mediates the relaxant effects of nitroglycerin in the longitudinal smooth muscle of the guinea-pig ileum. However, because nitroprusside promoted tissue accumulation of cyclic GMP subsequent to relaxation, an exclusive role for cyclic GMP-mediated relaxation for this drug in the longitudinal smooth muscle appears unlikely.     

Influence of stimulators and inhibitors of cyclic nucleotides on lower esophageal sphincter

These studies were performed in vitro to investigate the nature of the second messenger for lower esophageal sphincter (LES) smooth muscle relaxation in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). It was seen that VIP, permeant derivatives of the cyclic nucleotide 8-bromo cyclic GMP (BrcGMP) and 8-bromo cyclic AMP (8-BrcAMP), the guanylate cyclase stimulant sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the adenylate cyclase stimulant forskolin, M&B 22,948 (cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor) and SK&F 94,120 (cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor) caused dose-dependent and tetrocotoxin resistant fall in LES tension. Guanylate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (MB) (3 x 10(-5) M), caused significant antagonism of fall in LES tension by SNP without modifying the inhibitory response of forskolin. The possible adenylate cyclase inhibitor N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) (1 x 10(-4) M), on the other hand, caused significant antagonism of fall in LES tension by forskolin without any effect on that caused by SNP. The inhibitory responses of 8-BrcGMP and 8-BrcAMP were not modified by MB or NEM. NEM (1 x 10(-4) M) and MB (3 x 10(-5) M) caused significant inhibition of the fall in LES tension with EFS. NEM also caused inhibition of fall in LES tension by VIP. Furthermore, SK&F 94,120 and not M&B 22,948 caused significant potentiation of fall in LES tension by EFS. From these results we conclude that: 1) cAMP and cGMP may act as second messengers for LES relaxation with EFS and VIP, and 2) VIP may act primarily via cAMP system and remains a strong possibility for one of the inhibitory neurotransmitters in the LES.     

Relationship between cyclic guanosine monophosphate accumulation and relaxation of canine trachealis induced by nitrovasodilators.

The role of cyclic GMP (cGMP) in mediating relaxation of canine trachealis produced by nitrovasodilators (NVDs), compounds that activate guanylate cyclase, was examined. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of the canine trachealis that was accompanied by a concentration-related increase in cGMP content. In time course studies, relaxation of isolated trachealis strips induced by 30 microM SNP was paralleled by an increase in cGMP that reached a maximum of 18-fold above basal levels within 2 min. Zaprinast, an inhibitor of the cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase, potentiated both SNP-induced relaxation and cGMP accumulation. A cell-permeable analog of cGMP, 8-bromo-cGMP, mimicked the relaxant effects of SNP. Also assessed were the effects of methylene blue, an agent that inhibits soluble guanylate cyclase activity, and hemoglobin, an agent that competitively binds NO-containing compounds. In these experiments, tissues were pretreated with the above agents for 10 min, contracted with 1 or 3 microM methacholine, and then relaxed by the cumulative addition of SNP or two other NVDs, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Tissues were flash-frozen after adding the final concentration of the various NVDs and assayed for cGMP. Methylene blue and hemoglobin suppressed both cGMP accumulation and relaxation in response to SNAP and GTN. in contrast, methylene blue and hemoglobin inhibited SNP-induced cGMP accumulation but, paradoxically, potentiated SNP-induced relaxation. The results of this study generally support a role for cGMP in NVD-induced relaxation of airway smooth muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Concentration and time-dependent relationships between isosorbide dinitrate-induced relaxation and formation of cyclic GMP in coronary arterial smooth muscle

This study is based on the hypothesis that isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN)-induced relaxation of coronary arterial smooth muscle is causally linked to formation of cyclic (c) GMP. The hypothesis requires the extent of relaxation to be correlated to both time-and concentration-dependent increases in coronary content of cGMP. Accordingly, studies were performed with bovine coronary arterial strips to determine the relationships among isometric force and coronary content of cGMP and cAMP with respect to time of exposure to and concentration of ISDN. Cyclic nucleotide levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. No change in cAMP levels was observed during ISDN-induced relaxation of KCl contracted strips. In sharp contrast, cGMP levels increased significantly with time of exposure and concentration of ISDN stimulation. Moreover, the addition of methylene blue, a reported inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, to the bathing medium significantly inhibited the relaxation and cGMP increase during ISDN stimulation. In addition, prolonged exposure to ISDN resulted in a redevelopment of force with a parallel decrease in cGMP content. The increase in cGMP during ISDN stimulation also occurs in the absence of depolarization by KCl and in an essentially Ca++-free medium. These data support the hypothesis that the relaxation of coronary arterial strips in response to ISDN stimulation is causally linked to cGMP.     

Lack of correlation between cyclic GMP elevation and relaxation of nonvascular smooth muscle by nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, hydroxylamine and sodium azide

Recent reports have suggested that the smooth muscle relaxant effects of drugs such as nitroprusside and nitroglycerin are mediated by increases in tissue levels of cyclic GMP. This hypothesis was examined by comparing the effects of nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, hydroxylamine and sodium azide on tension and cyclic GMP levels in rat vas deferens, rat myometrium and guinea-pig taenia coli. All four of the agents were capable of increasing cyclic GMP levels in these tissues but there did not appear to be a good correlation between cyclic GMP elevation and muscle relaxation in any of the tissues studied. For example, nitroprusside markedly elevated cyclic GMP levels in rat vas deferens and myometrium but had no relaxant effect on either tissue. Nitroglycerin was less effective than nitroprusside in elevating cyclic GMP levels, but was an effective relaxant in both tissues. Significant increases in myometrial cyclic GMP were seen with 0.1, 1 and 5 mM concentrations of hydroxylamine but only the highest concentration had a definite relaxant effect on the muscles. A similar concentration of nitroprusside produced a greater elevation of cyclic GMP than did hydroxylamine, but had no relaxant effect in this preparation. In guinea-pig taenia coli, significant increases in cyclic GMP levels were obtained with concentrations of sodium azide and hydroxylamine which had no effect on the contractile activity of the preparations. These results, together with previous results from this laboratory, suggest that the relaxant effects of this group of drugs in rat vas deferens, rat myometrium and guinea-pig taenia coli are not mediated by increases in tissue levels of cyclic GMP. Further experiments are necessary to determine whether a causal relationship exists between cyclic GMP elevation and relaxation in other types of smooth muscle.     

Mechanism of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter Relaxation ACTION OF PROSTAGLANDIN E1 AND THEOPHYLLINE

The intravenous injection of prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) causes a dose-dependent relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) in the intact, lightly anesthetized opossum. The action of PGE₁ is not inhibited by the drugs that produce muscarinic or nicotinic cholinergic antagonism or alpha and beta adrenergic antagonism in the doses that inhibited the action of respective agonists. Moreover, this action is not affected by exogenous gastrin pentapeptide. The action of PGE₁ on the LES is mimicked by isoproterenol, theophylline ethylenediamine, and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Both theophylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and isoproterenol, an adenyl cyclase stimulator, added to the action of PGE₁. On the other hand, adenyl cyclase inhibitor nicotinic acid, as well as phosphodiesterase stimulator, imidazole inhibited its action. Further, both nicotinic acid and imidazole inhibited the degree of LES relaxation produced by esophageal distension. These studies suggest that intracellular cyclic AMP may act as the “second messenger” in the regulation of the lower esophageal sphincter relaxation.     

Impaired muscarinic endothelium-dependent relaxation and cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate formation in atherosclerotic human coronary artery and rabbit aorta

The dependence of vascular relaxation on an intact endothelium and the relationship between relaxation and cyclic GMP accumulation were determined in coronary arteries isolated from cardiac transplantation patients with or without coronary atherosclerosis. In nonatherosclerotic arteries, the endothelium-dependent agent acetylcholine produced concentration-related relaxations. In atherosclerotic arteries, endothelium-dependent relaxations were abolished with acetylcholine, partly suppressed with substance P and histamine, and completely preserved with the ionophore A23187. In these arteries, the endothelium-independent agent nitroglycerin remained fully active. Accumulation of cyclic GMP in atherosclerotic strips was suppressed with acetylcholine but unattenuated with A23187 and nitroglycerin. In aortas from rabbits with diet-induced atherosclerosis, there was likewise an impaired cholinergic relaxation and cyclic GMP accumulation in the presence of preserved responses to A23187 and nitroglycerin. The results demonstrate that impaired cholinergic responses in atherosclerotic arteries reflect a muscarinic defect and not an inability of endothelium to release endothelial factor or smooth muscle to respond to it.     

The effect of guanylate cyclase inhibitors on non-adrenergic and non-cholinergic neurogenic relaxations of the South American opossum lower esophageal sphincter

South American (SA) opossum lower esophageal sphincter (LES) circular smooth muscle relaxes by activation of enteric nerves elicited by EFS (electrical field stimulation, 0.5 ms, 48 V, 0.5–8 Hz for 10 s). The identity of the mediator released and the cellular mechanism, however, remain to be fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the enzyme soluble guanylate cyclase (cGC) inhibitors, cystamine (100 μ m ), methylene blue (30 μ m ), LY 83583 (6-anilino-5,8 quinoledione, 10 μ m ) and ODQ (H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3]quinoxalin-1-one, 1 μ m ) on the relaxations induced by EFS and by exogenous NO (nitric oxide, 0.5 m m ) or NO-donors on SA opossum LES smooth muscle strips. EFS caused frequency-dependent relaxations, which were inhibited by NO-synthase inhibitors and abolished by tetrodotoxin. Cystamine did not affect relaxations caused by EFS and NO or NO-donor. Methylene blue also failed to affect EFS-caused relaxations, although it was capable of inhibiting relaxation induced by NO. LY 83583 inhibited relaxations induced by NO, but did not affect those induced by EFS or by SNAP and HXA. ODQ abolished relaxations caused by EFS at lower frequencies and by HXA (hydroxylamine, 10 μ m ) and SNAP ( S -nitroso- N -acetyl penicillamine, 10 μ m ). Relaxations at higher frequencies of EFS and induced by SNP (sodium nitroprusside, 30 μ m ) and NO were only reduced by ODQ. These findings indicate that activation of the cGC can be involved in relaxations induced by EFS at lower frequencies, but other mechanisms can be involved at higher frequencies of EFS and caused by SNP or NO.     

Mechanism of relaxation induced by K+ and nicotine in dog duodenal longitudinal muscle.

Dog duodenal longitudinal muscle strips precontracted with bradykinin responded to K+ (10 mM) with a transient relaxation, which was abolished by tetrodotoxin and oxyhemoglobin, but not influenced by atropine, ouabain and apamin. The induced relaxation was suppressed by treatment with 10(-5) M NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) a nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor, but not by the D-enantiomer. The inhibitory effect was antagonized by L- but not D-arginine. High concentrations (20 mM or higher) of K+ produced a relaxation followed by a sustained contraction; nicardipine abolished the contraction, but did not alter the relaxation. Nicotine produced a contraction, which was converted to a relaxation by atropine. The relaxant response was abolished by tetrodotoxin, hexamethonium and oxyhemoglobin, but was unaffected by timolol and phentolamine. L-NNA suppressed the relaxation, and L-arginine reversed the inhibition. The addition of K+ (20 mM) increased the content of cyclic GMP in the strips, the effect being prevented by tetrodotoxin and L-NNA. These findings suggest that K+ selectively stimulates the nonadrenergic inhibitory nerve, whereas nicotine stimulates both the excitatory cholinergic and inhibitory nerves. Nitric oxide released from the inhibitory nerve appears to transmit information to duodenal smooth muscle by increasing the production of cyclic GMP.     

Regulation of phosphorylase A formation and calcium content in aortic smooth muscle and smooth muscle cells: effects of atrial natriuretic peptide II

Atrial natriuretic peptide II (ANP II) raises cyclic GMP and relaxes vascular smooth muscle in vitro. The manner in which ANP II relaxes vascular smooth muscle is unknown but may involve alterations in the concentration of free intracellular Ca++. To examine this possibility, changes in intracellular Ca++ were monitored in rat aortic strips using the Ca++-dependent conversion of phosphorylase b to a, while Ca++ levels and phosphorylase were measured in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells. ANP II produced time- and concentration-dependent decreases in phosphorylase a and tension in norepinephrine-contracted aortic strips. The decrease in the formation of phosphorylase a was accompanied by an increase in cyclic GMP content. ANP II also decreased phosphorylase a formation in K+-depolarized tissues but to a lesser extent. Agonists such as angiotensin II and arginine vasopressin, and depolarizing concentrations of K+ elevated Ca++ levels in cultured aortic cells. ANP II inhibited Ca++ accumulation to either agonists or K+, but was more effective against agonists. Phosphorylase a formation which was increased by agonists and K+ in cultured cells was also inhibited by ANP II. We conclude that phosphorylase a formation can be a useful indicator of intracellular Ca++ concentrations in smooth muscle preparations and that ANP II regulates Ca++ levels in agonist and depolarized smooth muscle, suggesting that ANP II affects mainly Ca++ removal from the cytoplasm.     

Role of nitric oxide in neurally induced cerebroarterial relaxation.

Transmural electrical stimulation and nicotine produced a relaxation of dog cerebral artery strips denuded of endothelium, which was abolished by tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium, respectively, and also suppressed by treatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA), a nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor. The inhibition was reversed by L-arginine but not by the D-enantiomer. L-NA also suppressed the endothelium-dependent relaxation by substance P but not the response to NO and nitroglycerin. Treatment with high concentrations of nitroglycerin or sodium nitroprusside markedly inhibited the relaxant response to nicotine, substance P and NO but not the response to papaverine. Slight, slowly developing relaxations caused by L-arginine in the endothelium-denuded arteries were not potentiated by repeated applications of the amino acid or by exposure of the strips for 24 hr to the bathing medium. Ca++ ionophore-induced contractions in the denuded strips were not potentiated by L-NA. Nicotine significantly increased the level of cyclic GMP in the arteries without endothelium; the increment was abolished by treatment with L-NA and hexamethonium. NO does not seem to be synthesized in smooth muscle in an amount sufficient to produce significant relaxation. It may be concluded that NO liberated from vasodilator nerves activates guanylate cyclase in smooth muscle and produces cyclic GMP, resulting in cerebroarterial relaxation.     

Relaxation of intrapulmonary artery and vein by nitrogen oxide-containing vasodilators and cyclic GMP

The present study examines the relationship between tissue cyclic nucleotide levels and relaxation of bovine intrapulmonary arterial and venous smooth muscle in response to nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine and isoproterenol. Recent studies have suggested that cyclic GMP may be involved in the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle produced by nitrogen oxide-containing vasodilators and that S-nitrosothiols may act as intermediates of the latter agents. In the present study, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine were more potent as relaxants of venous than arterial segments. Each of these agents elevated tissue cyclic GMP levels, but not cyclic AMP levels, before relaxation. These nitrogen oxide-containing agents were more potent as elevators of cyclic GMP levels in venous than arterial tissue and this correlated generally with their effects on vascular smooth muscle tone. Methylene blue antagonized both relaxation and increased cyclic GMP levels elicited by nitroglycerin, nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine. In contrast to the nitrogen oxide vasodilators, 8-bromo-cyclic GMP was equally effective in reducing induced tone in arterial or venous segments. Similarly, isoproterenol relaxed arterial and venous segments with equivalent sensitivities. Relaxation by isoproterenol was preceded by or occurred concomitantly with increased levels of cyclic AMP but not cyclic GMP and both effects were antagonized by propranolol. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that vascular smooth muscle relaxation in response to nitrogen oxide-containing vasodilators or isoproterenol may be mediated or modulated by the intracellular accumulation of cyclic GMP or cyclic AMP, respectively.     

Relationship between cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate formation and relaxation of coronary arterial smooth muscle by glyceryl trinitrate, nitroprusside, nitrite and nitric oxide: effects of methylene blue and methemoglobin

The purpose of the present study was to determine time course relationship between cyclic GMP accumulation and relaxation in bovine coronary artery and evaluate the effects of recently identified inhibitors, methylene blue and methemoglobin, on these relationships. Arterial strips were suspended in specially mounted tissue baths which permitted continuous recording of isometric tension until rapid freeze-clamping for subsequent determination of cyclic GMP levels by radioimmunoassay. Relaxation and cyclic GMP levels were measured in submaximally contracted strips at zero time (untreated) or 5-sec to 5-min intervals after exposure to 0.5 microliter of nitric oxide, 1 microM glyceryl trinitrate, 1 microM sodium nitroprusside of 1 mM sodium nitrite in the absence or presence of 10 mM methylene blue or 1 microM methemoglobin. Cyclic GMP accumulation preceded onset of relaxation elicited by nitric oxide and glyceryl trinitrate and temporally correlated with relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside and sodium nitrite. Methylene blue simultaneously inhibited cyclic GMP accumulation and relaxation induced by all four relaxants. In contrast to methylene blue, methemoglobin abolished cyclic GMP accumulation and relaxation elicited by nitric oxide without altering responses to glyceryl trinitrate, sodium nitroprusside and sodium nitrite. These findings are consistent with and strongly support an involvement of cyclic GMP formation in vascular smooth muscle relaxation elicited by nitrogen oxide-containing vasodilators.     

Bradykinin stimulates the production of cyclic GMP via activation of B2 kinin receptors in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells

The production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s) in response to kinins was investigated in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells. The production was estimated by the measurement of the accumulation of cyclic GMP, a response which can be attributed to activation of the soluble guanylate cyclase of the endothelial cells by endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s). Bradykinin increased markedly the levels of cyclic GMP in endothelial cells without affecting those of cyclic AMP. The bradykinin-stimulated production of cyclic GMP was transient and concentration-dependent. Kallidin (an agonist at B2-kinin receptors) but not des-Arg9 bradykinin and des-Arg10 kallidin (agonists at B1 kinin receptors) also increased, in a concentration-dependent manner, the content of cyclic GMP. The B2 kinin receptor antagonist, D-Arg0 [Hyp3, D-Phe7]bradykinin but not the B1 kinin receptor antagonists Leu8-des-Arg9 bradykinin and Leu9-des-Arg10 kallidin inhibited the production of cyclic GMP upon stimulation of the endothelial cells with either bradykinin or kallidin. Both the basal and kinin (bradykinin and kallidin)-stimulated productions of cyclic GMP were reduced by hemoglobin and potentiated by superoxide dismutase. Methylene blue also reduced kinin-stimulated production of cyclic GMP. These findings suggest that cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells possess B2 kinin receptors which are associated with the production and/or release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s). The endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s) produced in turn enhances the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase and induces the accumulation of cyclic GMP.     

Mechanism of inotropic action of xestoquinone, a novel cardiotonic agent isolated from a sea sponge.

Xestoquinone (XQN) isolated from the sea sponge Xestospongia sapra produced dose-dependent cardiotonic effects on guinea pig left and right atria. A direct action of XQN (1-30 microM) on the contractile machinery of cardiac myofilaments was demonstrated in chemically skinned fiber preparations from guinea pig papillary muscles. In atrial preparations, the XQN-induced inotropic effect was markedly inhibited by verapamil or nifedipine, but was not affected by practolol, chlorpheniramine, cimetidine, tetrodotoxin or reserpine. The Ca++ dependence curve for the contractile response of the atria was substantially shifted to the left by XQN (10 microM), and this XQN-induced shift was reversed by verapamil. The time-to-peak tension and relaxation times of the atrial contractions were shortened by XQN, and the action potential duration was markedly prolonged. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings in left atrial strips confirmed that XQN (30 microM) increased the slow inward current. However, there was a temporal dissociation between altered tension development and prolongation of the action potential duration. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity was inhibited and tissue cyclic AMP content of guinea pig left atria was increased by XQN (0.3-10 microM) in a concentration-dependent manner, but increases in cyclic AMP content did not occur in parallel with increases in contractile response. These observations suggest that an enhancement of intracellular cyclic AMP content and Ca++ influx across the cell membrane contribute to the late phase of XQN-caused cardiotonic responses, whereas the early phase may largely be elicited through direct activation of contractile elements. XQN may provide a novel leading compound for valuable cardiotonic agents.     

Effects of some divalent cations on nitrergic relaxations in the mouse corpus cavernosum

Acute effects of some divalent cations (Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Sn²⁺) were investigated on neurogenic and endothelium-dependent relaxations in the isolated mouse corpus cavernosum. Neither neurogenic nor endothelium-dependent relaxation was affected by cations at the concentrations used (up to 100 μ M ), except Cd²⁺. Although Cd²⁺ (20 and 40 μ M ) did not cause any significant alteration in the acetylcholine- (ACh) or sodium nitroprusside- (SNP) induced relaxation, it inhibited electrical field stimulation- (EFS) produced relaxation significantly. Zn²⁺ and selenium could not reverse this inhibitory action. Cd²⁺ did block the EFS-evoked guanethidine-sensitive contraction in the presence of N^G-nitro- L -arginine. Elevation of external Ca²⁺ content significantly reduced the inhibitions due to Cd²⁺ on the EFS-induced relaxation and on the EFS-evoked guanethidine-sensitive contraction. In the Ca²⁺-omitted medium, EFS-induced relaxation disappeared, while acetylcholine-elicited relaxation resisted. Verapamil was ineffective on the relaxation produced by EFS or acetylcholine. However, it significantly diminished phenylephrine-induced contractions. These findings suggest that unlike other cations at the concentrations used in the present study, Cd²⁺ may have an effect on an external Ca²⁺-dependent mechanism at the neuronal level, and this effect may be responsible for its acute inhibitory action on the neurogenic relaxation in the mouse corpus cavernosum.