Comparative species studies on the effect of monovalent cations and ouabain on cardiac Na+, K+-adenosine triphosphatase and contractile force.

The effects of ouabain, Rb+ and Tl+ on Na+, K+-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+-ATPase; Mg++-dependent, Na+,K+-activated ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) and contractile force were compared in guinea-pig and rat hearts. Although ouabain produced a dose-dependent positive inotropic effect in rat as well as in guinea-pig atrial preparations, concentrations of ouabain needed to produce comparable positive inotropic effects were more than an order of magnitude higher in rats than in guinea pigs. Additionally, the time to reach the plateau of the inotropic response was significantly shorter in rat than in guinea-pig atrial preparations. Concentrations of ouabain needed to produce comparable inhibition of cardiac Na+, K+-ATPase in vitro observed with partially purified cardiac enzyme preparations were also more than an order to magnitude higher in rats than in guinea pigs.     

Analytical subcellular fractionation of normal human skeletal muscle by sucrose density gradient centrifugation

The principle organelle marker enzymes and various adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities were studied in human skeletal muscle. The reproducibility of each assay was established under optimal and linear assay conditions. Whole homogenates of normal human quadriceps muscle were fractionated by centrifugation on a continuous sucrose density gradient. Gradient fractions were assayed for organelle marker enzymes and frequency-density histograms were constructed for each enzyme. Good resolution of the principal organelles was obtained. Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) was assayed under conditions of maximal stimulation by Ca2+, or Mg2+ or Na2+, K+ + Mg2+. The distribution of these activities was compared with those of the organelle marker enzymes. Both Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase were distributed to both the mitochondrial and myofibrillar fractions but could be distinguished by the inhibition of mitochondrial ATPase with sodium azide. The distribution of Na+, K+-activated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase (Na+, K+ ATPase) activity suggested a sarcolemmal localization. The results of electron microscopy of gradient fractions were consistent with the organelle content of the fractions as determined by enzymic analyses. These studies provide reference information for the subsequent investigation of organelle pathology of human muscle disorders.     

Studies on the mechanism of inhibition of the red cell metabolism by cardiac glycosides.

The purpose of this work was to test the previously suggested hypothesis that the inhibitory effect of ouabain on lactate production in human red cells is due to an interaction between phosphoglycerate kinase and (Na+ + k+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+ATPase). An antibody to red cell phosphoglycerate kingase caused complete inhibition of the purified enzyme, whereas a portion of the phophoglycerate kinase activity of the red cell membranes was resistant to the antibody. When increasing amounts of the purified enzyme were added to the membranes, the antibody-resistant portion of the activity increased. The effects of the antibody and ouabain on lactate production from fructose-6,6-diphosphate in red cell hemolysates were studied. Ouabain, at a maximally effective concentration, produced about 30% inhibition of lactate formation. This value was doubled in the presence of the antibody. Red cell membranes, and rat brain Na+,K+-ATPase, did not catalyze the hydrolysis of 1,3-diphosphoglycerate. Ouabain did not affect the reactions of the Rapport-Luebering pathway of the red cells. These findings provide further support for the view that in red cells a membrane pool of phosphoglycerate kinase is oriented in the vicinity of Na+,K+-ATPase in a way that the product of each enzyme may be used as the immediate substrate of the other and that ouabain inhibits glycolysis by removing the regulatory effect of Na+,K+-ATPase on that portion of glycolysis which is channeled through this pool of phosphoglycerate kinase.     

Enhancement of cardiac actions of ouabain and its binding to Na+, K+-adenosine triphosphatase by increased sodium influx in isolated guinea-pig heart

The rate of development of the positive inotropic action of ouabain is enhanced when the heart is stimulated at higher frequencies. A hypothesis that this enhancement is due to a stimulation of the glycoside binding to sarcolemmal Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) caused by an increase in intracellular Na+ available to the sodium pump was tested in isolated left atrial muscle preparations of guinea-pig heart, incubated at 30 degrees C and electrically stimulated at 0.5, 1 or 2 Hz. The rate of development of the positive inotropic action of ouabain was dependent on the frequency of stimulation. Each preparation was homogenized at a predetermined time and the fractional occupancy of Na+,K+-ATPase by ouabain was estimated from the decrease in the initial velocity of ATP-dependent [3H]ouabain binding reaction. A parallel relationship was observed between effects of stimulation frequency of the positive inotropic action and those on the occupancy of Na+,K+-ATPase by ouabain. In quiescent preparations, a sodium ionophore, monensin, enhanced the development of contracture caused by a toxic concentration of ouabain and also the glycoside binding to Na+,K+-ATPase. Similar effects on the ouabain-induced contracture and on the glycoside binding were observed with either grayanotoxin I or batrachotoxin, agents known to increase sodium influx, when muscle preparations were exposed to these agents under 1.5 Hz stimulation and were subsequently tested for the actions of ouabain in quiescence. When the exposure to ouabain and either grayanotoxin I or batrachotoxin was restricted to quiescent period, the development of ouabain-induced contracture and glycoside binding to Na+,K+-ATPase were not significantly altered. Monensin, grayanotoxin I or batrachotoxin failed to significantly affect [3H]ouabain binding to muscle homogenates when added to the medium for the labeled glycoside binding assay. These results indicate that intracellular sodium ions promote the ouabain binding to Na+,K+-ATPase and thereby enhance the development of glycoside actions in the isolated atrial muscle of guinea-pig heart. The "beat-dependent" onset of the glycoside action is at least partially explained from the effect of membrane depolarization to increase Na+ available to the sodium pump and to enhance the glycoside binding.     

Mode of the ciguatoxin-induced supersensitivity in the guinea-pig vas deferens

Ciguatoxin (CTX; 10(-7) X 10(-7) g/ml), the most potent marine toxin isolated from a number of tropical and subtropical fishes, shifted the dose-contractile response curves for norepinephrine (NE) and K+ to the left in a parallel manner in the guinea-pig isolated vas deferens, indicating that CTX caused supersensitivity. The CTX-induced potentiation was inhibited or abolished in the presence of tetrodotoxin (5 X 10(-7) M) or saxitoxin (5 X 10(-7) M) and in Na+-deficient medium, but was not affected by phentolamine (10(-6) M) and verapamil (10(-6) M). Treatment with reserpine (2 mg/kg/day, twice) almost completely prevented the release of NE by CTS, such pretreatment had no affect on the ability of CTX to potentiate responses to NE and K+. Furthermore, after cold storage (4 degrees C for 7 days) of tissues, the contractile response to NE (3 X 10(-6) M) and K+ (20 mM) was still profoundly potentiated after treatment with CTX (5 X 10(-7) g/ml). CTX (10(-7)-10(-5) g/ml) by itself had no apparent effect on either Na+, K+-adenosine triphosphatase activity or Na+ content of the vas deferens. However, in the presence of ouabain, CTX elevated the Na content of the vas deferens treated with ouabain alone by 27%. This effect of CTX was abolished by tetrodotoxin. These data suggest that CTX causes an increasing Na+ permeability across the TTX sensitive Na+ channels of smooth muscle cell, and this may play an important role in its mechanism of potentiation.     

Denervation-induced changes in electrophysiologic parameters of the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig and rat was deferens

In order to further elucidate the mechanisms by which postganglionic denervation causes changes in the dose-response curves obtained in smooth muscle, microelectrodes have been used to investigate cellular changes in the denervated guinea-pig and rat vas deferens. In the guinea-pig vas deferens, chronic denervation produced a partial depolarization (mean change of 8.5 mV) without any change in threshold for the action potential. In the rat vas deferens there was no change in resting potential but the threshold membrane potential because more negative (6.5 mV). Thus, in both species, but apparently by different mechanisms, the resting and threshold membrane potentials are brought closer together by denervation. Such an effect would clearly contribute to the well documented increase in sensitivity to depolarizing agonists which is produced by chronic denervation. In both species, denervation increased the space constant of the smooth muscle, an indication of increased electrical coupling among the cells. This observation is consistent with morphologic evidence of improved coupling induced by denervation and presented previously from this laboratory. The improved coupling appears to be associated with the increased maximum response of the denervated vasa deferentia of both species. These results are discussed in references to known similarities and differences in electrophysiologic characteristics between normal guinea-pig and rat vasa deferentia.     

Ouabain-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase from human kidneys.

Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) was studied in tissue homogenates and subcellular fractions derived from human cadaver kidneys maintained in an organ preservation unit for transplantation. The activity of ouabain-sensitive ATPase was highest in the medulla, intermediate in the cortex and lowest in the papilla, The cortical enzyme activity diminished with time during maintenance perfusion of the kidneys. Similar concentrations of K+, Na+, Mg++, ATP and MgATP were required for half-maximal rates of ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity from the cortex or the medulla. The sensitivity of the enzyme to ouabain from both parts of the kidney was similar. K+ antagonized inhibition of the enzyme by ouabain. Chlormerodrin, mersalyl, mercaptomerin and ethacrynic acid were inhibitors of the enzyme.     

Increased renal tubular sodium pump and Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

The effects of chronic glucose osmotic diuresis on renal tubular sodium pump and Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities were studied in chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Four to seven weeks after streptozotocin (60 mg/kg i.p.) injection, specific renal Na+,K+-ATPase activity showed a 34.8% increase as compared to the saline-citrate treated controls, whereas the nonspecific Mg++-ATPase was not altered. The concentration of Na+,K+-ATPase, estimated from the maximum [3H]ouabain binding site concentration, also showed a significant increase in the chronic streptozotocin-diabetic rats. To determine further the specificity of this increase in Na+,K+-ATPase, the activity of the sodium pump, estimated from ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake, was measured in nonenzymatically isolated renal tubules. Again, a significant (+106.4%) increase in the renal tubular sodium pump activity was observed in the streptozotocin-diabetic rats, whereas the nonspecific, ouabain-insensitive 86Rb uptake was not altered. Neither was there any difference in 86Rb uptake by the isolated renal glomeruli. Thus, it appears that chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats is associated with a significant increase in renal tubular sodium pump and Na+,K+-ATPase. The latter effects may represent an important physiologic adaptation of the kidneys to maintain electrolyte homeostasis in diabetes.     

Sensitivity changes in the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig isolated vas deferens after treatment of animals with 6-hydroxydopamine

Postjunctional supersensitivity of the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig vas deferens induced by denervation, decentralization and treatment of animals with reserpine has been attributed, in part, to a partial membrane depolarization (8-10 mV) resulting from reduced electrogenic Na+,K+-pumping activity. This study was undertaken to characterize sensitivity changes which occur after treatment of animals with 6-hydroxydopamine (100 mg/kg + 250 mg/kg i.v., 1 day apart). Seven days after the second injection, concentration-response curves for isometric contractile responses to norepinephrine, methoxamine, acetylcholine and histamine were shifted 40.6-, 1.7-, 3.6- and 2.7-fold, respectively, to the left of control; however, the sensitivity to KCl was not increased, which contrasts with the results after denervation, decentralization and reserpine treatment. Ouabain (10(-5) M) produced 1.8- and 1.3-fold leftward shifts of the KCl concentration-response curves in tissues from control and 6-hydroxydopamine-treated animals, respectively. The pronounced effect of ouabain in tissues from treated animals may be an indication that 6-hydroxydopamine treatment does not result in as much inhibition of electrogenic Na+,K+-pumping, and resultant membrane depolarization, as other methods which induce supersensitivity of the guinea-pig vas deferens.     

Cardiac Na+, K+-adenosine triphosphatase inhibition by ouabain and myocardial sodium: a computer simulation.

The major evidence against the hypothesis that Na+, K+-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+, K+-ATPase) inhibition is the mechanism of the positive inotropic action of digitalis is that the myocardial sodium content does not increase at the time of the inotropic response. In order to understand the relationship between sodium pump inhibition and myocardial sodium content, a computer simulation of the intracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]i) during a cycle of myocardial function was performed. The model for the computer simulation is a small compartment adjacent to the inner surface of the sarcolemma. The change in [Na+]i in this compartment is determined by the rate of sodium influx (published data utilized) and the rate of active sodium transport was estimated from the activities of partially purified dog heart Na+, K+-ATPase preparations assayed with various concentrations of sodium and ouabain. The initial rapid sodium influx results in maximal sodium pump activation, but the pump activity decreases with time as the [Na+]i decreases. Thus, the sodium pump functions at a rate close to its maximal velocity during the initial phase of each cycle but at reduced rates during the later phase. Inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase by ouabain decreases the maximal velocity during the intiial phase of each cycle but at reduced rates during the later phase. Inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase by ouabain decreases the maximal velocity of the sodium pump but increases the time in each cycle at which the sodium pump operates at its highest possible rate under these conditions, i.e., a rate close to the inhibited maximal velocity. A 40% inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase activity, caused by inotropic concentrations of ouabain, increases the peak [Na+]i but fails to cause intracellular sodium accumulation since [Na+]i approaches control levels before the beginning of the next cardiac cycle. With greater enzyme inhibition, caused by arrhythmic concentrations of ouabain, [Na+]i fails to return to the precycle level and thus each subsequent cycle causes a progressive accumulation of myocardial sodium. Computer simulation predicts that a positive inotropic concentration of ouabain causes a myocardial sodium accumulation at a high heart rate but not at a lower heart rate. This was confirmed by experiments with Langendorff preparations of guinea-pig hearts. It is concluded that a moderate sodium pump inhibition by inotropic concentrations of ouabain enhances the intracellular sodium transient (a transient increase in intracellular sodium concentration associated with each membrane excitation) but does not cause a significant myocardial sodium accumulation at normal heart rates. A progressive myocardial sodium accumulation occurs only when the degree of Na+, K+-ATPase inhibition exceeds a critical magnitude.     

(Na+, K+)-ATPase regulation and NaCl intake: effects on circulating inhibitor and sensitivity to noradrenaline

These experiments examined the effects of a high NaCl diet on (Na+,K+)-ATPase in kidney, heart and cerebral cortex, on the level of circulating inhibitor of (Na+,K+)-ATPase in plasma, and on stimulation of (Na+,K+)-ATPase by treatment with dextro (d)-amphetamine. High salt diet increased indices of (Na+,K+)-ATPase activity (K+-activated p-nitrophenyl-phosphatase activity and ouabain binding) in kidney medulla, prevented stimulation by amphetamine in cerebral cortex and reduced amphetamine stimulation in heart. High NaCl feeding increased the plasma level of circulating inhibitor of (Na+,K+)-ATPase. Amphetamine alone had no effect on inhibitor level but amphetamine administration reduced the increase in inhibitor with high NaCl feeding.     

Effect of high salt intake on sodium, potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase activity in the erythrocytes of normotensive men

1. We measured ouabain-insensitive adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), sodium, potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+-ATPase) and intracellular Na+ and K+ in the erythrocytes of 19 healthy volunteers, before and after supplementation of their normal diet was 6.0-8.9 g of salt (102-137 mmol of NaCl) per day, for 5 days. 2. The subjects had a small but significant gain in weight. Mean plasma renin activity decreased from 1.57 to 0.73 pmol of angiotensin 1 h-1 ml-1 and plasma aldosterone from 0.46 to 0.24 nmol/l. 3. Total ATPase activity fell from 197.9 nmol of inorganic phosphate h-1 mg-1 during the control period to 173.5 during the high-salt period (P less than 0.0125). Na+, K+-ATPase activity fell from 162.2 to 141.4 nmol of inorganic phosphate h-1 mg-1 (P less than 0.05). Intracellular Na+ and intracellular K+ did not change. 4. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that salt-induced volume expansion causes the release of a factor inhibitory to the Na+ pump.     

Lack of pharmacodynamic interactions between quinidine and digoxin in isolated atrial muscle of guinea pig heart

Quinidine has been reported to have no effect on the positive inotropic action of digoxin observed in isolated cardiac muscle preparations. This is surprising because quinidine has been shown to reduce Na+ influx in cardiac muscle. The conditions which increase Na+ influx stimulate the glycoside binding to Na+- and K+-activated Mg++-dependent ATP phosphohydrolase (Na+,K+-ATPase), and therefore quinidine may be expected to have an opposite effect. Thus, the effects of quinidine on cardiac muscle and its possible interactions with digoxin were re-evaluated using electrically paced left atrial muscle preparations of guinea pig heart. Quinidine caused a frequency- and concentration-dependent decrease in maximal upstroke velocity and amplitude of the action potential without altering resting membrane potential. In addition, quinidine prolonged action potential duration markedly in a frequency-dependent manner. Despite action potential prolongation, the alkaloid reduced net Na+ influx as determined by a decrease in steady-state ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ uptake. Under these conditions, however, quinidine failed to reduce the rate of onset or the maximal positive inotropic effect of digoxin; or did it reduce digoxin binding to Na+,K+- ATPase in beating atrial muscle preparations. Benzocaine, which reduced net Na+ influx without increasing the action potential duration, also failed to affect the peak inotropic effect of digoxin or the glycoside binding. Quinidine had no direct effects on glycoside binding to isolated cardiac Na+,K+-ATPase. Moreover, [3H]ouabain binding to isolated enzyme was relatively insensitive to changes in Na+ concentrations between 1 and 8 mM although binding was stimulated clearly by Na+ above 8 mM. These results indicate that quinidine, at therapeutic concentrations, does not interact pharmacodynamically with digoxin in isolated cardiac muscle.     

Effect of changes in dietary sodium on active electrolyte transport by erythrocytes at different stages of human pregnancy

1. Active electrolyte transport was examined in erythrocytes from women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and post partum, and compared with that in ovulating women. 2. There was a significant reduction in intracellular sodium ([Na]i) and increase in intracellular potassium ([K]i) in pregnancy with a return towards normal values in the post-partum period. 3. Maximum specific ouabain binding [number of Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+, K+-ATPase) units] was increased by 70% in pregnancy and returned slowly towards normal values post partum. 4. Na+,K+-ATPase activity as determined by ouabain-sensitive 86Rb influx in artificial media was also increased in pregnancy by 13%. It returned towards normal post partum. 5. The increases in Na+,K+-ATPase in pregnancy were not closely related to the concomitant increases in aldosterone or cholesterol nor to reticulocytosis and were not affected by 7 days of high (greater than 250 mmol/day) or low (less than 50 mmol/day) sodium intake.     

Digitalis toxicity: lack of marked effect on brain na+,k+-adenosine triphosphatase in the cat.

Effect of digitalis on central sympathetic neurons have been proposed to alter sympathetic influences on the heart and to contribute to the induction of arrhythmias. Recently, however, we have presented evidence which indicates that the involvement of a direct central action of digitalis is negligible in the alteration of sympathetic nerve activity after i.v. administration of the drug. Thus, a group of experiments were designed to determine if central drug concentrations or biochemical events in the brain would suggest a central action of the drug. Tritiated digoxin (20 microng/kg) was injected i.v. into cats every 15 minutes until ventricular fibrillation occurred. The concentrations of digoxin in cerebrospinal fluid and serum increased linearly with time as the cumulative dose of digoxin was increased. At the mean arrhythmic dose, 140 microng/kg, cerebrospinal fluid contained approximately 10 nM digoxin whereas free digoxin concentration in serum was approximately 30 nM and total digoxin concentration in serum was approximately 120 nM. Since inhibition of Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+-ATPase) is often associated with the pharmacological effects of digitalis, effects of nanomolar concentrations of digoxin on Na+,K+-ATPase activity were determined in vitro. The concentration of digoxin faund in cerebrospinal fluid at arrhythmia inhibited Na+,K+-ATPase only slightly (5-10%). Activity of Na+,K+-ATP-ase was also examined in brains of cats which had died in ventricular arrhythmias due to treatment with lethal dose of digitoxin. After ventricular fibrillation, the cat brains were removed and Na+,K+-ATPase activity and ouabain binding were determined in eight areas. No reduction in Na+,K+-ATPase activity or [3H]ouabain binding was observed in any area. Thus, it appeared that toxic doses of digitalis did not cause sail to provide evidence for central effects of toxic doses of digoxin or digitoxin.     

Water depletion, not oral sodium loading, increases levels of sodium, potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase inhibitors in rat plasma

In order to define a physiological role for circulating inhibitors of sodium, potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+-ATPase), plasma was obtained from control, water deplete, water repleted, sodium deplete and sodium loaded rats. The effect of this plasma on Na+,K+-ATPase activity, and its transport equivalent 86Rb uptake, was measured in separated guinea pig renal cortical tubules. Plasma from water deplete rats had a raised plasma osmolality and sodium concentration and a significant inhibitory effect on Na+,K+-ATPase (14%) and 86Rb uptake (24%) compared with control or water repleted rats. Inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase and 86Rb transport was not seen with plasma from rats after dietary sodium loading (urine sodium 5.2 +/- 0.9 mmol/day) compared with low sodium diet controls (urine sodium 0.41 +/- 0.08 mmol/day). Des-amino arginine vasopressin in vivo produced no inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase or Rb transport. These studies suggest, that in terms of common homoeostatic insults, circulating inhibitors of Na+,K+-ATPase are more responsive to water depletion than to oral sodium loading. The inhibitors may fulfil a physiological role in increasing sodium excretion to maintain osmolality after dehydration.     

Veratrine-induced decrease of (Na+ + K+)-adenosine triphosphatase activity in rat brain slices

The effect of membrane excitability on (Na+ + K+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) was studied in rat brain slices. The treatment of the brain cortical slices with veratrine for more than 10 min caused a significant decrease of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. The similar inhibition of the enzyme by veratrine was observed in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, and the veratrine treatment did not affect the sensitivity of the cortical enzyme for ouabain inhibition. These findings suggest that two isozymes of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase are equally inhibited by the treatment. Veratrine inhibited the partial reactions such as Na+-dependent phosphorylation and K+-stimulated phosphatase as well as the specific binding of [3H]ouabain. Agents which increase intracellular Na+ concentration also inhibited the enzyme activity. The effects of veratrine were blocked by Na+-free medium or tetrodotoxin. Low Na+ medium decreased the enzyme activity, and the effect was blocked by amiloride or Ca++-free medium, indicating the involvement of Na+/Ca++ exchange in the inhibition. The decreased activity induced by low Na+ or high K+ medium was restored to the normal level by the subsequent incubation in normal medium. The inhibitory effect of veratrine was dependent on external Ca++, and was blocked by addition of W-7 [N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene-sulfonamide]. A23187 also decreased (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in the slices. High Mg++ medium blocked the effect of veratrine but not that of monensin which was not dependent on external Ca++.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Canrenone as a partial agonist at the digitalis receptor site of sodium-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase

Canrenone, a spironolactone metabolite, was tested for its possible effects on (Na+-K+) adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity [Mg++-dependent, (Na+-K+)-activated ATP phosphohydrolase (E.C.3.6.1.3) and ouabain interaction with the enzyme. Canrenone competitively antagonized the binding of [3H]ouabain to (Na+-K+)ATPase and inhibited (Na+-K+)ATPase activity. The multiple inhibition technique was used to demonstrate that canrenone is a partial inhibitor of (Na+-K+)ATPase, mutually exclusive with respect to ouabain. Comparative studies of the effects of ouabain and canrenone on potassium-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity (E.C.9.6.1.7) and potassium activation of (Na+-K+)ATPase confirmed that ouabain and canrenone interacted with the same receptor site. The finding that canrenone is a partial agonist may explain the results of previous in vivo studies showing that spironolactone and the allied drug to potassium conrenoate have either a positive inotropic action or an antagonistic effect against digitalis toxicity.     

Prior and ongoing experience as determinants of the effects of d-amphetamine and chlorpromazine on punished behavior.

The catecholamine-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (ATP-ase) activities in mouse brain synaptosomes were inhibited by morphine both in vitro and in vivo. Morphine up to 10(-3) M had no effect on basal ATPase activities but at 10(-4) M significantly inhibited dopamine-sensitive ATPase activities in vitro. The morphine effect was antagonized by an opiate antagonist, naloxone. The catecholamine-sensitive ATPase activities were also inhibited by acute administration of morphine. The inhibition was dose-dependent. However, naloxone partially antagonized the morphine inhibition of depamine-sensitive ATPase activity but not norepinephrine-sensitive ATPase activity. A significant decrease in the sensitivity of synaptosomal ATPase to catecholamines was observed in mice rendered tolerant by morphine pellet implantation. The Na+,K+-ATPase was more affected by morphine as compared to Mg++-ATPase activity. The dopamine-sensitive Na+,K+-ATPase activity was restored by 50% in precipitated withdrawal mouse brain synaptosomes. Norepinephrine-sensitive ATPase activity was also restored partially in precipitated withdrawal animals. These results suggest that in mouse brain synaptosomes morphine may be interacting with ATPase at or near the catecholamine-active sites.     

Effects of ouabain on contractions induced by manganese ions in C2+a-free, isotonic solutions with varying concentrations of K+ in guinea-pig taenia coli

The action of ouabain, a cell membrane Na+, K+-ATPase blocker, on contractions induced by manganese ions (Mn2+) in Ca2+-free, isotonic solutions with varying concentrations of K+ in the external medium were investigated in order to evaluate the underlying role of external Na+ in Mn2+-induced contractions in isolated taenia coli of the guinea-pig. Mn2+ at 5 mM induced greater contractions as external isotonic K+ concentrations progressively increased from 10 to 100 mM. Ouabain (2 x 10(-4) M) completely inhibited tension development stimulated by 5 mM Mn2+ in isotonic, 30 mM K+ (96 mM Na+) medium. Whereas, the tension inhibitory effects of ouabain became progressively weaker as isotonic, external K+ concentrations increased to 60 mM, which successively decreased external Na+ concentrations. Eventually, ouabain failed to affect contractions stimulated by Mn2+ in isotonic, 126 mM K+, Na+-deficient medium. Ouabain caused progressively greater increase in cellular Na+ concentrations as the Na+ concentrations increased in the isotonic, K+ medium. While, pyruvate, which penetrates cell independently of external Na+, reversed the inhibition of tension by ouabain in isotonic, 30 mM K+, Na+-sufficient (96 mM) medium containing 5 mM Mn2+. These results suggested that Mn2+ induced the contraction, which was maintained by glucose transport depending on external Na+, in the case of Na+-sufficient medium in K+-depolarized taenia coli. However, it induced the contraction independent of external Na+, in the case of Na+-deficient, K+ medium. Ouabain might exhibit greater inhibition of the contraction induced by Mn2+ as the decrease in the Na+ gradient across the cell membranes continues.