Dose-dependent alteration of rat cardiac sodium current by isoproterenol: Results from direct measurements on multicellular preparations

Conflicting results have been reported in literature about the influence of-adrenergic stimulation on the fast cardiac sodium current (I _Na ⁺). To elucidate these mechanisms in multicellular preparations we used the loose-patch-clamp technique to evaluate the effect of the-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol 1–1000 nmol/l. Isoproterenol enhancedI _Na+ at all membrane potentials by elevation of the maximal availableI _Na ⁺. Only at the high concentration of 1 mol/l wasI _Na ⁺ slightly depressed after depolarizing conditioning clamps. The most marked increase of the maximal availableI _Na ⁺ was 30 ± 9 % after application of 100 nmol/l isoproterenol. To learn about the mechanisms in view of sodium channel modulation we combined isoproterenol with the sodium channel blocker lidocaine (47 mol/l). Under these circumstances the effects of both drugs were completely independent. This investigation shows clearly that low concentrations of isoproterenol increaseI _Na+ in multicellular preparations by a gating-independent mechanism.     

The influence of external sodium and potassium on lithium uptake by primary brain cell cultures at ‘therapeutic’ lithium concentration

The ionic regulating of lithium homeostasis and steady-state intra: extracellular lithium distribution in the brain can be approached by experimental methods using intact nerve cells in vitro. Primary cultures prepared from chick embryonic brain were applied to study the effect of extracellular sodium and potassium on the lithium uptake of nerve cells at therapeutic lithium concentration (1.5 mM). Lithium influx and the level of steady-state intracellular lithium were significantly reduced by increasing the external sodium concentration. At physiological extracellular sodium level, the steady-state content of lithium in the brain cells was about half of that observed in the presence of 10 mM sodium in the incubation media and the value of the intra: extracellular lithium distribution ratio was below 1. External potassium (0.5–3 mM) strongly inhibited lithium uptake of the nerve cells. Ouabain (10^-4 M) had no effect on this potassiumsensitive lithium uptake in Tyrode media. Sodium influx studied by isotope tracer methodology was higher in cultures preloaded with lithium as compared to that of the controls. It can be concluded that sodium and potassium ions, at physiological concentrations, significantly influence lithium uptake as well as the intra: extracellular lithium distribution in brain cell cultures.     

Comparison of the urinary excretion of arsenic metabolites after a single oral dose of sodium arsenite,monomethylarsonate, or dimethylarsinate in man

Summary The urinary elimination of the metabolites of arsenic has been followed up as a function of time in volunteers who ingested a single oral dose of arsenic (500 g As) either as sodium arsenite (As_i), monomethylarsonate (MMA), or cacodylate (DMA). The excretion rate increased in the order As_i < DMA < MMA. After 4 days, the amount of arsenic excreted in urine represents 46, 78, and 75% of the ingested dose in the case of As_i, MMA and DMA, respectively. With regard to the in vivo biotransformations, it is concluded that DMA is excreted unchanged; MMA is slightly (13%) methylated into DMA while roughly 75% of the arsenic excreted after ingestion of As_i is methylated arsenic (about 1/3 as MMA and about 2/3 as DMA).This study was supported by a grant from the Commission of the European Communities     

Aprindine blocks the sodium current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes

Summary Aprindine is a class Ib antiarrhythmic agent. We studied effects of aprindine (3 µmol/l) on the Na⁺ current using whole cell voltage clamp (tip resistance = 0.5 , [Na]_i and_o = 10 mmol/l at 18°C). Aprindine revealed tonic block (Kd_rest = 37.7 µmol/l, Kd_i = 0.74 µmol/l; n = 4). Aprindine, shifted inactivation curve to hyperpolarizing direction by 11.4 ± 3.5 mV (n = 4) without changes in slope factor. In the presence of 3 µmol/l aprindine, aprindine showed phasic block, i.e., duration-dependent block at 2 Hz (64% ±3070 at 1.5 ms, 82%±6% at 20 ms, 93%±7% at 200 ms; n = 4). Short single prepulse also produced aprindine-induced phasic block (12% at 1.5 ms, 22% at 100 ms; n = 2). After removal of fast inactivation of Na⁺ current by 3 mmol/l tosylchloramide sodium, aprindine revealed phasic block, independent of holding potential. The recovery time constant from aprindine-induced phasic block was 4.8 s at holding potential = –100 mV and 5.0 s at holding potential = –140 mV. This use-dependent block of aprindine had pH dependency. Under acidic condition (pH 6.0), 3 µmol/l aprindine showed smaller use-dependent block (14% ± 7% at 2 Hz; n = 4) comparing with either at pH 7,4 (68% ± 13%; n = 4) or at pH 8.0 (90% ±12%; n = 4).The results suggest that aprindine could bind to the receptor via activation process through channel pore, resulting in decrease of Na⁺ current, and egress from the receptor through the lipid bilayer. These effects might be attenuated under acidic condition due to changes in intracellular ratio of charged to neutralized form of drug molecule. Send offprint requests to: R. Sato at the above address     

Effects of sodium and temperature on tension in isolated canine coronary artery

The effects of sodium and temperature on tension of isolated canine coronary arterial strips were studied.In 20mEq·l ^–1 K solution, the strength of tension was inversely related to the Na concentration. At 37°C, the tension was significantly increased at 70mEq·l ^–1 Na and below. The tension was gradually suppressed by lowering of the temperature from 37°C to 10°C. At 10°C, tension did not developed significantly at Na concentrations between 127mEq·l ^–1 and 12mEq·l ^–1.It was concluded that the decrease in Na concentrations increased the tension of the canine coronary artery and the lowering of temperature supressed the tension inducted by the decrease in Na concentrations.(Yoshida K, Fujii Y, Ina H, et al.: Effects of sodium and temperature on tension in isolated canine coronary artery. J Anesth 5: 56–59, 1991)     

Comparative cardiovascular effects of SNP,ATP and phentolamine during norepinephrine-induced hypertension in dogs

There has been no study comparing the advantage and disadvantage of various antihypertensive agents during surgery for pheochromocytomas because the study is difficult in clinical setting. In the present experiments using dogs, after increasing the arterial blood pressure with norepinephrine, we decreased it to the baseline with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), or phentolamine (PE) and compared the hemodynamic changes. A hyperdynamic state was found with ATP and with PE, but not with SNP. The norepinephrine-induced pulmonary hypertension could be successfully treated with SNP, but not with ATP or PE. The reason for these differences are thought to be the different vasodilative properties on peripheral arteries and veins. We conclude that agents that dilates the arteries and veins should be used to regulate the arterial pressure during surgical removal of a pheochromocytoma.(Murata K, Takahashi H, Ikeda K: Comparative cardiovascular effects of SNP, ATP and phentolamine during norepinephrine-induced hypertension in dogs. J Anesth 5: 396–403, 1991)     

Calcium-Induced Natriuresis: Physiologic and Clinical Implications

Assessment of the tubular reabsorption of calcium (Ca) by infusion is complicated by suppression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion, and by activation of the serpentine Ca sensing receptor in the renal tubule, which inhibits Ca and sodium reabsorption, but little is known about the magnitude of the natriuretic effect of Ca in human subjects. Accordingly, we reanalyzed the relationship between serum Ca and urine Ca and sodium excretion expressed per unit of creatinine clearance (CaE and NaE), and per unit of time (UCa and UNa), during a standard Ca infusion, in 14 healthy volunteers and in 8 primary hyperparathyroid patients. In healthy subjects we observed a large effect of Ca infusion on NaE, which rose as high as 8 mmol/liter GFR. In patients with primary hyperparathyroidism both CaE and NaE during Ca infusion were significantly lower overall than in healthy subjects for comparable values of serum Ca (P < 0.05 by covariance analysis), due mainly to a decline or reversal of the slopes at the highest serum Ca levels. In both controls and primary hyperparathyroid subjects the variance of CaE as dependent variable was explained by both serum Ca and by NaE as independent variables (P < 0.001). We conclude that (1) The natriuretic effect of hypercalcemia was unexpected large and if maintained would lead to substantial depletion of extracellular fluid. (2) Patients with chronic hypercalcemia, including primary hyperparathyroidism, probably have mild sodium depletion, and are more susceptible to volume depletion. (3) Calcium reabsorption during Ca infusion is reduced by suppression of PTH secretion and increased by volume contraction due to sodium depletion. Discrimination between different basal levels of parathyroid function is successful because these effects usually cancel out. (4) The increase in tubular reabsorption of Ca due to volume contraction can initiate a vicious circle, of importance to the pathogenesis and treatment of severe hypercalcemia. Received: 11 May 1999 / Accepted: 13 January 2000     

七叶皂苷钠治疗喘息患者的研究

目的　评价七叶皂苷钠注射液治疗慢性喘息型支气管炎和支气管哮喘的有效性与安全性。方法　将 84例慢性喘息型支气管炎和支气管哮喘患者随机分为 2组 :观察组用七叶皂苷钠 2 0mg加入生理盐水 4 0mL中缓慢静脉注射 ,每日 2次 ;对照组用甲基强的松龙 4 0mg加入生理盐水 4 0mL中静脉注射 ,每日 1次。 2组疗程均为 5d。结果　 2组肺功能改善情况、临床疗效和综合疗效均无显著性差异 (P均 >0 .0 5 ) ,观察组和对照组不良反应发生率分别为12 %和 2 1% ,经相应对症处理后不影响治疗。结论　七叶皂苷钠治疗喘息患者安全、有效。     

丁酸钠诱导卵巢癌3AO细胞凋亡的研究

 目的　探讨丁酸钠 (NaB)诱导卵巢癌细胞株 3AO凋亡的机制。方法　以不同浓度的NaB对体外培养的 3AO细胞进行作用 ,通过光镜和DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳观察凋亡发生与药物剂量和作用时间的关系 ,进而选取 4mmol/LNaB作用 72h的 3AO细胞为实验组 ,应用流式细胞技术分析Fas/FasL、bcl 2 /Bax表达和线粒体跨膜电位的变化 ,透射电镜观察内质网形态的变化。结果　 4mmol/LNaB作用72h ,光镜下可见 3AO细胞出现凋亡改变 ,DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳中出现典型的DNAladder,线粒体跨膜电位降低 ,内质网肿胀 ,bcl 2表达降低 ,Bax表达升高 ,而Fas/FasL无明显改变。结论　NaB可能通过线粒体通路和内质网通路诱导 3AO细胞凋亡 ,bcl 2 /Bax起着重要的调控作用。     

七叶皂苷钠治疗椎间盘突出症的临床疗效

目的:对七叶皂苷钠与甘露醇 地塞米松用于椎间盘突出症的治疗进行临床疗效分析比较.方法:通过回顾性病案分析,对两组资料进行对比统计.结果:两组的临床资料差异无显著性(P＞0.05),但七叶皂苷钠组的治疗效果优于甘露醇 地塞米松组,有统计学差别(P＜0.05).结论:两组药物均为临床有效治疗药物.七叶皂苷钠比甘露醇 地塞米松在治疗效果方面有一定的优势.