Evaluation of tocolytic efficacy of selective beta2 adrenoceptor agonists on buffalo uterus.

Present study was conducted on prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), oxytocin, (OT), potassium chloride (KCI) and barium chloride (BaCl2) pre-contracted perimetrial uterine strips of dioestrus and pregnant buffaloes to evaluate the tocolytic efficacy of selective beta2 adrenoceptor agonists-albuterol (salbutamol) and terbutaline. Cumulative concentration-response curves of both the beta2 adrenoceptor agonists were constructed and the mean effective concentration (EC50) values determined and compared statistically. Based on the comparative EC50 values in relaxing the pre-contracted uterine strips with different spasmogens, the rank order potency of albuterol was found to be--PGF2alpha > BaCl2 > OT > KCl on uterine strips from dioestrus animals, while OT> BaCl2> PGF2alpha >KCl on the uterine strips of pregnant buffaloes. The rank order potency of terbutaline on uterine strips from dioestrus stage animals was- BaCl2 > OT > KCl > PGF2alpha, while BaCl2 > PGF2alpha > KCl > OT on uterine tissues of pregnant animals. Thus, irrespective of the state of uterus, whether gravid or non-gravid, KCl-depolarized uterine tissues required comparatively higher concentrations of albuterol or terbutaline to produce tocolytic effect. High concentrations of K+ in biophase may have interfered with the beta2 adrenoceptor agonists-induced outward K+ current and hyperpolarization. From the results of present study, it was evident that selective beta2 adrenergic agonists had good tocolytic efficacy on the uterus of buffaloes. Further, indirectly the possibility of existence and activation of K(Ca) channels by selective beta2 adrenoceptor agonists in mediating tocolysis of buffalo myometrium can not be ruled out, however, detailed studies using specific K(Ca) channel blockers are required for characterizing the nature of such channels in buffalo uterus.

Conformational structure of some beta 1-blockers, their partitioning in lipid and the role of parasubstituents.

The conformational structure of beta1-blockers metoprolol, atenolol and practolol has been investigated by PCILO method. The aminoalkanol moiety adopts the same conformation in all these compounds. These beta-antagonists differ only in the conformation adopted by the substituent para to the aminoalkanol moiety. The graphical representation of the B1-antagonists for the final conformation reveals that only in the S-form, three interacting sites, namely, aromatic moiety, the beta-hydroxyl group and the -NH2(+) groups of aminoalkanol moiety are available for interactions with the receptor. The interaction of the aryloxy oxygen of the beta-antagonists with water molecule has also been taken into account. A linear relationship was obtained between log K (the partitioning of the beta-blocker in DMPC and also in octanol/water) and the potencies of these beta1-antagonists. Possibly, the role of para substituent is to act as an anchor by partitioning in the lipid bilayer so that the beta1-antagonist adopts the proper orientation for binding to the receptor.