The Role of Calcium Ion in Effects of Arecoline Hydrobromide on Contractive Activities of the Smooth Muscles in Oncomelania Foot / 医药导报

ABSTRACT

To investigate the relationship between the effects of arecoline hydrobromide on contraction of the smooth muscles in oncomelania foot, and explore the mechanism of arecoline hydrobromide in decreasing climbing adhesion and increasing snail－killing. 　Method: The in vitro experiment was used to observe the effects of arecoline hydrobromide on contraction activitive of foot smooth muscles of oncomelania. 　Results: With a concentration of 3×10-6mol*L-1, arecoline hydrobromide strengthened the contraction and increased the frequency of the contraction of the foot smooth muscles of oncomelania, which was antagonized by verapamil. The same concentration of arecoline hydrobromide enhanced the contraction of smooth muscles in Ringer's solution with ECTA but Ca2+, and this effect was antagonized by caffeine. The concentrations of 10－5 and 3×10－5mol*L-1 of arecolin hydrobromide blocked the effect of Bay K8644 in enhancing foot smooth muscle contraction, with a characteristic of concentration－dependence. 　Conclusion:Arecoline hydrobromide may block the calcium channel of the smooth muscles in oncomelania foot. This could provide an explanation why arecoline hydrobromide decreases the rate of oncomelania climbing adhesion and enhances snail－killing.