A new class of inhibitors of cAMP-mediated Cl- secretion in rabbit colon, acting by the reduction of cAMP-activated K+ conductance.

Previously we have shown that arylaminobenzoates like 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (NPPB), which are very potent inhibitors of NaCl absorption in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle, are only poor inhibitors of the cAMP-mediated secretion of NaCl in rat colon. This has prompted our search for more potent inhibitors of NaCl secretion in the latter system. The chromanole compound 293 B inhibited the equivalent short-circuit current (Isc) induced by prostaglandin E2 (n = 7), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP, n = 5), adenosine (n = 3), cholera toxin (n = 4) and cAMP (n = 6), but not by ionomycin (n = 5) in distal rabbit colon half maximally (IC50) at 2 mumol/l from the mucosal and at 0.7 mumol/l from the serosal side. The inhibition was reversible and paralleled by a significant increase in transepithelial membrane resistance [e.g. in the VIP series from 116 +/- 16 omega.cm2 to 136 +/- 21 omega.cm2 (n = 5)]. A total of 25 derivatives of 293 B were examined and structure activity relations were obtained. It was shown that the racemate 293 B was the most potent compound within this group and that its effect was due to the enantiomer 434 B which acted half maximally at 0.25 mumol/l. Further studies in isolated in vitro perfused colonic crypts revealed that 10 mumol/l 293 B had no effect on the membrane voltage across the basolateral membrane (Vbl) in non-stimulated crypt cells: -69 +/- 3 mV versus -67 +/- 3 mV (n = 10), whilst in the same cells 1 mmol/l Ba2+ depolarised Vbl significantly. However, 293 B depolarised Vbl significantly in the presence of 1 mumol/l forskolin: -45 +/- 4 mV versus -39 +/- 5 mV (n = 7). Similar results were obtained with 0.1 mmol/l adenosine. 293 B depolarised Vbl from -40 +/- 5 mV to -30 +/- 4 mV (n = 19). This was paralleled by an increase in the fractional resistance of the basolateral membrane. VIP had a comparable effect. The hyperpolarisation induced by 0.1 mmol ATP was not influenced by 10 mumol/l 293 B: -75 +/- 6 mV versus -75 +/- 6 mV (n = 6). Also 293 B had no effect on basal K+ conductance (n = 4). Hence, we conclude that 293 B inhibits the K+ conductance induced by cAMP. This conductance is apparently relevant for Cl- secretion and the basal K+ conductance is insufficient to support secretion.

Effects of arylaminobenzoate-type chloride channel blockers on equivalent short-circuit current in rabbit colon.

Arylaminobenzoates were examined in rabbit colon mounted in an Ussing chamber. The open-circuit transepithelial voltage (Vte) and resistance (Rte) were measured and the equivalent short-circuit current (Isc = Vte/Rte) was calculated. After serosal (s) and mucosal (m) addition of indomethacin (1 mumol/l) Isc was -71 +/- 11 (n = 118) microA/cm2. Amiloride (0.1 mmol/l, m) inhibited this current and reversed the polarity to +32 +/- 4 (n = 118) microA/cm2. In the presence of amiloride and indomethacin, prostaglandin E2 (1 mumol/l, s), known to induce Cl- secretion, generated an Isc of -143 +/- 8 (n = 92) microA/cm2. The arylaminobenzoate and Cl- channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (NPPB) reduced Isc reversibly with a half-maximal inhibition (IC50) at approximately 0.35 mmol/l and 0.2 mmol/l for mucosal and serosal application respectively. To test whether the poor effect was caused by mucus covering the luminal surface, dose/response curves of the mucosal effect were repeated after several pretreatments. Acidic pH on the mucosal side reduced IC50 to approximately 0.1 mmol/l. A similar effect was observed after N-acetyl-L-cysteine (m) preincubation. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (m) and carbachol (s), in order to exhaust mucus secretion, and L-homocysteine (m) were more effective and reduced IC50 to approximately 50 mumol/l. To test whether this effect of NPPB was caused by non-specific effects, the two enantiomers of 5-nitro-2-(+/-1-phenylethylamino)-benzoate were tested of which only the (+) form inhibited the Cl- conductance in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (TAL).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)