Effects of human ANF-(99-126) on sympathetic nerve function, hemodynamic parameters and plasma cGMP levels in anesthetized, ganglion-blocked dogs.

The ability of human ANF-(99-126) (ANF) to affect neuronal function, plasma cGMP levels or various hemodynamic parameters was tested in anesthetized dogs subjected to ganglionic blockade which prevented reflex changes in sympathetic tone. In each group of dogs, heart rate changes due to electrical stimulation of the cardioaccelerator nerve at 0.5, 1, 3 and 10 Hz were measured before and after ANF or vehicle infusion. A possible direct effect of ANF on the beta-adrenoceptor mechanisms was assessed by evaluating changes in heart rate after i.v. administration of isoproterenol (a beta-adrenoceptor agonist). The results showed that i.v. infusion of ANF (200 pmol/kg per min for 60 min), but not vehicle, produced significant inhibition of heart rate responses to low frequency nerve stimulation (0.5-1 Hz) when compared to vehicle 30 min after the end of infusion; high frequency (10 Hz) responses remained unaffected. A significant (P less than 0.05) enhancement in isoproterenol responses was evident in ANF-treated animals at the end of infusion, and 30 min afterward. ANF increased plasma cGMP from pretreatment levels of 28 +/- 4 to 149 +/- 1 pmol/ml at the end of infusion, and falling to 63 +/- 7 pmol/ml 30 min later (t 1/2 = 25.1 +/- 2.2 min). Cardiac output also tended to fall during infusion and remained significantly reduced (-18%) 30 min after infusion's end; blood pressure fell without a decrease in total peripheral resistance. Thus, ANF produced a direct, frequency-dependent depressant action on sympathetic nerve function, reduced both cardiac output and blood pressure, and enhanced chronotropic responses to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. These persistent changes in hemodynamic parameters and neuronal function may contribute to the mechanism of action of ANF.

Substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroaminonaphthols: antihypertensive agents, calcium channel blockers, and adrenergic receptor blockers with catecholamine-depleting effects.

Substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroaminonaphthols were found to be calcium channel blockers with antihypertensive properties. These compounds also possessed adrenergic beta-receptor blocking activity. From the structure-activity studies, no clear correlation emerged between the in vitro calcium channel blocking activity and the acute anti-hypertensive activity in cannulated spontaneously hypertensive rats. Extensive pharmacological testing of selected compounds indicated that aminonaphthols are antihypertensive agents with many pharmacological properties. The relative contribution of various pharmacological actions toward the observed antihypertensive activity is unclear. Since the clinically useful calcium channel blocker verapamil is structurally related to these compounds, one of the aminonaphthols, trans-3-[(3,3-diphenylpropyl)amino]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6,7 -dimethoxy-2-naphthalenol (12), was compared with verapamil for calcium channel blocking activity, adrenergic blocking activity, and catecholamine-depleting activity. Both compounds were found to be equipotent in these test systems.

Synthesis and biological activity of novel calcium channel blockers: 2,5-dihydro-4-methyl-2-phenyl-1,5-benzothiazepine-3-carboxylic acid esters and 2,5-dihydro-4-methyl-2-phenyl-1,5-benzodiazepine-3-carboxylic acid esters.

2,5-Dihydro-4-methyl-2-phenyl-1,5-benzothiazepine-3-carboxylic acid esters, based on the structures of dihydropyridines and diltiazem, were synthesized from o-aminothiophenol and 2-(phenylmethylene)- 3-oxobutanoic acid esters. Biological evaluation in the potassium-depolarized rabbit aorta suggests that these compounds are calcium channel blockers. The in vitro activity was further confirmed by electrophysiological techniques. Structure-activity studies for the aromatic substitution showed that the 2-nitro derivative was the most potent (IC50 = 0.3 microM) compound in vitro while the ethyl ester was slightly better than the corresponding methyl ester. Replacement of sulfur with nitrogen atom provided 2,5-dihydro-4-methyl-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,5-benzodiazepine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester, which was only slightly less active than the corresponding benzothiazepine. Derivatization of the nitrogen in 2,5-dihydro-4-methyl- 2-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,5-benzothiazepine-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester with a (dimethylamino)ethyl group (present in diltiazem) provided 2,5-dihydro-5-[(dimethylamino)ethyl]- 4-methyl-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,5-benzo-thiazepine-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester, which was found to be equipotent to diltiazem in vitro. Radioligand binding studies using [3H]nitrendipine and [3H]diltiazem showed that the compound with the free nitrogen binds competitively into the dihydropyridine binding site while the molecule in which the nitrogen is alkylated with a (dimethylamino)ethyl group interacts competitively with both diltiazem and dihydropyridine binding sites. Our results therefore show that 2,5-dihydro-4-methyl-2-phenyl-1,5-benzothiazepine-3-carboxylic ester is a good starting point for designing dihydropyridine as well as diltiazem mimics.

Direct effects of diltiazem, nifedipine and verapamil on peripheral sympathetic nerve function, cardiac impulse conduction and cardiovascular function in anesthetized dogs subjected to ganglionic blockade.

The Ca2+ entry blockers diltiazem, nifedipine and verapamil produced dose-dependent increases in atrioventricular conduction time (A-H interval), while decreasing heart rate and mean arterial pressure in anesthetized dogs previously subjected to ganglionic blockade to prevent hypotension-induced reflex changes in sympathetic tone. Nifedipine and verapamil, but not diltiazem, also reduced (P less than 0.05) the tachycardia produced by electrical stimulation of the cardioaccelerator nerve at doses which did not alter the heart rate response to direct beta-adrenoceptor stimulation by isoproterenol (0.1 microgram/kg i.v.). The lowest doses of nifedipine (0.03 mg/kg) and verapamil (0.3 mg/kg) that produced decreases in mean arterial blood pressure were the same as or greater than those which selectivity reduced the tachycardiac effects of low frequency (1 Hz, 25-35 V, 5 ms), but not high frequency (10 Hz, 25-35 V, 5 ms) cardiac nerve stimulation. These data suggest that threshold vasodilator doses of some Ca2+ blockers may selectively reduce low level (or basal) sympathetic neurotransmission and this additional pharmacologic action may contribute to the antihypertensive mechanism. The failure to inhibit the high frequency nerve response may also help to explain the relatively low incidence of orthostatic hypotension associated with the clinical use of Ca2+ blockers as compared to other direct-acting vasodilators.

Effects of atriopeptins I, II and III on atrial contractility, sinus nodal rate (guinea pig) and agonist-induced tension in rabbit aortic strips.

The cardiovascular effects of atriopeptins (AP) I, II and III were compared in spontaneously beating or electrically stimulated guinea pig atria and in rabbit aortic strips precontracted by various agonists. Atriopeptins did not significantly affect sinus nodal rate or atrial contractility. AP II and III, although more potent than nitroprusside, exhibited similar vasorelaxant profiles against vascular strips maximally stimulated by norepinephrine, high [K+]0 or Ca2+ ionophore A23187. The ability of atriopeptins and nitroprusside to relax ionophore-induced vascular tension implies an intracellular mechanism of action.

Acute coronary artery occlusion-reperfusion arrhythmias in pigs: antiarrhythmic and antifibrillatory evaluation of verapamil, nifedipine, prenylamine and propranolol.

The antiarrhythmic activity of the calcium entry blockers, verapamil, nifedipine and prenylamine, was assessed against arrhythmias occurring during 20 min of acute occlusion, or upon rapid reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in anesthetized pigs. Propranolol, which may indirectly reduce calcium entry by blocking the facilitory action of catecholamines on slow channel conductance, was also evaluated for antiarrhythmic activity in this acute arrhythmia model. Only verapamil (0.2 mg/kg i.v.) reduced both the number of arrhythmias occurring during LAD occlusion and the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurring after occlusion and reperfusion. Although both nifedipine (0.04-0.2 mg/kg i.v.) and propranolol (1-2 mg/kg i.v.) produced a slight but significant (P less than 0.05) dose-dependent decrease in the incidence of VF during the occlusion period only, this protection was accompanied by a significant increase in ectopic activity. The increase in ectopic activity produced by propranolol (1.0 mg/kg i.v.) persisted even in combination with verapamil (0.2 mg/kg i.v.) which given alone decreased the ectopic frequency. Prenylamine up to 5 mg/kg was without significant antiarrhythmic or antifibrillatory activity. However, unlike verapamil and nifedipine, this drug produced only slight changes in heart rate or blood pressure which suggested the presence of only minimal calcium entry blocking action on myocardial and vascular tissue at the doses we employed. Because the relative antifibrillatory efficacies of verapamil and nifedipine paralleled the relative efficacies reported for depression of atrioventricular conduction, this may implicate the slow inward current channel in the etiology of VF occurring during acute myocardial ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antiarrhythmic evaluation of naloxone against acute coronary occlusion-induced arrhythmias in pigs.

Naloxone pretreatment (1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg i.v.) failed to protect anesthetized pigs from cardiac arrhythmias including ventricular fibrillation (VF) and death following acute occlusion (20 min) or reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. These findings suggest that opiate-like substances possibly released by the ischemic myocardium do not contribute significantly to the etiology of cardiac arrhythmias, or sudden death associated with the early stages of myocardial infarction in pigs. The effectiveness of naloxone in preventing acute ischemia-induced arrhythmias in rats may be due to mechanisms other than opiate-receptor blockade.

Antiarrhythmic, hemodynamic and cardiac electrophysiological evaluation of N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N'-[3-(1-methylethylamino)propyl]urea (Wy-42,362).

The antiarrhythmic, hemodynamic and cardiac electrophysiological effects of (Wy-42,362, in the following briefly called Wy) N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N'-[3-(1-methylethylamino)propyl]urea were examined in several experimental preparations. Wy is an effective antiarrhythmic agent when administered i.v. or p.o. in various models of canine cardiac arrhythmia. Wy elevated ventricular fibrillatory threshold voltage and reverted ouabain-induced, 24- and 48-h post coronary artery ligation-induced Ventricular arrhythmias,, and aconitine-induced atrial arrhythmias at i.v. doses of 4-15 mg/kg. Wy lacked anticholinergic or CNS-stimulant activity. In closed-chest anesthetized dogs, Wy at 15 or 25 mg/kg i.v. decreased cardiac output (CO). Unlike disopyramide, i.v. Wy did not produce greater reductions in CO in anesthetized dogs subjected to previous infarction (72-96 h) as compared to normal intact dogs. Wy at 10 or 15 mg/kg i.v. produced slight to moderate decreases in contractile force and showed a tendency to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Wy produced a generalized depression of cardiac impulse conduction in open-chest, pentobarbital anesthetized dogs but conscious dogs exhibited relatively little ECG evidence of such depression following double the therapeutic i.v. dose. In isolated canine cardiac Purkinje fibers bathed in normal K+-containing physiological solutions. Wy (1-2 X 10(-5) mol/l) produced significant reductions in action potential duration while 2 X 10(-5) mol/l also reduced Vmax and shifted membrane responsiveness curves to the right suggesting depressant action on fast Na+ channel conductance. The data indicate that Wy is an effective antiarrhythmic agent presumably with a class I mechanism of action.

Acute coronary artery occlusion-reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in rats, dogs and pigs: antiarrhythmic evaluation of quinidine, procainamide and lidocaine.

Arrhythmias which occur following either abrupt occlusion (CO) of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), or rapid reperfusion (CR) of the same, were studied in rats, dogs and pigs. We found that all rats or pigs exhibited ventricular fibrillation (VF) during CO or after CR in contrast to dogs where more than 30% survived both procedures. In rats, the distribution in the onset of non-lethal arrhythmia or VF appeared to be uniform over the CO period, while in pigs and dogs the onset times clustered into two distinct groups. Also unlike dogs and pigs, the rat frequently (75%) underwent spontaneous defibrillation. Quinidine pretreatment (10 mg/kg i.v.) proved effective in protecting all three species from VF while procainamide (20 mg/kg i.v.) was effective only in rats and dogs. Lidocaine pretreatment (10 mg/kg i.v.) was effective in preventing VF in rats, but increased the incidence of CR-induced VF in dogs and significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced the mean time to VF during CO in pigs. However, lidocaine given immediately after CO in pigs did not reduce the time to VF suggesting that lidocaine given post-infarction would not increase the risk of VF, although the drug appears to be of no therapeutic benefit during the early occlusion period. Similarities in the action of lidocaine in pigs and dogs further suggest that the mechanisms of CR-induced VF in dogs and CO-induced VF in pigs may be similar. These data also support a pivitol role of extracellular K+ accumulation of the production of early post-infarction arrhythmias. Thus, the arrhythmogenic as well as antiarrhythmic properties of the various drugs studied here may relate their known effects on potassium permeability in cell membranes.

Comparative antihypertensive effects of propranolol and metoprolol in DOC-treated rats.

The effects of chronic twice daily s.c. injections of dlpropranolol, metoprolol and d-propranolol on systolic blood pressure and heart rate were assessed in conscious DOC-saline hypertensive rats. Measurements were taken (tail-cuff) 4 hr after the morning injection and 16-18 hr after the afternoon injection during 11 of 19 consecutive treatment days. Only dl-propranolol and metoprolol at 5 mg/kg lowered blood pressure and heart rate significantly relative to the changes occurring in control saline-injected animals. At the lower dose of 0.2 mg/kg, both agents tended to decrease heart rate while having little or no effect on blood pressure. The overall blood pressure and heart rate changes produced by propranolol at 5 mg/kg differed significantly from those of the control group at both the 4 and 16-18 hr post-dosing intervals. Metoprolol at 5 mg/kg produced significant overall changes in blood pressure and heart rate only at the 4 hr post-doing interval. D-propranolol had no effect on either blood pressure or heart rate. The results indicate tha s.c. propranolol and metoprolol lower systolic blood pressure in conscious DOC-saline hypertensive rats only at the higher dose of 5 mg/kg and that cardioselectivity does not afford increased antihypertensive activity in this model.

Oximes: 'enzymatic' slow channel antagonists in canine cardiac purkinje fibers?

In mammalian cardiac muscle voltage-dependent activation of slow channels, e.g., the slow inward current channel, may be possible only when the channels are phosphorylated. We examined the electrophysiological actions of oximes, mile nucleophilic agents which show 'phosphatase-like' activity in isolated enzyme systems, to assess their actions on slow channels in cardiac Purkinje fibers. Diacetyl monoxime (DAM) and pyridine-2-aldoxime (NorPAM) produced a marked, reversible and concentration-dependent reduction in the action potential (AP) plateau duration and abolished spontaneous phase 4 depolarization, but produced only minimal effects on resting potential, dV/dt max, action potential amplitude, duration of phase 3, or membrane resistance. Slow response action potentials evoked in the presence of elevated potassium plus isoproterenol or in Na-free solution were abolished by DAM. The effects of DAM on the AP plateau were antagonized by epinephrine, but an increase in Ca was relatively ineffective. The results suggest that oximes may act as surrogate phosphatases to remove phosphate groups which regulate the availability of slow current channels for voltage-dependent activation.

Antiarrhythmic evaluation of verapamil, nifedipine, perhexiline and skf 525-A in four canine models of cardiac arrhythmias.

Verapamil, nifedipine, perhexiline and SKF 525-A (2-diethylaminoethyl-2,2-diphenylvalerate . HCL) were evaluated for cardiac antiarrhythmic activity by assessing their effectiveness in increasing left ventricular fibrillation threshold (FT) and antagonizing ouabain-induced arrhythmias (OA), 24 h post infarction arrhythmias (CLA) and aconitine-induced atrial arrhythmias. Calcium antagonistic doses (ID50) of each agent were approximated by intravenous titration of the amount of drug required to reduce the left ventricular contractile force by 50% in dogs pretreated with hexamethonium (10 mg/kg) to block autonomic reflexes. ID50 doses of calcium antagonists were found not to be universally effective in any single arrhythmia model while causing significant changes in heart rate, blood pressure and frequently producing death or convulsion. It is suggested that local anesthetic or 'class 1' action probably accounts for the antiarrhythmic effectiveness of SKF 525-A (7-20 mg/kg i.v.) in all four arrhythmia models and for perhexiline-induced increased FT and antagonism of CLA (15-20 mg/kg). Antiarrhythmic effectiveness of verapamil against OA may be due to calcium antagonism action.