Bronchial vs. cardiovascular activities of selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the anesthetized beta-blocked dog.

This study was undertaken to determine whether isozyme-specific inhibitors of cAMP-selective phosphodiesterases (PDEs) induce bronchodilation without the cardiovascular side effects known to be produced by nonselective PDE inhibitors. The abilities of PDE inhibitors to reverse the bronchoconstriction induced by serotonin in a beta-blocked anesthetized dog were compared simultaneously with their effects on cardiac contractile force (+dP/dt), heart rate and blood pressure. Aminophylline and enprofylline, two antiasthma drugs with nonselective PDE inhibitory activity, produced dose-dependent (ED50S = 2.3 and 0.58 mg/kg, respectively) and complete (95-100%) bronchodilation accompanied by profound increases in cardiac force, tachycardia and decreases in blood pressure. Similar effects were observed with forskolin, a potent adenylate cyclase activator. Imazodan and CI-930 (inhibitors of the cGMP-inhibitable cAMP-selective PDE isozyme designated PDE-III) induced pulmonary and cardiovascular effects virtually identical to the nonselective PDE inhibitors, but with greater potency (ED50S = 0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg). In contrast, rolipram and Ro 20-1724 (inhibitors of a cGMP-insensitive cAMP-selective PDE isoform commonly designated PDE-IV) induced bronchodilation in the dog (ED50S = 0.007 and 0.63 mg/kg, respectively) without causing significant changes in cardiac force or heart rate, even after predosing dogs with forskolin. However, rolipram and Ro 20-1724 were less efficacious than the other inhibitors in that they induced only partial (50-60%) bronchodilation. The results suggest that canine respiratory muscle tension is regulated by both PDE-III and PDE-IV. Inhibitors of PDE-IV produce bronchodilation in the described model with minimal concomitant cardiac side effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structure-activity relationships of 1H-indole-7-carboxamides as a novel series of selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists.

The present isolated tissue study was designed to quantitate the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist activity of AY- 30,191 (5-(1-hydroxy-2-amino-ethyl)-1H-indole-7-carboxamide) and a series of related compounds. AY-30,191 induced contractions in the rabbit aorta, which were blocked by prazosin. In the rat vas deferens, while clonidine inhibited the electrically induced twitch response, AY-30,191 caused a prazosin-sensitive augmentation. In the dog saphenous vein, rauwolscine was less effective than the combination of rauwolscine and prazosin in inhibiting the contractions induced by AY-30,191. Pretreatment of the dog saphenous vein with phenoxybenzamine reduced the response to AY-30,191. The addition of rauwolscine to phenoxybenzamine-treated tissues had no effect on the contractions to AY-30,191 remaining after phenoxybenzamine treatment. These results suggest that AY-30,191 is a selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist. Optimal alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist activity in the 1H-indole-7-carboxamide series was seen in compounds in which a) the indole ring and the ethylamine side chain were intact; b) the indole nitrogen was unsubstituted; and c) the carboxamide was present at the 7-position in the indole ring. Removal of the carboxamide decreased alpha 1-adrenoceptor activity and, more importantly, resulted in a loss of alpha 1-adrenoceptor selectivity. Replacement of the carboxamide in the 7 position with methanesulfonamide resulted in a decrease in activity but a retention of alpha 1-adrenoceptor selectivity, whereas the dimethylamino analog was nonselective and the phosphoramidic acid diethylester analog was inactive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of the beta-adrenoceptor affinity and selectivity of cetamolol, atenolol, betaxolol, and ICI-118,551.

The objective of the present study was to compare the quantitative differences in the beta 1- vs. beta 2-adrenoceptor affinity and selectivity of cetamolol and its enantiomers to the reference compounds atenolol, betaxolol, and ICI-118,551, using isolated tissues obtained from the dog, guinea pig, and rat. Cetamolol antagonized the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated responses induced by isoproterenol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and salbutamol, in tissues from both the dog and guinea pig, in a concentration-dependent manner. For a given tissue, the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist activity of cetamolol (measured as a pA2 or pKB value) was independent of the agonist used. In the dog tissues, cetamolol was more potent at inhibiting responses in the coronary artery (beta 1-adrenoceptors) than in the saphenous vein (beta 2-adrenoceptors). In the guinea pig tissues, the potency of cetamolol was approximately the same in the trachea (mixed beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors) and atria (predominately beta 1-adrenoceptors), but lower in the soleus muscle (beta 2-adrenoceptors). Studies with the S-(-) and R-(+) enantiomers of cetamolol demonstrated that the S-(-) enantiomer was approximately 100-fold more potent at beta 1-adrenoceptors than the R-(+) enantiomer. In rat brain, cetamolol displaced [3H]-dihydroalprenolol bound to homogenates of cortex (beta 1-adrenoceptor binding sites) and cerebellum (beta 2-adrenoceptor binding sites). The potency of cetamolol at beta 1-adrenoceptors was found to be similar to that of betaxolol but greater than that of atenolol. However, the magnitude of the beta 1-adrenoceptor selectivity displayed by atenolol and betaxolol was greater than that displayed by cetamolol. In contrast, ICI-118,551 was found to possess potent and selective affinity for beta 2-adrenoceptors.

An in vitro bioassay for a mulluscan gonadotropin.

1. Protein synthesis occurs at a high rate in the ovaries of maturing Octopus vulgaris and can be measured from the incorporation of [14C]leucine in vivo and in isolated groups of eggs in vitro. 2. Removal of the optic glands in vivo 1--3 days prior to testing markedly reduces amino acid incorporation in vivo or in vitro. After 5 days in vivo incorporation stops. 3. The rate of incorporation in vitro is increased by the addition of optic gland extract. 4. Analysis of the kinetics of leucine uptake and incorporation in vitro indicates that the hormone has an effect on the inward transport of leucine which is independent of its action on protein synthesis. 5. Electron-microscope studies of the follicle cells and ova show that the former are the site of protein synthesis. 6. Changes in either uptake or incorporation into protein by the follicle cells can be used as a qualitative biolobical assay for the optic gland hormone. Uptake is very easy to measure but incorporation is the more sensitive parameter. Either is potentially suitable as a quantitative assay for this and perhaps also for other molluscan gonadotropins.