Role of cyclic AMP- and cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterases in the control of cyclic nucleotide levels and smooth muscle tone in rat isolated aorta. A study with selective inhibitors.

Three isoforms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) have been recently isolated from aortic tissue and two of them specifically hydrolyzed adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), respectively (Lugnier et al., Biochem. Pharmac. 35, 1743, 1986). The role of these forms in controlling cyclic nucleotide levels and smooth muscle tone was investigated by the use of PDE inhibitors. The effects of selective inhibitors of the two forms specifically hydrolyzing cAMP or cGMP (cAMP-PDE and cGMP-PDE, respectively) were compared to those of non-selective inhibitors of the three aortic PDE forms, including the calmodulin-sensitive one (CaM-PDE). Relaxation responses and accumulation of tissue cAMP and cGMP induced by these drugs were studied in precontracted rat isolated aorta, and compared to the effects of isoprenaline and forskolin (stimulants of adenylate cyclase) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and sodium azide (stimulants of guanylate cyclase). The eight PDE inhibitors tested all relaxed aorta with potencies that correlated with their potencies as inhibitors of cAMP-PDE, but not of cGMP-PDE. At a concentration producing half-maximal relaxation, all PDE inhibitors induced a moderate but significant accumulation of cAMP, which was comparable to the accumulation of cAMP elicited by half-maximally relaxing concentrations of adenylate cyclase stimulating agents. At this concentration, some PDE inhibitors (M&B 22,948, dipyridamole and to a lesser extent, trequinsin) also induced a significant increase in cGMP levels, of the same order of magnitude as that caused by agents stimulating guanylate cyclase. However, the cGMP-increasing effect of these inhibitors was dissociated from their relaxing effect. In particular, the relaxing concentrations of M&B 22,948 (a selective inhibitor of cGMP-PDE) were clearly higher than the cGMP-increasing concentrations of the compound. At a concentration at which they elicited 10% relaxation by themselves, the selective cAMP-PDE inhibitor, rolipram, as well as the mixed inhibitor of cAMP- and cGMP-PDE, AAL 05 (a cilostamide analogue) enhanced both the cAMP-increasing and the relaxing effect of isoprenaline. Under the same conditions, no clear enhancement of the relaxation induced by SNP was observed. Only M&B 22,948 showed a slight potentiating effect on SNP-induced relaxation, but this effect was limited to low concentrations of SNP (less than 10 nM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effect of papaverine on cyclic nucleotide levels in the isolated rat aorta.

An increase in cAMP but no significant modification in cGMP content could be demonstrated in rat aorta strips after applying papaverine in concentrations which reduced contractile responses. Accumulation of cAMP was induced in noradrenaline-stimulated on K+-depolarized strips, under omission of external Ca2+. Thus the elevation of cAMP level preceded the reduction of contraction subsequently elicited by readdition of Ca2+. The effects could not be dissociated under the experimental conditions used here.

Papaverine, cyclic AMP and the dependence of the rat aorta on extracellular calcium.

The spasmolytic effects of papaverine and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db-cAMP) were compared on isometric contractile responses induced by addition of increasing amounts of external calcium to K+-depolarized or noradrenaline-stimulated rat aorta strips. Papaverine at a concentration active on depolarized strips (3 times 10(-5) moles/1) reduced the maximal contraction (Emax) elicited by Ca2+ in these preparations, while db-cAMP did not. Contrary to what was observed on depolarized aortae, the degree of inhibition of noradrenaline-stimulated strips did not decrease with increasing extracellular calcium concentration (Ca)e. Both db-cAMP and papaverine at a concentration which did not depress Emax (5 times 10(-6) moles/1) potentiated the relaxing effect of high (Ca)e on contractions elicited by noradrenaline. In conclusion, cyclic AMP is probably implicated in the mode of action of papaverine on the noradrenaline-stimulated rat aorta. At a concentration active on depolarized strips, papaverine is also able to impair contractility directly.