Effects of nucleotides adenosine monophosphate and adenosine triphosphate in combination with L-arginine on male rabbit corpus cavernosum tissue.

Purines and more specifically adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) have a strong relaxant effect on smooth muscle cells of the dog, rabbit and human corpus cavernosum, to approximately the same degree as nitric oxide (NO). However, purines are considered as modulators of erectile function rather than key mediators. This suggests that the use of purines combined with NO donors could be effective to treat some specific erectile disorders. The relaxation induced by the combination of l-arginine (Arg), a natural substrate for NO synthase, was assessed with a purine-nucleotide (AMP, ATP) on a rabbit corpus cavernosum model, to determine if these substances could potentiate each other's effect. When a pre-contraction was induced by phenylephrine, AMP alone induced a 43% CC relaxation rate and ATP alone a 26% rate. The relaxation rate induced by Arg was lower in comparison (8% at 5.10(-4) m vs. 25% at AMP 5.10(-4) m and 15% at ATP 5.10(-4) m). NO synthase inhibitor n-nitro-l-arginine did not modify the relaxing effect provoked by AMP suggesting that the mechanism of action of this nucleotide does not involve the NO pathway. The combination of Arg at 5.10(-4) m with either AMP or ATP at different doses ranging from 5.10(-4) to 10(-3) m significantly enhanced the relaxing response reaching rates of 62 and 80% respectively, leading to a synergistic effect. The present data indicate that a 'NO donor' combined with an 'adenosine donor' could be an effective therapeutic approach.

Dexrazoxane protects the heart from acute doxorubicin-induced QT prolongation: a key role for I(Ks).

INTRODUCTION: Doxorubicin, an anthracycline widely used in the treatment of a broad range of tumours, causes acute QT prolongation. Dexrazoxane has been shown to prevent the QT prolongation induced by another anthracycline, epirubicin, but has not yet been reported to prevent that induced by doxorubicin. Thus, the present study was designed to test whether the acute QT effects induced by doxorubicin could be blocked by dexrazoxane and to explore the mechanism. Results were compared with those obtained with a reference human ether-a-go-go (hERG) channel blocker, moxifloxacin. METHODS: The effects of moxifloxacin (100 microM) and doxorubicin (30 microM), with or without dexrazoxane (from 3 to 30 microM), have been evaluated on the QTc interval in guinea-pig isolated hearts and on I(Kr) (rapid component of the delayed rectifier current) and I(Ks) (slow component of the delayed rectifier current) currents stably expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. RESULTS: Moxifloxacin (100 microM), a potent hERG blocker, prolonged QTc by 22%, and this effect was not prevented by dexrazoxane. Doxorubicin (30 microM) also prolonged QTc by 13%, did not significantly block hERG channels and specifically inhibited I(Ks) (IC(50): 4.78 microM). Dexrazoxane significantly reduced the doxorubicin-induced QTc prolongation and prevented doxorubicin-induced inhibition of I(Ks). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Doxorubicin acutely prolonged the QT interval in guinea-pig heart by selective I(Ks) blockade. This effect was prevented by dexrazoxane. This result is important because it illustrates the danger of neglecting I(Ks) in favour of hERG screening alone, for early preclinical testing for possible induction of torsade de pointes.

Impact of serotonin on tumour growth.

Several opposite effects of serotonin (5HT) on tumour growth have been reported. On one hand, 5HT is known as a growth factor for several types of nontumoural cells, and it has been proposed to take part in the autocrine loops of growth factors contributing to cell proliferation in aggressive tumours such as small cell lung carcinoma. Depending on the tumour type either 5HT2 or 5HT1 receptor antagonist have been found to inhibit the 5HT-induced increase in tumour growth. In contrast, several authors have also reported that 5HT and 5HT2 agonist can inhibit tumour growth. Most often this effect has been considered to be related with the specific vasoconstrictive effect of 5HT or 5HT2 agonists on the vessels irrigating the tumour, which has been evidenced by intravital microscopy. Intravital microscopy studies have also shown that vessels perfusing the tumour exhibit a specific vasconstrictive response to 5HT1 agonists. In addition, 5HT has been shown to be involved in the effects of several anticancer treatments associated with the reduction of tumour flow. Finally, the specific vasoconstrictive effect of 5HT or 5HT receptor subtype agonists might also be useful in inducing hypoxia in tumours, which could be exploited in a strategy using hypoxia-selective cytotoxins or hypoxia-selective gene therapy.

Role of endothelial factors in the specific response of mouse tumour-feeding arterioles to stimulation of 5-HT1 receptors.

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible role of endothelial mediators on the increased vasoconstriction to 5-HT1 receptor stimulation by the host-modified arterioles feeding a Meth-A tumour implanted in the flank of female Balb/c mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using intravital microscopy, the response to the topical administration of the general 5-HT1 agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine maleate (5-CT; 10(-6) M to 10(-4) M) by the tumour-feeding arterioles with the responses of tumour-independent arterioles and those of control arterioles from mice without tumour after antagonization or inhibition of the synthesis of endothelial mediators was compared. RESULTS: The dramatically higher vasoconstriction to 5-CT observed in tumour-feeding arterioles than in tumour-independent or control arterioles still persisted when either nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, or phospholipase A2 were inhibited or when thromboxane A2 or endothelin were antagonized. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the higher reactivity to 5-HT1 stimulation by tumour-feeding arterioles is not due to changes in endothelial mediator release but probably due to changes affecting arteriolar smooth muscle.

Characterization of the specific response to serotonin of mouse tumour-feeding arterioles.

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of tumour versus non-tumour factors in the specific response to serotonin (5-HT) of tumour-feeding arterioles (TFA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using mouse models of intra-vital microscopy, the response to topical administration of 5-HT was studied in arterioles feeding tumours: fibrosarcoma (Meth A), murine mammary adenocarcinoma (EMT6) and human colo-rectal carcinoma (HRT18) intra-cutaneously implanted. RESULTS: For all types of tumour, 5-HT induced a far more pronounced constriction of TFA than of control arterioles. The presence of a tumour implanted in the connective tissue between the skin and the cremaster muscle also affected the reactivity of muscle arterioles. Conversely, the response to serotonin by neovessels grown after implantation of an exogenous element under the skin did not differ from that of control arterioles. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in reactivity to serotonin were not dependent on the type of tumour implanted in the skin and were not present for a non-tumour implant. The presence of the tumour can alter the reactivity of vessels from tissue in contact with the tumour even if these vessels did not feed the tumour. This phenomenon is local and was not found in the vessels at a distance from the tumour.

[Microcirculatory consequences of a venous striction in the rat. Effect of a coumarine-rutine association]. / Conséquences microcirculatoires d'une striction veineuse chez le rat. Effet d'une association coumarine-rutine.

The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of a venous striction on capillary red blood cell distribution and venular blood return and the effect of a coumarin derivative-rutoside combination. The study was conducted, in vivo, in the rat cremaster muscle using intravital microscopy. The striction lasted thirty minutes and was obtained by clamping the epigastric vein. This mechanical constraint was sufficient to induce microcirculatory modifications without disrupting microvessels. Before the striction (t-5 min), the velocities and diameters of the veins and arteries were comparable in all groups. After the striction (t5 min), in the control group, venous blood flow decreased by 60%, from 0.48 +/- 0.09 mm3/s (t-5 min) to 0.20 +/- 0.06 mm3/s (t5 min). The results showed that after thirty minutes reperfusion, venular blood flow in the control animals was only 34% of initial blood flow. The mean red blood cell velocity dropped by 56%, the percentage of low perfused capillaries increased from 7.5% to 50%. Treatment of animals with a coumarin derivative-rutoside combination, particularly at 4 mg/kg coumarin derivative-100 mg/kg rutoside, has significantly improved the microcirculation. After thirty minutes reperfusion venular blood flow was 60% and the percentage of low perfused capillaries was only 10%. The effect seemed to be more pronounced for rutoside than coumarin derivatives. The interest of this study was to set up an experimental model of a venous striction not too severe to induce micro-hemorrages but enough to modify microcirculation. This model was used to quantify the beneficial effects of a coumarin derivative-rutoside combination.

Specific response of mouse tumor-feeding arterioles to stimulation by 5-HT1 agonists.

Using intravital microscopy, we compared the responses to 5-HT1 receptor stimulation by the host-modified arterioles feeding a Meth-A tumor implanted in the flank of female Balb/c mice with the responses of tumor-independent arterioles (TIA) and those of control arterioles from mice without tumor. Topical administration of 5 x 10(-5) M serotonin in the presence of 10(-4) M ketanserin (5-HT2 receptors inhibitor) induced arteriolar vasodilation in TIA (+13%) and in the control arterioles (+19%), but induced constriction (-14%) in the tumor-feeding arterioles (TFA). Topical administration of the general 5-HT1 agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine maleate (10(-6) to 10(-4) M) or the 5-HT1A agonist buspirone (2 x 10(-6) to 2 x 10(-4) M) induced vasoconstriction that was dramatically higher in TFA than in TIA or control arterioles (p < 0.0001 in both cases). In addition, topical administration of the 5-HT1B agonist M-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (2 x 10(-6) to 2 x 10(-4) M) produced opposite responses, i.e., dose-dependent vasodilation in TIA and control arterioles, and dose-dependent constriction in TFA. Since we observed the same degree of vasodilation in response to 10(-4) M acetylcholine in all three groups of arterioles, the differences between the responses to 5-HT1 receptor stimulation were not due to the absence of endothelial-dependent dilatory mechanisms in the tumor-feeding arterioles. We conclude that 5-HT1 agonists are interesting pharmacologic tools for the modulation of tumoral blood flow, since they more dramatically constrict the microvasculature feeding the tumors than that feeding normal tissue.

Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on the vasospastic response of mouse cutaneous arterioles to platelet activation.

The effect of intravenously administered Ginkbo biloba extract (EGb 761) on the vasospastic response to platelet activation has been assessed using a cutaneous flap preparation in anaesthetized mice. Arterioles of the axillary artery were observed by intravital microscopy, and platelets were activated by topical application of ADP under two steady state conditions: normothermia (37 degrees C) and hypothermia (24 degrees C). Responses of the cutaneous arterioles to stimulation by topical application of a thromboxane agonist (U46619) were also compared in animals treated intravenously with EGb 761 or with a thromboxane synthesis inhibitor (U63557). ADP induced a 34% constriction of the arterioles in control animals. However, no arteriolar constriction occurred in response to ADP in platelet-depleted animals (collagen-induced thrombocytopenia) or in animals treated with EGb 761 (60 mg/kg, i.v.). Exposure of the arterioles to hypothermia (24 degrees C) for 10 min induced constriction of 7-12% in all experimental groups of animals. Under these hypothermic conditions, either EGb 761 or thrombocytopenia abolished ADP-induced arteriolar constriction which was substituted by arteriolar dilation, indicating that EGb 761 can inhibit the vasospasm that is produced by platelet activation. As topically applied U46619 (10(-5) M) induced arterioles constriction (about 22%) that was abolished by intravenous treatment with EGb 761, the extract appears to act directly rather than as a thromboxane synthase inhibitor. Collectively, these findings indicate that platelet factors can play a significant role in cutaneous vasospasm, and that EGb 761, via an action on the thromboxane pathway, could be useful in treating Raynaud's phenomenon and other vascular disorders which involve increased thromboxane production.

Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on arteriolar spasm in a rat cremaster muscle preparation.

The effects of an extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on arteriolar spasm were confirmed using a preparation of rat cremaster muscle. When vasospasm was induced by rat serum, arteriolar constriction reached 25-30% of the initial diameter after 10 min. Intravenous injection of EGb 761 (30 mg/kg) 5 min after inducing spasm inhibited about 80% of this serum-induced vasoconstriction. As previous studies have shown that EGb 761 has an antiaggregatory effect on platelets, thrombin, serotonin (platelet-derived compounds that are present in the serum) and a thromboxane analogue (U46619) were also used to induce vasospasm. Administration of EGb 761 (30 mg/kg) 5 min after exposure of the preparation to serotonin (10(-3) M) or 10 min after exposure to thrombin (20 units) did not affect vasospasm induced by these agents. In contrast, treatment with this same dose of EGb 761 5 min after exposure of the preparation to U46619 (10(-4) M) abolished the arteriolar constriction induced by this agent in 15 min. The thromboxane/prostaglandin H2 receptor antagonist SQ29548 antagonized serum-induced vasospasm, indicating an involvement of thromboxane. Other experiments indicated that the effects of EGb 761 of counteracting vasospasm may be mediated in part by ginkgolide B, a triterpene constituent of the extract that is an antagonist of platelet-activating factor and in part by an 'NO-like' action of its proanthocyanidin constituents. Taken together, these results have revealed that EGb 761 treatment can antagonize the vasoconstrictor effect of thromboxane on arterioles. As thromboxane is implicated in many cardiovascular disorders, this property of EGb 761 may explain some of its beneficial clinical effects in such pathologies.

Specific esponse to 5-HT2 agonists by arterioles linked to Meth A tumors in mice.

Using intravital microscopy, we compared the responses to serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] and to a specific 5-HT2 agonist [1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromo-phenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOB)] by normal arterioles and by the host-modified arterioles feeding a Meth A tumor implanted into the flank of female BALB/c mice. Topical and intravenous administration of 5-HT (10(-6) to 10(-4) M and 0.01-10 micrograms) or DOB (5 x 10(-7) to 5 x 10(-5) M and 0.01-10 micrograms) induced arteriolar constriction, which was far more pronounced for the arterioles feeding the tumor. This larger degree of vasoconstriction in tumor-feeding vs. normal arterioles was not found with norepinephrine. We also compared tumor growth and the mouse life span in three groups of mice, which were given 1 mg of serotonin or 0.74 mg DOB or saline solution. 5-HT or DOB both reduced tumor growth drastically compared with the controls (P less than 0.001), and survival rates were significantly higher in the 5-HT or DOB-treated groups (P less than 0.001). We conclude that 5-HT2-serotoninergic agonists are of particular pharmacological interest, since their vasoconstrictive action on the microvasculature feeding the tumors is much greater than in normal tissue and may interfere with tumor growth.

Daflon 500 mg depresses bradykinin-ischemia-induced microvascular leakage of FITC dextran in rat cremaster muscle.

We studied the in vivo effects of Daflon 500 mg on transvascular movement of macromolecules induced by bradykinin (BK) and ischemia. The experimental preparation involved the rat cremaster muscle. The muscle was fashioned as a single bag (new procedure), placed in a transparent chamber and superfused with a bicarbonate buffer solution equilibrated with a 5% CO2 95% N2 gas mixture in order to obtain pH 7.40, PCO2 = 40 mmHg, PO2 = 20-40 mmHg and thermostated at 35 degrees C. FITC-Dextran 150 (MW 150,000) was injected i.v. as a macromolecular tracer. BK was added to the buffer solution at the concentration of 2 micrograms/ml five minutes after a control period of 60 minutes. Ischemia was performed during 60 min by a clamp positioned on the main artery of the cremaster muscle. Animals treated with Daflon 500 mg (100 mg/kg) 18 and 2 hours before experiments showed a significant reduction in FITC-Dextran 150 leakage in both BK and ischemia protocols. Leakage of FITC-Dextran 150 started 2-3 min after application of BK in the two animal groups but the response was less important (+ 270%) and the preparation returned to control appearance after 40 min in the treated rats in contrast with control rats (+ 450% and 70 min). The amplitude of FITC-Dextran 150 leakage was identical just one hour after ischemia in the two animal groups, but microvascular permeability returned to basal state in treated animals (30 min), a fact non observed in non treated animals. These data demonstrate the protective effect of Daflon 500 mg on the microvascular muscle network in vivo.

Arteriolar vasoconstriction and tachyphylaxis with intraarterial angiotensin II.

Several aspects of the differences between the responses of the second- to fifth-order arterioles (A2 to A5) to intraarterial administration of angiotensin II (AII) were studied by intravital microscopy on an original preparation of rat cremaster muscle. Dose-response curves displayed a leftward shift when the arteriolar order increased. Doses inducing 50% vasoconstriction were 15.1, 0.51, and 0.08 micrograms for A3, A4, and A5, respectively. For A2, very small vasoconstriction was found even at the highest dose of angiotensin II. The dynamics of the response were also dependent on the arteriolar order. The duration of the peak of vasoconstriction increased from A3 to A5, and the interval between the contact of vascular wall with drug and the response was smaller in A4 and A5 than in A3. To understand the effect of diameter as a determinant of heterogeneity in the degree of arteriolar vasoconstriction, norepinephrine was administered under the same conditions as angiotensin II, and responses were measured on arterioles with the same morphological characteristics as those examined after angiotensin II. When comparing the regression curves for the percentage of vasoconstriction vs diameter, we found that this relationship was drug dependent. The significantly steeper slope for angiotensin II than for norepinephrine excluded the possibility that heterogeneity of the degree of vasoconstriction is solely due to differences between the morphological characteristics of the arterioles. Since tachyphylaxis to AII is considered to be a reflection of the drug-receptor interaction, we also studied the magnitude of this phenomenon from proximal to distal parts of the arteriolar network. We showed that the degree of partial tachyphylaxis after 1 microgram AII was dependent on the arteriolar order and a decreasing tachyphylaxis gradient was evidenced from A3 to A5 arterioles.

Cardiac effects of phytic acid induced high P50 with free and limited coronary blood flow.

A blood preparation with a large increase in P50, obtained by a new technique to encapsulate inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) in erythrocytes was evaluated on an isolated heart model. Each heart was alternatively perfused with control stored human blood (P50 = 2.12.+/- 0.9 mmHg) and IHP-treated human blood (P50 = 42.5 +/- 9.33 mmHg). Changes of perfusates were performed when coronary blood flow (CBF) was free and adapted to a constant perfusion pressure (FREE CBF). Changes of perfusates were also performed at a constant but restricted CBF corresponding to 55% of basal value (RESTRICTED CBF). Both bloods were oxygenated and equilibrated to achieve the same acid-base balance, arterial PO2 and O2 content. When CBF was not restricted, switching from control blood to IHP-treated blood, induced a decrease in CBF (-23%), an increase in coronary sinus PO2 (57%) and a decrease in coronary sinus O2 content associated with an increase in myocardial O2 consumption (14%). These metabolic changes were associated with a decrease in left ventricular developed pressure (LVDevP) (-15%) and its maximal positive derivative (-12%). When CBF was restricted, switching from control blood to IHP-treated blood, induced an increase in perfusion pressure (59%). This vasoconstriction was associated with the same changes in the blood gas measurements as those observed when CBF was not restricted, while LVDevP increased significantly (7%). It is concluded that the beneficial effects on myocardial metabolism from the increase in P50 with IHP, are lessened by the cardiodepressive effect of the blood preparation which is predominant when CBF is not restricted.

Effects of changes in systemic hematocrit on the microcirculation in rat cremaster muscle.

This work aimed to establish how changes in systemic hematocrit ranging from 0.33 to 0.55, affect capillary red cell velocity (measured by the dual-slit correlator method), capillary volume flow, capillary density and arteriolar diameter. These microcirculatory parameters were determined on rat cremaster muscles surgically prepared for in vivo visualization and bathed with a modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. A significant rise in mean red cell velocity and mean volume flow rate in capillaries was found after hemodilution, and a significant drop after hemoconcentration. A large reduction in the number of capillaries with low flow rate was shown after hemodilution; an opposite effect was found after hemoconcentration. The number of capillaries containing erythrocytes did not change significantly in either state. However after hemoconcentration, the number of capillaries containing stationary erythrocytes was significantly larger. Arteriolar diameter did not alter significantly after either hemodilution or hemoconcentration. We conclude that, in the cremaster muscle, hematocrit is an important rheological factor that determines capillary flows without involving arteriolar regulation.