Role of endothelin in deterioration of heart failure due to cardiomyopathy in hamsters: increase in endothelin-1 production in the heart and beneficial effect of endothelin-A receptor antagonist on survival and cardiac function.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that chronic endothelin (ET) receptor blockade ameliorated the survival rate and cardiac hemodynamics in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) due to myocardial infarction. However, it remains unclear whether ET-1 is involved in the pathophysiology of cardiomyopathy, which is one of the major causes of CHF. Accordingly, we investigated the production of ET-1 in the heart and the effect of chronic ETA receptor blockade on survival rate and cardiac function in the Bio 14.6 hamster, which is an idiopathic model of CHF caused by cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used 52-week-old Bio 14.6 cardiomyopathic hamsters and age-matched F1b normal hamsters. The expression of preproET-1 mRNA and the ET-1 level in the hearts were markedly higher in the cardiomyopathic hamsters than in the normal hamsters. The cardiomyopathic hamsters showed severe CHF, illustrated by lower left ventricular (LV) +dP/dt/Pmax and right ventricular (RV) +dP/dt/Pmax and by higher LV end-diastolic pressure (EDP), RVEDP, and central venous pressure compared with the normal hamsters. Long-term (9 weeks) treatment with an ETA antagonist (TA-0201, 1.3 mg. kg-1. d-1) markedly increased survival of cardiomyopathic hamsters (untreated, 16%; TA-0201-treated, 65.2%; P<0.001). After 6 weeks of treatment, LV +dP/dt/Pmax and RV +dP/dt/Pmax were significantly higher and LVEDP and RVEDP were lower in the TA-0201-treated group than in the untreated group, suggesting that chronic TA-0201 treatment effectively prevented deterioration of cardiac dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: In the cardiomyopathic hamsters with CHF, the production of ET-1 in the heart was markedly increased, and chronic ETA receptor blockade greatly ameliorated survival and cardiac dysfunction. These results suggest that ET-1 plays an important role in the deterioration of CHF caused by cardiomyopathy, and ETA antagonists may exert therapeutic effects in CHF due to cardiomyopathy.

Upregulated expression of cardiac endothelin-1 participates in myocardial cell growth in Bio14.6 Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of endogenous endothelin-1 (ET-1) in myocardial growth in Bio 14.6 Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters (Bio). BACKGROUND: While ET-1, as a growth-promoting peptide, has been implicated in the development of secondary cardiac hypertrophy, the role of endogenous ET-1 in cardiac growth in primary myocardial disease is unknown. METHODS: We measured left ventricular ET-1 levels by a specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, we examined the chronic effect of T0201, an ET type A receptor-specific antagonist. RESULTS: The ET-1 levels in the left ventricles were 1.8-fold higher (p < 0.0005) at 20 weeks and 6.4-fold higher (p < 0.0001) at 35 weeks in the Bio compared to age-matched control F1B hamsters (F1B). The Bio ET-1 levels in the lungs exhibited an only 1.3-fold elevation at 35 weeks. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the localization of ET-1 mainly in the cardiac myocytes. The treatment with T0201 significantly reduced the heart weight/body weight ratio in the Bio, but did not affect the heart weight/body weight ratio in the F1B. Histologically, T0201 reduced the myocyte diameter of Bio to a level similar with that of F1B. However, T0201 did not affect the extent of fibrosis in Bio or F1B. CONCLUSIONS: The ET-1 level in the heart of cardiomyopathic hamsters increases in stage-dependent and organ-specific manners. Though myocyte degeneration and subsequent replacement fibrosis do not require an ET-1 pathway, the accelerated synthesis of ET-1 in the heart may contribute to the pathological growth of remaining myocytes in this animal model.

Identification of 1,4-dihydropyridine binding domains within the primary structure of the alpha 1 subunit of the skeletal muscle L-type calcium channel.

Calcium channel blockers are drugs that bind to the alpha 1 subunit of L-type calcium channels and selectively inhibit ion movements through these channels. Determination of the mechanism of channel blockade requires localization of drug-binding sites within the primary structure of the receptor. In this study the 1,4-dihydropyridine-binding site of the membrane bound receptor has been identified. The covalently labeled receptor was purified and digested with trypsin. The labeled peptide fragments were immunoprecipitated with sequence-directed antibodies. The data indicate the existence of at least three distinct dihydropyridine-binding domains within the primary structure of the alpha 1 subunit.

Azidobutyryl clentiazem, a new photoactivatable diltiazem analog, labels benzothiazepine binding sites in the alpha 1 subunit of the skeletal muscle calcium channel.

[3H]Azidobutyryl clentiazem, a new photoactivable diltiazem derivative, has a higher binding affinity than azidobutyryl diltiazem. It can be covalently incorporated into the alpha 1 subunit of the skeletal muscle calcium channel by UV irradiation, which allows the benzothiazepine binding site to be determined. The photolabeled alpha 1 subunit and its proteolytic fragments were analyzed with a panel of sequence-directed antibodies. The results suggest that the linker region between segment S5 and S6 of domain IV is involved in benzothiazepine binding. This site is different from the dihydropyridine and verapamil binding sites.

Selective and full beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist action of a catechol derivative of denopamine (T-0509) in the guinea-pig cardiac muscle and trachea: comparison with denopamine, xamoterol and isoprenaline.

1. The pharmacological actions of T-0509, a 3-hydroxy derivative of denopamine, were studied in various guinea-pig tissues; these effects were compared with those of isoprenaline, denopamine and xamoterol. 2. The intrinsic activities of the positive inotropic actions of T-0509, denopamine and xamoterol compared with isoprenaline (= 100%) in the papillary muscle were 99%, 83% and 28%, respectively, while their relative potencies (EC50 agonist EC50 isoprenaline) were 0.23, 33 and 1.4, respectively. The intrinsic activities of T-0509, denopamine and xamoterol as positive chronotropic agents in the right atria were 98%, 69% and 48%, respectively, and their equipotent concentrations (isoprenaline = 1) were 0.24, 50 and 4, respectively. 3. The positive chronotropic actions of T-0509 and denopamine were antagonized by bisoprolol (3 x 10(-8) M), but not by ICI 118,551 (3 x 10(-8) M). 4. The intrinsic activity of T-0509 in histamine-contracted tracheae was similar to that of isoprenaline, but its equipotent concentration was 38; the effects of both agents were antagonized by ICI 118,551 (3 x 10(-8) M), but not by bisoprolol (3 x 10(-8) M). Denopamine and xamoterol did not show any agonist activity on guinea-pig trachea. 5. Denopamine and xamoterol antagonized the positive chronotropic (pA2, denopamine: 6.98, xamoterol: 7.75) and tracheal relaxant (pA2, denopamine: 5.39, xamoterol: 6.25) effects of isoprenaline. 6. Isoprenaline, T-0509 and denopamine, but not xamoterol, contracted the guinea-pig aorta in a decreasing order in the presence of propranolol (10(-6) M).7. Based on the above studies, T-0509 appears to be a highly selective betaI-adrenoceptor agonist with full agonist properties, while denopamine and xamoterol appear to be selective, but partial betaI-adrenoceptor agonists.

Effect of denopamine on the phosphorylation of cardiac muscle proteins in the perfused guinea-pig heart. Comparison with isoproterenol.

Effects of the new selectively beta 1-adrenergic cardiotonic drug denopamine (TA-064) on the phosphorylation of cardiac muscle proteins in the perfused guinea-pig heart were investigated in comparison with isoproterenol. Denopamine at 3 X 10(-6) M and isoproterenol at 10(-7) M were equipotent in their effects on the contractile force and + (dF/dt). Under these conditions, the increases in heart rate and tissue c-AMP levels by denopamine were significantly less than those by isoproterenol. Isoproterenol exerted a greater effect on -(dF/dt) than on +(dF/dt), whereas denopamine influenced both to the same extent. Denopamine (3 X 10(-6) M) and isoproterenol (10(-7) M) both stimulated 32P incorporation into the proteins of molecular weights of 150,000, 30,000, 19,000, 15,000 and 11,000 daltons. Among these proteins, the 30,000 and 11,000 dalton proteins, probably troponin-I and phospholamban, were phosphorylated to significantly lesser extents by denopamine than by isoproterenol. The above differences in the effects on c-AMP levels and protein phosphorylation between denopamine and isoproterenol may be causally related to the differences in their pharmacological properties such as the weaker arrhythmogenicity and comparatively less marked relaxation effect of denopamine compared with isoproterenol in the presence of similar cardiotonic effects.

Diverse effects of AT1 receptor antagonists on normal blood pressure and regulatory system.

An AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, has been reported to improve survival and quality of life in patients with congestive heart failure as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors do. Since many of the patients are normotensive, it may be a drawback if the compound decreases normal blood pressure. In this study, we investigated whether a novel AT1 receptor antagonist, TA-606, which is more potent than losartan, affects normal blood pressure and its regulatory system in comparison with losartan. TA-606 (30 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) did not change normal blood pressure, whereas losartan (100 mg/kg, p.o.) tended to decrease it. Although EXP3174 (1 and 10 mg/kg, i.v.), an active metabolite of losartan, suppressed the baroreceptor-heart rate (HR) reflex, 606A (1 and 10 mg/kg, i.v.), an active metabolite of TA-606, did not affect it. Since losartan is known to affect the L-glutamate receptor which is part of the central blood pressure regulatory system, we also investigated whether 606A affects L-glutamate receptor binding. We found that 606A did not affect the binding of the L-glutamate receptor, but EXP3174 inhibited the binding with IC50 values of 13.3 microM. These findings suggest that, even having the same AT1 receptor antagonist properties as losartan and EXP3174, TA-606 and its active metabolite do not influence normal blood pressure or its regulatory system.

Electrophysiological effect of l-cis-diltiazem, the stereoisomer of d-cis-diltiazem, on isolated guinea-pig left ventricular myocytes.

l-cis-Diltiazem, the stereoisomer of the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker d-cis-diltiazem, protects cardiac myocytes from ischemia and reperfusion injury in the perfused heart and from veratridine-induced Ca(2+) overload. We determined the effect of l-cis-diltiazem on the voltage-dependent Na(+) current (I(Na)) and lysophosphatidylcholine-induced currents in isolated guinea-pig left ventricular myocytes by a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. l-cis-Diltiazem inhibited I(Na) in a dose-dependent manner without altering the current-voltage relationship for I(Na) (K(d) values : 729 and 9 microM at holding potentials of -140 and -80 mV, respectively). A use-dependent block of I(Na), the leftward shift of the steady-state inactivation curve and the delay of recovery from inactivation suggest that l-cis-diltiazem has a higher affinity for the inactivated state of Na(+) channels. In addition to I(Na), the lysophosphatidylcholine-induced currents were inhibited by l-cis-diltiazem in a similar concentration range. It is suggested that inhibition of both Na(+) channels and lysophosphatidylcholine-activated non-selective cation channels contributes to the cardioprotective effect of l-cis-diltiazem.

Protective effect of l-cis-diltiazem on hypercontracture of rat myocytes induced by veratridine.

The protective effect of l-cis-diltiazem, the stereoisomer of d-cis-diltiazem, was studied against the veratridine-induced hypercontracture of rat myocytes. Veratridine increased both [Na+]i and [Ca2+]i, but did not cause hypercontracture in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Both l-cis-diltiazem (0.1-10 microM) and d-cis-diltiazem (10-30 microM) inhibited the hypercontracture and the increase in [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. However, l-cis-diltiazem did not exert a negative inotropic effect in K+ (20 mM)-depolarized rat papillary muscles even at a dose of 10 microM. As seen in the case of tetrodotoxin, l-cis-diltiazem and d-cis-diltiazem also suppressed the increase in [Na+]i. The results show that l-cis-diltiazem prevents the veratridine-induced hypercontracture of myocytes by suppression of the [Ca2+]i increase. The attenuation of the [Ca2+]i increase by l-cis-diltiazem was not dependent on inhibition of Ca2+ channels, but was partly due to inhibition of excessive Na+ entry via veratridine-modified Na+ channels.

Cardiovascular effects of the metabolites of diltiazem in dogs.

The effects of diltiazem and some of its metabolites on the cardiovascular system were studied in anesthetized dogs and in blood-perfused canine papillary muscles. The metabolites included N-desmethyldiltiazem (MA), a newly discovered major metabolite; desacetyldiltiazem (M1); desacetyl MA (M2); O-desmethyl M1 (M4); and O-desmethyl M2 (M6). In the anesthetized dog, diltiazem and its metabolites produced a dose-dependent increase in coronary blood flow, decreases in blood pressure and heart rate, and an increase in left ventricular dP/dtmax. The ranking of coronary-vasodilating activity of diltiazem and its metabolites, in decreasing order, was diltiazem, M1, MA, M2, M4, and M6. The effects of the metabolites were more selective for coronary vasodilation than for hypotension, but their selectivities were less than that of diltiazem. Coronary vasodilation and hypotension with diltiazem and MA were of longer duration than those with their corresponding desacetyl metabolites. By close arterial administration to the blood-perfused canine papillary muscle preparation, diltiazem and its metabolites also produced coronary-vasodilating actions, whereas the negative inotropic actions were very weak. The present study revealed that the cardiovascular properties of some of diltiazem's metabolites are qualitatively the same as those of diltiazem, but the activity of diltiazem is the most potent, and MA is less active than M1.

Effect of chronic administration of denopamine (TA-064), a new positive inotropic agent, on cardiac response of rats to denopamine.

Effects of chronic administration of denopamine on acute cardiovascular response to denopamine were studied in anesthetized rats. Effects of repeated treatment with isoproterenol was also investigated. The dose of denopamine to increase LV dp/dtmax by 50% of the control (ED50) was 0.77 mg/kg, p.o. Following chronic administration of denopamine once daily at 10 or 20 mg/kg, p.o., for 14 days, the effect of denopamine (i.v.) on LV dp/dtmax was similar to that in the control group. In the 40 mg/kg-group, however, the positive inotropic effect of denopamine (i.v.) was attenuated significantly at lower doses without a decrease in the maximal response and the ED50 was increased 1.8-fold. Chronic treatment with denopamine in the diet at 20 or 40 mg/kg/day for 14 days did not influence the response to the drug. By subcutaneous administration of 50 micrograms/kg isoproterenol, thrice daily for 3 days, the ED50 of isoproterenol (i.v.) for positive inotropy were increased 6.8-fold. In addition, the maximal response to isoproterenol was depressed to about 70% of that obtained in the control. In the preparation desensitized by isoproterenol (50 micrograms/kg), the inotropic response to denopamine was attenuated at lower doses, but the maximal response was not altered. In the groups desensitized by the two drugs, the positive chronotropic effect of the drugs (i.v.) tended to decrease and the effects on blood pressure was not changed. By Scatchard analysis, the specific 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding to the cardiac membranes (Bmax) was reduced in the 40 mg/kg denopamine (p.o.) group as well as in the isoproterenol-treated groups. In the 10 mg/kg denopamine and 20 mg/kg denopamine groups, however, Bmax was not changed. These results suggest that chronic administration of denopamine hardly results in desensitization of its positive inotropy at the effective doses.

Subcellular fractions of cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and the positive inotropic effects of selective beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists in guinea pig hearts.

We studied the effects of a full beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist (T-0509), a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist (procaterol) and a nonselective beta-adrenoceptor agonist (isoproterenol, ISO) on subcellular cyclic AMP levels and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (cyclic AMP-PK) activity in guinea pig hearts and compared them with the effect of each drug on cardiac contractility. T-0509 (10(-8)M) and ISO (3 x 10(-8)M) caused an increase of approximately 170% in dF/dtmax, whereas 10(-7) procaterol produced only a 25% increase. All these agonists significantly increased the cyclic AMP level in ventricular homogenate. Subcellular fractions were obtained by centrifugation at 100,000 g for 10 min and by Li2SO4 precipitation of the 100,000-g supernatant. In the control heart, probably salcolemmal protein, phospholamban, and 60-kDa protein in the particulate fraction and probably troponin I and troponin C in the supernatant fraction were mainly phosphorylated by the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-PK. In the precipitate obtained from the supernatant fraction with Li2SO4, probably all proteins described were contained. However, none of the proteins were detected in the supernatant obtained with Li2SO4. T-0509 and ISO caused significant changes in cyclic AMP levels and cyclic-PK activities in all fractions. However, procaterol increased the cyclic AMP concentrations and cyclic AMP-PK activities only in the supernatant fraction and the supernatant obtained with Li2SO4. T-0509 and ISO increased cyclic AMP level (9-16 pmol/mg protein) and cyclic AMP-PK activity ratio (0.27-0.33) significantly to the same degree in the precipitate obtained with Li2SO4, whereas the effects of T-0509 in other fractions were about twofold less than those of ISO. These results suggest that beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists cause differential compartmentalization of cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-PK in the cardiac muscle.

Hypotensive response of spontaneously hypertensive rats to centrally administered diltiazem and its metabolites: in relevance to the hypotensive action by oral administration.

In order to study whether a part of the antihypertensive action of orally administered diltiazem is mediated by the central nervous system and whether metabolites of diltiazem contribute to the actions of diltiazem, we compared the effects of diltiazem and its main metabolites on blood pressure by intravenous administration with those by intracerebroventricular administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Contents of diltiazem and its metabolites in the brain of SHR after oral administration were also studied. Hypotensive action of intravenously administered diltiazem was stronger than that of its main metabolites in terms of potency and durability. Diltiazem (30 micrograms or more) and its main metabolites (100 micrograms) showed weak hypotensive action by intracerebroventricular administration. Oral administration of diltiazem (30 mg/kg) decreased mean blood pressure by about 40 mmHg 30 min after the administration. At this time, contents of unchanged form and metabolites of diltiazem in the brain were 0.78 +/- 0.10 and 7.58 +/- 0.89 micrograms/whole brain, respectively. It was suggested that hypotensive action of diltiazem was mainly attributable to the unchanged form and that the contribution of central action to the acute hypotensive action of diltiazem was unlikely, although centrally administered diltiazem can cause systemic hypotension.

Hemodynamic and coronary vasodilative properties of a selective and full beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, T-0509, in comparison with isoproterenol in anesthesized dogs.

Recently, the beta 1-adrenoceptor was shown to mediate direct coronary vasodilation independent of metabolic demand in canine arrested heart preparation. To investigate the beta 1-adrenoceptor-mediated direct vasodilation in a beating heart preparation, we compared coronary blood flow (CBF) and coronary sinus oxygen tension (PO2) in anesthetized open-chest dogs using a beta 1-selective agonist, T-0509. T-0509 (0.005-0.05 microgram/kg intravenously, i.v.) increased the maximal rate of increase in left ventricular pressure (LVdp/dtmax) and heart rate (HR) to an extent similar to that induced by isoproterenol (ISO) without decreasing diastolic blood pressure (DBP). A beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, (-)-bisoprolol (10 micrograms/kg), but not a beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, ICI 118,551 (30 micrograms/kg), inhibited the T-0509-induced increase in LVdp/dtmax and HR. Thus, T-0509 showed selective beta 1 stimulation at the doses used. T-0509 also caused beta 1-selective relaxation in isolated coronary arteries. ISO increased both CBF and PO2. The early phase of the increase in CBF and the concurrent increases in PO2 were inhibited by ICI 118,551, whereas the late phase of the increase in CBF was inhibited by (-)-bisoprolol. T-0509 increased CBF, and this increase was inhibited by (-)-bisoprolol. A slight but significant increase in PO2 induced by T-0509 was not altered by these doses of the antagonists. Our results indicate that the T-0509-induced increase in CBF is due mainly to an indirect effect on myocardial beta 1-adrenoceptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hypotensive and diuretic actions of diltiazem in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Kyoto rats.

We investigated the hypotensive and diuretic effects of diltiazem and hydralazine in conscious, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their counterpart, Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Orally administered diltiazem induced dose-dependent hypotension both in SHR (10-60 mg/kg) and in WKY (30-100 mg/kg) and the effects were more pronounced in SHR than in WKY. Diltiazem did not cause tachycardia in either strain. Moreover, hypotensive doses of diltiazem acutely increased urinary excretion of sodium as well as urine volume in saline-loaded SHR and WKY. Chronic administration of diltiazem (30 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks) to young SHR caused no changes in body fluid distribution or in plasma sodium concentration. On the other hand, hydralazine not only showed almost the same hypotensive potency in SHR and WKY but also resulted reflex tachycardia in both strains. In addition, hydralazine (5 mg/kg) decreased urinary sodium excretion in saline-loaded SHR. In conclusion, it was suggested that diltiazem is an antihypertensive agent with an enhanced hypotensive action in the hypertensive state and without tachycardia and sodium retention effects.

Cardiovascular effects of a new 1,5-benzothiazepine calcium antagonist in anesthetized dogs.

Cardiovascular effects of TA-3090 ((+)(2S,3S)-3-acetoxy-8-chloro-5-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-2, 3-dihydro-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,5-benzothiazepin-4-(5H)-one maleate), a new 1,5-benzothiazepine derivative, were studied in pentobarbital anesthetized dogs. TA-3090 administered intraarterially (i.a.) was 3 times more potent than diltiazem in increasing vertebral and coronary blood flows. In the autoperfused preparation, TA-3090 i.a. exhibited weak negative inotropic effect as compared with its coronary vasodilating effect; negative inotropy was less than 10% at a dose which increased coronary blood flow by 50%. The selectivity of TA-3090 for coronary artery was greater than that of verapamil. Intravenous administration of TA-3090 (0.025-0.2 mg/kg) produced increases in cardiac output and arterial, especially vertebral and coronary blood flow as well as in left ventricular dp/dtmax. The increasing effect in blood flow was most prominent in the vertebral artery. Upon intraduodenal administration of 2 and 5 mg/kg TA-3090, the increases in vertebral and coronary blood flow lasted for more than 2-5 h; the effect of TA-3090 on vertebral blood flow was approximately twice as potent as that of diltiazem. Thus, TA-3090 could be demonstrated to possess potent and long-lasting vasodilating activity with selectivity for vertebral and coronary arteries, exerting however, weak negative inotropic effect.

Selective beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist activity of denopamine and its derivatives in dogs.

Cardiovascular effects of intravenously administered denopamine and its derivatives were investigated in anesthetized dogs and their positive inotropic and hypotensive effects were compared. Structure-activity relationships were examined by modifying the methoxy group in ring B and the hydroxy group in ring A in structure II, a ring-fissioned product of trimetoquinol. Almost all test compounds demonstrated positive inotropic and chronotropic effects as well as hypotensive effects which were mediated by beta-adrenoceptors. With modification of the methoxy group in ring B, only 3,4-dimethoxy, 2,3,4-trimethoxy and 3,4,5-trimethoxy derivatives exhibited beta 1-adrenoceptor selectivity. The 3,4-dimethoxy derivative showed the most potent positive inotropic effect and the highest selectivity to beta 1-adrenoceptor. By structural modification of the hydroxyl group in ring A of the 3,4-dimethoxy derivatives, the potency of positive inotropic effect was affected, while beta 1-adrenoceptor selectivity of the derivatives with 3,5-dihydroxy, 3- and 4-monohydroxy groups were essentially maintained. Among beta 1-adrenoceptor selective compounds, the dose ratios between intravenous and intraduodenal administrations of catechol derivatives like isoproterenol were higher than those of non-catechol derivatives. The 4-monohydroxy derivative (racemic denopamine) exhibited the smallest dose ratio with a long-lasting action. Thus, we could identify selective beta 1-adrenoceptor agonists by the structural modification of a selective beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, trimetoquinol. In this group of compounds, beta-hydroxy moiety was suggested to be requisite to potent beta-adrenoceptor stimulating action and 3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl structure was important for manifestation of beta 1-adrenoceptor selectivity.

Binding of a catechol derivative of denopamine (T-0509) and N-tert-butylnoradrenaline (Colterol) to beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors.

The affinities for beta-adrenoceptors, the subtype-selectivity and the agonistic effectiveness of T-0509 (a catechol derivative of denopamine) and colterol (N-tert-butylnoradrenaline; Col) were compared with those of other beta-agonists using a binding assay method. Specific binding of [3H]dihydroalprenolol (3H-DHA) to guinea pig left ventricular and lung membranes was saturable, and Scatchard and Hill analyses suggested that 3H-DHA bound to both membranes with a single population of binding sites with no binding site cooperativity. Addition of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp, 30 microM) led to a rightward shift of the 3H-DHA binding displacement curves of T-0509 and Col in both membranes, and the degree of shift was similar to that of full agonists such as isoproterenol (Iso), adrenaline (Adr) and noradrenaline (NA). Both T-0509 and Col were thus considered to be full agonists at both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors, respectively, unlike denopamine and procaterol. T-0509 and Col showed considerably high affinity for both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors, and T-0509, like denopamine, was as selective for the beta 1-subtype as NA (4.5-fold compared with Iso as a non-selective agonist), whereas Col was more selective for the beta 2-subtype than Adr (4.5-fold compared with Iso).

Hypotensive action of diltiazem in conscious renal hypertensive dogs: comparison with nifedipine and interaction with pindolol.

The hypotensive action of diltiazem by oral administration to conscious renal hypertensive dogs (one kidney, one figure 8) was studied and the effect was compared with that of nifedipine. Diltiazem decreased mean blood pressure 10-20 mmHg at doses of 1-4 mg/kg. The same doses of nifedipine exhibited hypotensive actions similar to diltiazem, but nifedipine induced a more pronounced reflex tachycardia than diltiazem. Combined administration of diltiazem with pindolol produced a greater hypotension than that caused by individual drugs and caused an increase in heart rate, smaller than by pindolol alone and larger than by diltiazem alone. When 60 mg of diltiazem was administered 3 times a day for 10 consecutive days, blood pressure decreased 15 mmHg on the third day or later. Although the time course of plasma level of diltiazem on the last day was similar to that on the first day, the heart rate initially increased slightly and decreased later. Prolongation of the PQ interval of an electrocardiogram was diminished after the fourth day. In conclusion, diltiazem decreased blood pressure of renal hypertensive dogs at doses comparable to those used for clinical treatment in acute and chronic experiments.

Weak arrhythmogenic property of the new cardiotonic agent denopamine in dogs: comparison with catecholamines.

We studied the arrhythmogenic activity of denopamine, in relation to its positive inotropic action, in dogs and compared it with those of catecholamines. The positive inotropic activities of the compounds as expressed in terms of the ED100 (microgram/kg, i.v.), that increased LV dp/dt max of anesthetized dogs by 100% of the control were 8.0 for denopamine, 0.27 for norepinephrine, 0.03 for isoproterenol, 3.8 for dobutamine and 16 for dopamine. On the other hand, the doses of these drugs at which the "non-sinus/total rate" increased significantly (about 30% of total beats, microgram/kg, i.v.) were more than 1000 for denopamine, 1.0 for norepinephrine and isoproterenol, and 300 for dobutamine and dopamine in coronary ligated dogs. The ratios of these doses to the ED100 are more than 126 for denopamine, 80 for dobutamine, 33 for isoproterenol, 19 for dopamine and 3.8 for norepinephrine. Arrhythmogenic activity of denopamine was also weaker than those of dobutamine and dopamine in halothane anesthetized dogs. The arrhythmogenic activity of dobutamine was weak as reported, but that of denopamine was the weakest among the drugs tested.