Arsenic in seafood is associated with increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in healthy volunteers - A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to exogenous elements like arsenic (As) may influence thyroid enzymes, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and the two principal thyroid hormones, free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3), but little is known about how this is related to organic arsenicals, the main form in seafood. AIM: To investigate whether a high intake of dietary arsenic from seafood can impact thyroid function and thyroid hormones by examining possible associations with changes in TSH, FT4, FT3 and the FT4:FT3-ratio in plasma. METHODS: Thirty-eight healthy subjects were randomized into four groups. During a 14-day semi-controlled dietary study, the subjects ingested daily portions of either 150g cod, salmon, blue mussels or potato (control). Plasma concentrations of total As, FT3, FT4, TSH and selenium (Se), and urinary concentrations of iodine were monitored. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of TSH increased significantly in all seafood groups. The change in plasma As, with different coefficients for each seafood group, was the dominant factor in the optimal multiple regression model for change in TSH (R2=0.47). Plasma Se and iodine were negative and positive factors, respectively. There were also indications of changes in FT4, FT3 and the FT4:FT3 ratio consistent with a net inhibiting effect of As on FT4 to FT3 conversion. CONCLUSION: Ingestion of seafood rich in various organic As species was strongly associated with an increase of the TSH concentrations in plasma. Change in TSH was positively associated with total plasma As, but varied with the type of seafood ingested. These findings indicate that organic dietary As, apparently depending on chemical form, may influence thyroid hormones and function.

Urinary excretion of arsenicals following daily intake of various seafoods during a two weeks intervention.

The excretion pattern of arsenic (As) species after seafood intake varies widely depending on species ingested and individual handling. We have previously reported the 72 h urinary excretion of arsenicals following a single dose of seafood. Here, we report the excretion patterns in the same 37 subjects following 15 days daily consumption of either 150 g cod, salmon, blue mussels or potato (control), followed by a 72 h period with a low-As diet. In all seafood groups, total As (tAs) in plasma and urinary excretion of tAs, arsenobetaine (AB) and dimethylarsinate (DMA) increased significantly after the intervention. Confirming the single dose study AB and DMA excreted were apparently endogenously formed from other arsenicals ingested. Total tAs excretion was 1386, 763 and 303 µg in the cod, blue mussel and salmon groups, respectively; about twice the amounts after the single dose study indicating accumulation of arsenicals. In the cod group, rapid excretion after the single dose was associated with lower total As in blood and less accumulation after two weeks with seafood indicating lower accumulation. In the blue mussels group only, inorganic As (iAs) excretion increased significantly, whilst methylarsonate (MA) strongly increased, indicating a possible toxicological concern of repeated mussel consumption.

Major and minor arsenic compounds accounting for the total urinary excretion of arsenic following intake of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis): a controlled human study.

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) accumulate and biotransform arsenic (As) to a larger variety of arsenicals than most seafood. Eight volunteers ingested a test meal consisting of 150 g blue mussel (680 µg As), followed by 72 h with an identical, low As controlled diet and full urine sampling. We provide a complete speciation, with individual patterns, of urinary As excretion. Total As (tAs) urinary excretion was 328 ± 47 µg, whereof arsenobetaine (AB) and dimethylarsinate (DMA) accounted for 66% and 21%, respectively. Fifteen minor urinary arsenicals were quantified with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) coupled to reverse-phase, anion and cation-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Thio-arsenicals and non-thio minor arsenicals (including inorganic As (iAs) and methylarsonate (MA)) contributed 10% and 7% of the total sum of species excretion, respectively, but there were large individual differences in the excretion patterns. Apparently, formation of thio-arsenicals was negatively correlated to AB formation and excretion, possibly indicating a metabolic interrelationship. The results may be of toxicological relevance since DMA and MA have been classified as possibly carcinogenic, and six of the excreted As species were thio-arsenicals which recently have been recognized as toxic, while iAs toxicity is well known.

Humans seem to produce arsenobetaine and dimethylarsinate after a bolus dose of seafood.

Seafood is the predominant food source of several organoarsenic compounds. Some seafood species, like crustaceans and seaweed, also contain inorganic arsenic (iAs), a well-known toxicant. It is unclear whether human biotransformation of ingested organoarsenicals from seafood result in formation of arsenicals of health concern. The present controlled dietary study examined the urinary excretion of arsenic compounds (total arsenic (tAs), iAs, AB (arsenobetaine), dimethylarsinate (DMA) and methylarsonate (MA)) following ingestion of a single test meal of seafood (cod, 780 µg tAs, farmed salmon, 290 µg tAs or blue mussel, 690 µg tAs or potato (control, 110 µg tAs)) in 38 volunteers. The amount of ingested tAs excreted via the urine within 0-72 h varied significantly among the groups: Cod, 74% (52-92%), salmon 56% (46-82%), blue mussel 49% (37-78%), control 45% (30-60%). The estimated total urinary excretion of AB was higher than the amount of ingested AB in the blue mussel group (112%) and also ingestion of cod seemed to result in more AB, indicating possible endogenous formation of AB from other organoarsenicals. Excretion of iAs was lower than ingested (13-22% of the ingested iAs was excreted in the different groups). Although the ingested amount of iAs+DMA+MA was low for all seafood groups (1.2-4.5% of tAs ingested), the urinary DMA excretion was high in the blue mussel and salmon groups, counting for 25% and 11% of the excreted tAs respectively. In conclusion our data indicate a possible formation of AB as a result of biotransformation of other organic arsenicals. The considerable amount of DMA excreted is probably not only due to methylation of ingested iAs, but due to biotransformation of organoarsenicals making it an inappropriate biomarker of iAs exposure in populations with a high seafood intake.

An opioid agonist with preference for kappa-opioid receptors: (-)-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan-6-one.

N-Cyclopropylmethyl- and N-cyclobutylmethylmorphinan-6-one (3 and 4, respectively) were prepared from N-methylmorphinan-6-one. The pharmacological studies showed 3 and 4 to be potent opioid agonists. Compound 3 was found to have preference for kappa rather than mu opioid receptors.

An angiotensin with prolonged action and blood pressure--lowering properties.

[Sar1,Phe(Br5)8] angiotensin II (Br5Ang II) is a specific, quasi-irreversible antagonist of angiotensin II (Ang II) in vitro. In vivo, this compound is a very potent, Ang II-specific antagonist with a very long duration of action against Ang II-induced blood pressure (BP) increases. In the "low-sodium" dog, this compound induces a prolonged BP reduction during and after intravenous infusion at doses comparable to cilazapril, a potent ACE inhibitor. The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic behavior of this peptide was therefore assessed to understand and interpret the prolonged antagonistic and antihypertensive activity of this peptide. Binding studies using beef adrenocortical membranes indicated specific binding of Br5Ang and related analogues to Ang II receptors with a Kd of 1.41 x 10(-9) M against iodinated [Sar1, D-Phe8]Ang II, a standard radioligand antagonist. Iodinated Br5AngII exhibited a very high degree of nonspecific binding to the membranes. It had an octanol-water partitioning coefficient of log P of + 0.903, a coefficient 84-fold higher than for [125I][Sar1, D-Phe8]Ang II. Association kinetics of [125I]Br5Ang II were similar to the standard ligand [125I] [Sar1, D-Phe8]Ang II, but the half-life of dissociation was four times higher (60 vs. 15 min at 20 degrees C). Molecular modeling indicates a practically identical conformational behavior of both peptides, Br5Ang II and [Sar1, D-Phe8]Ang II but with an expanded hydration shell over the Br5 residue. It is concluded that the prolonged duration of action is due to the increased hydrophobicity of the peptide, which leads to a slow dissociation from the Ang II receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vitro pharmacological properties of a series of isoprenaline derivatives.

The p-trifluoromethylanilide congener of isoprenaline, tert-butyl N-[(S)[( 4-[(R)-6-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-2- hydroxyethyl]amino]heptanamido]phenyl]methyl][(N-methylcarbamoy l) methyl]carbamoyl]methyl]carbamate (1S,4R)-4,7,7-trimethyl-3-oxo-2- oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylate (1:1) (Ro 17-2218) was investigated for its effects in various pharmacological tests in vitro and compared to the parent compound. As Ro 17-2218 represented a mixture of four diastereomers, the pure isomers were synthesized. They had a purity of 97-98%. By pharmacological testing of the diastereomers the highest potency was found in the 6R,2'R-isomer Ro 17-8648, while the potency of the 6S,2'S-isomer, Ro 17-9651 was lower by three orders of magnitude. The amorphous hydrochloride Ro 17-8648/001 had 1/10 the potency of the respective crystalline camphanate Ro 17-8648/003. (R)-6-[(R)-[2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]amino]-N-[4- (trifluoromethyl) phenyl]heptan amide (Ro 17-8648/003) was found to have potent beta-agonist properties with clear beta 1-selectivity in radioligand binding studies. It exerted an extremely tight binding to membrane receptors. As a full beta-agonist it elicited positive inotropic effects in isolated cardiac tissues, with a potency 10-360 times that of isoprenaline and an extremely long duration of action. Electrophysiological studies in isolated guinea-pig papillary muscles confirmed the beta 1-receptor-mediated effects of the compound.

In vitro pharmacologic profile of Ro 40-5967, a novel Ca2+ channel blocker with potent vasodilator but weak inotropic action.

Ro 40-5967 is a structurally novel Ca2+ channel blocker which binds to the verapamil-type receptor of cardiac membranes. Its biological activity was investigated in comparison with verapamil in isolated vascular, cardiac, and gastrointestinal muscle preparations, as well as in isolated perfused hearts. Ro 40-5967 was more potent in increasing coronary artery flow (EC50 = 54 nM) than in suppressing myocardial (IC50 = 14,000 nM) and peripheral vascular (aortic) contractility half-maximal inhibition (IC50 = 275 nM). In contrast, verapamil was equally potent in affecting all three variables. These observations demonstrate an apparent preference of Ro 40-5967 for the coronary vasculature, as opposed to verapamil, in vitro. Results also suggest that Ro 40-5967 is less potent than verapamil in gastrointestinal smooth muscle.

An angiotensin II antagonist with strongly prolonged action.

A highly hydrophobic analogue of angiotensin II (AT), [Sar1,(2',3',4',5',6'-Br5)Phe8]AT exhibited strong and persistent specific antagonism against AT, both in vitro and in vivo. This peptide exhibited 32% of the binding affinity of [Sar1]AT towards membranes of bovine adrenal cortex, it was a specific AT antagonist of irreversible character on smooth muscle assays, and it also suppressed for over 120 min at 7.10(-8) M/kg the blood pressure response towards AT in the rat blood pressure assay. This compound harbours therefore the potential of a new class of AT-specific antihypotensive drugs.

Interaction of the cardiotonic agent DPI 201-106 with cardiac Ca2+ channels.

The cardiotonic agent DPI 201-106 was investigated for its effects on (a) contractile force in guinea pig left atria, (b) membrane currents in isolated guinea pig cardiac myocytes, and (c) [3H]nitrendipine binding in guinea pig cardiac membranes. The compound elicited a positive inotropic effect in normally polarized (5.9 mM extracellular KCl) and a negative inotropic effect in partially depolarized (20 mM KCl) isolated, electrically stimulated left atria. This decrease in contractile force was probably caused by inactivation of the fast Na+ inward current and concomitant blockade of the inward Ca2+ current. The blocking effect on Ca2+ channels was directly shown in voltage-clamp experiments using isolated cardiocytes. Further evidence for interaction of DPI 201-106 with Ca2+ channels was obtained from the [3H]nitrendipine binding studies. Thus, Ca2+ antagonism contributes to the complex pharmacologic profile of DPI 201-106, and is probably responsible for the bradycardia and lowering of systemic vascular resistance observed in vivo.

Alpha 1-adrenoceptor reserve and effects of a Ca2+ entry blocker (Ro 18-3981) on aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The relationship between alpha 1-adrenoceptor reserve and the sensitivity of vasoconstrictor responses to Ca2+ entry blockade was investigated in isolated aortas from age-matched (13-15 weeks) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Noradrenaline (NA) elicited contractile responses with a greater potency (log EC50) in aorta from WKY (-8.7) than in those from SHR (-8.05). The dihydropyridine Ca2+ entry blocker, Ro 18-3981 (10(-6) M), suppressed the maximal NA responses more in aorta of SHR (-54%) than WKY (-14%). The dissociation constant (KA) of NA was similar in aortas of both strains. However, the difference between KA and EC50 values was greater in aorta of WKY (7.2 X) than in those from SHR (1.4 X). Pretreatment of WKY aorta with the irreversible alpha-blocker phenoxybenzamine (10(-9) M) enhanced the inhibitory effect of Ro 18-3981 (10(-6) M) against NA-induced contractions (-14 to -47%). Thus, a smaller alpha 1-adrenoceptor reserve could explain the greater sensitivity of NA-induced contractions in SHR aorta to Ca2+ entry blockade.

Isolation, characterization, and localization of antigen gamma, a serine proteinase of the "kallikrein-family" in the rat submandibular gland.

A trypsin-like serine proteinase, antigen gamma, immunologically partially identical to glandular kallikrein when run against anti-rat glandular kallikrein antiserum in immunoelectrophoresis, was purified from the rat submandibular gland. The enzyme was purified by a two-step chromatography procedure, ionexchange chromatography followed by gel filtration. The criteria for purity were one band in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in immunoelectrophoresis, respectively. Antigen gamma had a molecular mass of 25,000 Da and consisted of two polypeptide chains with molecular masses of 14,000 and 11,000 Da. The preparation contained several isoenzymes with pI ranging from 4.1 to 4.5. The enzyme showed high specific enzyme activity against the substrate D-valyl-L-leucyl-L-arginine-4-nitroanilide (S-2266), some trypsin-like and kininogenase activity, but no angiotensin converting enzyme, kininase, or tonin activity. Amidolytic activity was increased and stabilized by the presence of detergent in the assay buffer. The pH-optimum of antigen gamma amidolytic activity was about 10. Antigen gamma was inhibited by SBTI and PMSF, whereas aprotinin had to be added in a more than 100 times higher concentration than for glandular kallikrein. The binding pattern of antigen gamma to plasma proteins was different from that of tonin and glandular kallikrein. Antiserum against antigen gamma was raised in rabbits and characterized against rat submandibular gland homogenate. Immunohistochemistry showed antigen gamma in the secretory granules of the submandibular gland granular tubular cells but only adhering to the luminal cell wall in the striated and main excretory ducts. Antigen gamma was not detected in the sublingual or parotid gland or in the kidney. Antigen gamma was demonstrated by immunoelectrophoresis in rat submandibular gland saliva. The concentration was higher in sympathetically than in parasympathetically induced secretion.

Effects of chronic myocardial infarction on responsiveness to isoprenaline and the state of myocardial beta adrenoceptors in rats.

Responsiveness to catecholamines and alterations in myocardial beta adrenoceptors were determined in rats with chronic myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction was produced by ligating the left main coronary artery. Three weeks after myocardial infarction, when left ventricular function was impaired, catecholamine responsiveness was determined by measuring the effects of isoprenaline in the conscious animal, the isolated perfused heart, the isolated right atria, and the right papillary muscles. The catecholamine content and the density and affinity of beta adrenergic receptors [( 3H]dihydroalprenolol binding) were determined in non-ischaemic myocardium (ventricular septum). In conscious rats isoprenaline induced the same tachycardia in the sham operated as in the rats with infarction, but it induced only a slight increase of myocardial contractility because of a high basal sympathetic tone. In isolated perfused hearts, right atria, and right papillary muscles isoprenaline increased contractile force and heart rate with the same EC50 in both groups. However, in the infarcted group the maximal increase of contractile force induced by isoprenaline was smaller because of mechanical limitation due to the infarction. The catecholamine content was decreased in non-ischaemic myocardium and beta adrenergic density was increased by 30% (p less than 0.02) without any change of affinity. Thus in rats chronic myocardial infarction does not change the responsiveness of the non-ischaemic myocardium to isoprenaline and is not associated with a downregulation of the beta adrenoceptors.

Inhibition of myocardial Ca2+ channels by three dihydropyridines with different structural features: potential-dependent blockade by Ro 18-3981.

Inhibition of myocardial Ca2+ channels was investigated for three dihydropyridines with different structural features: Ro 18-3981, darodipine (PY 108-068) and nifedipine. Ro 18-3981 contains a sulphamoyl acetyl side-chain. In voltage-clamps experiments with isolated cardiac myocytes of guinea-pig, Ro 18-3981 caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the Ca2+ current, which was influenced by the membrane holding potential. A markedly greater inhibition by Ro 18-3981 was observed when myocytes were depolarized (to +10 mV) from a holding potential (Vh) of -20 mV (IC50 = 2.3 nm) than at -50 mV (IC50 = 100 nM). The three dihydropyridines caused a concentration-dependent reduction in contractile force of isolated, electrically-stimulated left atria of the guinea-pig. Elevation of the extracellular K+ concentration from 5.9 to 24 mM resulted in a significant reduction in negative inotropic IC50 values for Ro 18-3981 (137 fold), darodipine (8 fold) and nifedipine (20 fold). The affinity of these drugs for the high-affinity (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 binding site was determined in guinea-pig cardiac membranes. The KD value of Ro 18-3981 (1.0 nM) was similar to the IC50 value for blockade of ICa at a Vh of -20 mV (2.3 nM), i.e. at a level of near-maximal depolarization. Thus, structurally-different dihydropyridines exert potential-dependent inhibition of myocardial Ca2+ channel activity consistent with the modulated receptor hypothesis. These results demonstrate that blockade of myocardial excitation-contraction coupling by Ca2+ entry blockers is also potential-dependent.

o-Isothiocyanate dihydropyridine (oNCS-DHP), a long-acting, reversible inhibitor of the Ca++ channel.

The binding characteristics and pharmacological properties of o-isothiocyanate dihydropyridine [oNCS-DHP; 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dicarbomethoxy-4-(2-isothiocyanatophenyl)-1, 4-dihydropyridine] were investigated in guinea pig heart and ileum. [3H]oNCS-DHP bound to a single population of high-affinity sites (Bmax = 107 fmol/mg of protein and Kd = 0.99 nM) in cardiac membranes, with a specificity characteristic of dihydropyridine receptors. After incubation of membranes with the tracer (0.5 nM), addition of excess nifedipine (1 microM) caused a dissociation of [3H]oNCS-DHP from its binding site. The reversibility of [3H]oNCS-DHP binding was confirmed by the lack of affinity labeling of cardiac membranes as determined by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. oNCS-DHP inhibited the inward Ca++ current of isolated guinea pig cardiac myocytes as determined in voltage-clamp experiments. In isolated perfused guinea pig hearts, oNCS-DHP caused a concentration-dependent increase in coronary artery flow and a decrease in left ventricular pressure. The effects of the highest concentration (0.3 microM) were still near maximal after a 1-h washout. Suppression of K+ depolarization-induced contractures of isolated ileal longitudinal muscle strips by oNCS-DHP remained maximal even after 5 h of washout. In all of the three biological test systems investigated, the Ca++ channel activator Bay K 8644 caused a complete and rapid reversal of the inhibitory effects of oNCS-DHP. Thus, it can be concluded that oNCS-DHP does not bind irreversibly to Ca++ channel dihydropyridine receptors in guinea pig heart and ileum. However, the o-isothiocyanatophenyl substituent on the dihydropyridine molecule confers upon the compound a very long duration of Ca++ channel blocking activity.

Inhibition of the myocardial Ca2+ inward current by the class 1 antiarrhythmic agent, cibenzoline.

Cibenzoline, a class 1 (local anaesthetic-type) antiarrhythmic drug, was investigated for possible effects upon the myocardial Ca2+ inward current. In voltage-clamp experiments with isolated cardiac myocytes of guinea-pig, cibenzoline caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the Ca2+ current, with an IC50 of 14 microM. Inhibition of the Ca2+ current by cibenzoline (2 microM) was dependent upon stimulation frequency, with a greater block occurring at 2 Hz (approximately 50%) than at 0.2 Hz (approximately 15%). The magnitude of Ca2+ current block was also potential-dependent. A markedly greater inhibition by cibenzoline (20 microM) was recorded when myocytes were depolarized (to +20 mV) from a holding potential of -35 mV than of -80 mV. At the less negative potential, cibenzoline also caused a reduction in the level of the holding current, which suggests a decrease in the inwardly rectifying K+ current. Cibenzoline also caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of KCl-induced contractures of isolated aortic strips of the rat (IC50 = 55 microM) and a reduction in contractile force of isolated, electrically-stimulated papillary muscles of the guinea-pig (IC50 = 35 microM). Thus, cibenzoline possesses Ca2+ channel blocking (class 4) properties in addition to its local anaesthetic actions.

Cardiovascular effects of the new angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, cilazapril, in anesthetized and conscious dogs.

Cilazapril is a new angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor. In conscious renal-hypertensive dogs, cilazapril (2 X 10 mg/kg/day p.o.) caused a long-lasting (greater than 24 h) decrease in systolic arterial blood pressure, the magnitude of which was potentiated by pretreatment with furosemide. A maximal fall in systolic blood pressure of 39 +/- 6 mm Hg (from 145 +/- 5 to 106 +/- 7 mm Hg) was recorded. The antihypertensive effect did not decline with repeated administration and was accompanied by only a slight increase in heart rate. Cilazapril also reduced systolic blood pressure in furosemide-pretreated normotensive dogs. Hemodynamic studies in anesthetized dogs revealed that cilazapril (0.03-1 mg/kg i.v.) caused a fall in mean arterial and left ventricular systolic pressures. At the highest dose of 1 mg/kg i.v., the blood-pressure-lowering effect (-27%) was due to a decrease in total peripheral resistance (-12%) and cardiac output (-16%). Intravenous administration of cilazapril to anesthetized dogs resulted in a rise in plasma renin activity and a significant fall in plasma angiotensin II levels. In conscious normotensive dogs, cilazapril (0.3-10 mg/kg p.o.) exerted diuretic and saluretic effects, which were accompanied by a significant increase in renal plasma flow (46%), but only a slight rise in the glomerular filtration rate. These results characterize cilazapril as an effective and long-lasting antihypertensive drug, with diuretic activity and, possibly, preload- as well as afterload-reducing properties.

The peripheral, high affinity benzodiazepine binding site is not coupled to the cardiac Ca2+ channel.

Ro 5-4864, the prototype ligand of the peripheral benzodiazepine binding site caused a decrease of the action potential duration in isolated guinea-pig cardiac myocytes. Voltage-clamp experiments showed that, at concentrations below 3 X 10(-6) M, Ro 5-4864 caused a parallel outward shift of the membrane current elicited by depolarization to + 10 mV from a holding potential of -50 mV. The peak inward Ca2+ current (ICa) and the inwardly rectifying K+ current were not affected. ICa was reduced by Ro 5-4864 at concentrations above 3 X 10(-6) M. At these concentrations, Ro 5-4864 also caused a negative inotropic effect in isolated guinea-pig papillary muscles, reduced K+ depolarization-induced contractures of the isolated rat aorta and inhibited [3H]nitrendipine binding to guinea-pig cardiac membranes. These data provide no evidence that the peripheral high affinity benzodiazepine binding site is coupled to the cardiac Ca2+ channel. The possibility cannot be excluded that a postulated micromolar affinity benzodiazepine receptor is associated with the Ca2+ channel.

Calcium entry blockers inhibit vasoconstrictor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

Stimulation of the sympathetic outflow (spinal cord segments T 7-9) in pithed rats resulted in an increase in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, total peripheral vascular resistance and cardiac output. The increase in blood pressure and peripheral resistance was markedly depressed by prazosin and to a lesser extent by yohimbine, suggesting that these responses were mediated primarily by postjunctional alpha 1-adrenoceptors. The calcium entry blockers nifedipine, tiapamil and verapamil also depressed pressor responses and the increase in total peripheral resistance to electrical stimulation of the sympathetic outflow in these rats. This depression resulted primarily from an effect on peripheral vascular resistance components, as cardiac output remained unaffected by the calcium entry blockers. This conclusion was supported by studies on isolated, perfused rat renal arteries. Vasoconstrictor responses of this in vitro preparation to perivascular nerve stimulation were depressed by 1,000-fold lower concentrations of prazosin than rauwolscine, demonstrating the predominantly alpha 1-adrenoceptor nature of these effects. Likewise, these vasoconstrictor responses were depressed by nifedipine, tiapamil and verapamil in a concentration-dependent manner. The results of this study suggest that vasoconstrictor responses of rat resistance vessels to sympathetic nerve stimulation are mediated primarily by postjunctional alpha 1-adrenoceptors and can be inhibited by calcium entry blockers. This implies that contractile responses of these resistance vessels to alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation are not independent of the availability of extracellular calcium.

Chronic administration of tiapamil prevents hemodynamic alterations accompanying development of high blood pressure in hypertensive rats.

Daily oral administration of tiapamil (2 X 50-2 X 150 mg/kg, for 13 weeks) to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of hypertension development, with complete prevention occurring at the highest dose. Tiapamil (2 X 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) also prevented development of high blood pressure in deoxycorticosterone acetate-NaCl hypertensive rats (DOCA). A comparative hemodynamic analysis was carried out on age-matched (17-week-old) control SHR, tiapamil-treated (2 X 150 mg/kg/day, p.o.) SHR, and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Tiapamil-treated SHR and WKY had a significantly lower mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance as well as a higher cardiac output than untreated SHR. Vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine as well as to angiotensin I and II were significantly lower in tiapamil-treated than in untreated SHR. By contrast, isoproterenol elicited a fall in blood pressure in all three groups, the extent of which correlated directly with the magnitude of basal blood pressure levels. Tiapamil also caused a concentration-dependent depression of depolarization-induced vasoconstrictor responses in isolated mesenteric and renal arteries from SHR. The results of this study indicate that chronic administration of tiapamil will prevent the development of hypertension in SHR and DOCA rats as well as protect against accompanying hemodynamic alterations. This inhibitory effect on blood vessels that maintain peripheral resistance at elevated levels is a consequence of the vascular-selective calcium entry blocking properties of tiapamil.