Developmental changes in action potential prolongation by K+-channel blockers in chick myocardium.

The effects of K(+)-channel blockers on the action potential duration of the myocardium were examined in isolated right ventricles from the 7 - 10-day-old, 11 - 13-day-old, and 14 - 20-day-old embryo and 1 - 7-day-old hatched chicks. E-4031 significantly prolonged action potential duration at all developmental stages examined; the prolongation was largest in the 11 - 13-day-old embryo and was accompanied by early after-depolarizations. Chromanol 293B showed smaller prolongation at all stages examined. Terfenadine prolonged action potential duration in the 11 - 13-day-old embryo, but not in other stages. Thus, the chick ventricular myocardium changes its repolarization properties during development.

Developmental Changes in Action Potential Prolongation by K+-Channel Blockers in Chick Myocardium.

The effects of K+-channel blockers on the action potential duration of the myocardium were examined in isolated right ventricles from the 7 - 10-day-old, 11 - 13-day-old, and 14 - 20-day-old embryo and 1 - 7-day-old hatched chicks. E-4031 significantly prolonged action potential duration at all developmental stages examined; the prolongation was largest in the 11 - 13-day-old embryo and was accompanied by early after-depolarizations. Chromanol 293B showed smaller prolongation at all stages examined. Terfenadine prolonged action potential duration in the 11 - 13-day-old embryo, but not in other stages. Thus, the chick ventricular myocardium changes its repolarization properties during development.

Involvement of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger in the automaticity of guinea-pig pulmonary vein myocardium as revealed by SEA0400.

We examined the involvement of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger in the automaticity of the pulmonary vein myocardium with a specific inhibitor, SEA0400. Action potentials were recorded from the myocardial layer of isolated guinea-pig pulmonary vein preparations, and Ca(2+) transients were recorded from the cardiomyocytes. Spontaneous electrical activity was observed in 17.7% of the preparations, which was inhibited by either SEA0400 or ryanodine. In quiescent preparations, ouabain induced electrical activity and spontaneous Ca(2+) transients, which were inhibited by SEA0400, as well as ryanodine. These results provide pharmacological evidence that the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger underlies the automaticity of the pulmonary vein myocardium.

New aspects for the treatment of cardiac diseases based on the diversity of functional controls on cardiac muscles: diversity in the excitation-contraction mechanisms of the heart.

The waveform of the myocardial action potential (AP) triggering contraction differs among the species, developmental stage, and pathological state. The species difference in heart rate, which inversely correlates with body size, originates in the ion-channel mechanisms responsible for diastolic depolarization of the sinoatrial node. In some cases, such as the chronically AV-blocked dog and 11- to 13-day chick embryo, the repolarization reserve is decreased making the heart useful for drug evaluation. The degree of dependence of contraction on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function increases during development. The large SR dependence and short AP of the adult mouse and rat support their rapid contraction under high heart rate. The function of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger is affected by AP waveform and ion concentrations; its major role is Ca(2+) extrusion, but under pathological conditions such as ischemia-reperfusion, it allows Ca(2+) influx and leads to myocardial injury, including loss of mitochondrial function. The role of mitochondria in ATP supply is less in the fetus where glycolysis plays a greater role. The pharmacological properties of the myocardium are affected by all of these factors and also by autonomic innervation and the hormonal status. Such comprehensive understanding is indispensable for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Chronic left atrial volume overload abbreviates the action potential duration of the canine pulmonary vein myocardium via activation of IK channel.

Electrophysiological properties of the pulmonary vein myocardium were assessed in a canine chronic atrioventricular block model resulting in left atrial volume overload. Five chronic atrioventricular block dogs and five sham-operated dogs were used. The heart was removed two months after a surgical procedure causing atrioventricular block, when atrial structural remodeling was established. Standard microelectrode penetrations were made with glass microelectrodes to obtain action potential signals of left atrium and pulmonary vein myocardia. The resting membrane potential in the pulmonary vein was more positive than that in the left atrium (-69 mV vs -74 mV) in both animal groups. The action potential duration at 50% repolarization of the pulmonary vein was shorter in the chronic atrioventricular block dogs than in the sham-operated dogs (38 ms vs 63 ms), whereas no significant difference was detected in the action potential duration of the left atrium between the two animal groups (67 ms vs 61 ms). The action potential duration of the pulmonary vein in the chronic atrioventricular block dogs was prolonged by charybdotoxin but not by iberiotoxin. Such prolongation was not observed in the normal pulmonary vein. These results suggest that long-term left atrial dilatation shortened the action potential duration of pulmonary vein myocardium, which may be associated with activation of the intermediate conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel (IK channel).

Species difference in the contribution of T-type calcium current to cardiac pacemaking as revealed by r(-)-efonidipine.

The contribution of the T-type Ca2+ current to cardiac pacemaking was examined in isolated right atrial tissue from the mouse, guinea pig, and rabbit using a specific blocker, R(-)-efonidipine. At 10(-6) M, R(-)-efonidipine produced negative chronotropy, which was prominent in the mouse and small but significant in the guinea pig. No effect was observed in the rabbit. Microelectrode recordings revealed that R(-)-efonidipine significantly prolongs the pacemaker (phase 4) depolarization of the sinoatrial-node action potential in the mouse and guinea pig. These results provide the first pharmacological evidence that the contribution of T-type Ca2+ current to cardiac pacemaking differs among experimental animal species.

Intracellular mechanisms and receptor types for endothelin-1-induced positive and negative inotropy in mouse ventricular myocardium.

We examined the intracellular mechanisms for endothelin-1-induced positive and negative inotropic components that coexist in the mouse ventricular myocardium using isolated ventricular tissue and myocytes from 4-week-old mice. In the presence of SEA0400, a specific inhibitor of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger, endothelin-1 produced positive inotropy. Endothelin-1, when applied to cardiomyocytes in the presence of SEA0400, did not change the peak amplitude of the Ca2+ transient but increased intracellular pH and Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile proteins. On the other hand, in the presence of dimethylamiloride (DMA), a specific inhibitor of the Na+-H+ exchanger, endothelin-1 produced negative inotropy. In cardiomyocytes, in the presence of DMA, endothelin-1 produced a decrease in peak amplitude of the Ca2+ transient. In the presence of both DMA and SEA0400, endothelin-1 produced neither positive nor negative inotropy. Positive inotropy was blocked by BQ-123 and negative inotropy by BQ-788. These results suggested that endothelin-1-induced positive inotropy is mediated by ET(A) receptors, activation of the Na+-H+ exchanger and an increase in intracellular pH and Ca2+ sensitivity and that the negative inotropy is mediated by ET(B) receptors, activation of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger and decrease in Ca2+ transient amplitude.

(R)-ACX, a pancreatic beta-cell selective sulfonylurea, does not aggravate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion damage.

The organ selectivity and the effect on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury of (R)-acetoxyhexamide ((R)-ACX), a novel sulfonylurea, were examined. (R)-ACX, as well as glibenclamide, concentration-dependently stimulated insulin release from INS-1 cell, a cell line derived from pancreatic beta-cells. The potency of (R)-ACX was about 1/10 of that of glibenclamide. In isolated guinea pig ventricular myocardial tissue, glibenclamide concentration-dependently inhibited the action potential shortening by NIP-121, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, but (R)-ACX showed only slight inhibition. In isolated rat aortic rings contracted with norepinephrine, glibenclamide concentration-dependently inhibited the relaxation by NIP-121, while (R)-ACX showed only slight inhibition. In coronary-perfused guinea pig ventricular preparations, glibenclamide reduced the recovery of contractile force after ischemia-reperfusion, while (R)-ACX did not. In conclusion, (R)-ACX is a beta-cell selective sulfonylurea which, unlike glibenclamide, does not aggravate cardiac ischemia-reperfusion damage.

Involvement of intracellular Ca(2+) in the regulatory volume decrease after hyposmotic swelling in MDCK cells.

We examined the source of Ca(2+) involved in the volume regulation of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells with confocal microscopy and fluoroprobes. Hyposmosis induced a transient increase in cell volume, as well as cytoplasmic Ca(2+), which peaked at 3 to 5 min and gradually decreased to reach the initial value within about 30 min. This late decrease in cell volume, as well as the transient rise in cytoplasmic Ca(2+), was reduced in Ca(2+)-free solution and was abolished by pretreatment with thapsigargin. In conclusion, Ca(2+) released from the intracellular store contributes to the regulatory volume decrease following hyposmotic swelling in MDCK cells.

Endocardial endothelium-dependent positive inotropy by Ca2+ pump inhibitors: possible involvement of store-operated Ca2+ entry.

Positive inotropy by sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump inhibitors was found and its mechanisms were analyzed pharmacologically. Thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid produced positive inotropy in isolated mouse left atria. The responses were inhibited by pretreatment of the endocardial surface with Triton X-100 or by indomethacin, which suggests that the inotropic responses were mediated by prostaglandin(s) released from the endocardial endothelium as well as acetylcholine-induced positive inotropy. The thapsigargin- and acetylcholine-induced positive inotropy was significantly inhibited by Gd(3+), La(3+) and lavendustin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, but not by Ni(2+) and LOE908, a non-selective cation channel inhibitor. Gd(3+) and lavendustin A had no effect on the exogenously applied PGF(2)alpha-induced positive inotropy. In addition, acetylcholine did not induce any positive inotropy when applied after the application of thapsigargin. These results strongly suggest that thapsigargin- as well as acetylcholine-induced prostaglandin release from endocardial endothelium is mediated by store-operated Ca(2+) entry through Gd(3+)-sensitive channels and activation of tyrosine kinase.

Involvement of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in ouabain-induced inotropy and arrhythmogenesis in guinea-pig myocardium as revealed by SEA0400.

Involvement of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in ouabain-induced inotropy and arrhythmogenesis was examined with a specific inhibitor, SEA0400. In right ventricular papillary muscle isolated from guinea-pig ventricle, 1 microM SEA0400, which specifically inhibits the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger by 80%, reduced the ouabain (1 microM)-induced positive inotropy by 40%, but had no effect on the inotropy induced by 100 microM isobutyl methylxantine. SEA0400 significantly inhibited the contracture induced by low Na+ solution. In HEK293 cells expressing the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, 1 microM ouabain induced an increase in intracellular Ca2+, which was inhibited by SEA0400. The arrhythmic contractions induced by 3 microM ouabain were significantly reduced by SEA0400. These results provide pharmacological evidence that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger is involved in ouabain-induced inotropy and arrhythmogenesis.

Analysis of arrhythmogenic profile in a canine model of chronic atrioventricular block by comparing in vitro effects of the class III antiarrhythmic drug nifekalant on the ventricular action potential indices between normal heart and atrioventricular block heart.

The chronic atrioventricular block dog is a useful model for predicting the future onset of drug-induced long QT syndrome in clinical practice. To better understand the arrhythmogenic profile of this model, we recorded the action potentials of the isolated ventricular tissues in the presence and absence of the class III antiarrhythmic drug nifekalant. The action potential durations of the Purkinje fiber and free wall of the right ventricle were longer in the chronic atrioventricular block dogs than in the dogs with normal sinus rhythm. Nifekalant in concentrations of 1 and 10 microM prolonged the action potential durations of Purkinje fiber and the free wall in a concentration-dependent manner. The extent of prolongation was greater in the chronic atrioventricular block dogs than in the normal dogs. However, increase of temporal dispersion of ventricular repolarization including early afterdepolarization was not detected by nifekalant in either group of dogs, indicating lack of potential to trigger arrhythmias in vitro. These results suggest that the ventricular repolarization delay in the chronic atrioventricular block model by nifekalant may largely depend on the decreased myocardial repolarization reserve, whereas the trigger for lethal arrhythmia was not generated in the in vitro condition in contrast to the in vivo experiment.

Muscarinic receptor subtypes mediating positive and negative inotropy in the developing chick ventricle.

The inotropic response to muscarinic receptor stimulation of isolated chick ventricular myocardium was examined at various developmental stages, and the receptor subtype involved was pharmacologically characterized. In embryonic chick ventricles, carbachol (CCh) produced positive inotropy at micromolar concentrations. In hatched chick ventricles, CCh produced negative inotropy at nanomolar concentrations. Neither positive nor negative inotropy was observed in the 19 - 21-day-old embryos. Both positive and negative inotropy were also observed with acetylcholine and oxotremoline-M. The CCh-induced positive inotropy in 7 - 9-day-old embryonic ventricles and the negative inotropy in 1 - 3-day-old hatched chick ventricles were antagonized by muscarinic receptor antagonists; pA(2) values for the positive and negative responses of pirenzepine were 7.5 and 7.2, those of AF-DX116 (11-[(2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl)acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4] benzodiazepine-6-one) were 6.8 and 6.9, those of 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4-DAMP) were 9.0 and 8.5, and those of himbacine were 7.0 and 8.0, respectively. CCh had no effect on action potential configuration. In conclusion, the positive inotropy is most likely mediated by muscarinic M(1) receptors and the negative inotropy is mostly likely mediated by muscarinic M(4) receptors.

Quantitative fluorescence measurement of cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibition by kinetic analysis in stably transfected HEK293 cells.

We developed a method to quantitatively evaluate the potency of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) inhibitors with fluorescence microscopy in NCX1-transfected HEK 293 cells. The reverse mode and forward mode NCX activities were measured as the ascending slope of the early phase increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration after change to low Na+ extracellular solution and the descending rate (inverse of the exponential time constant) on return to normal solution, respectively. Both modes of NCX were inhibited by SEA0400 (2-[4-[(2,5-difluorophenyl)methoxy]phenoxy]-5-ethoxyaniline) and KB-R7943 (2-[2-[4-(4-nitrobenzyloxy)phenyl]ethyl]isothiourea methanesulfonate), and the concentration-inhibition relationships for both inhibitors were in good agreement with those previously reported in voltage clamped cardiomyocytes.

Blockade by NIP-142, an antiarrhythmic agent, of carbachol-induced atrial action potential shortening and GIRK1/4 channel.

Mechanisms for the atria-specific action potential-prolonging action of NIP-142 ((3R*,4S*)-4-cyclopropylamino-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-6-(4-methoxyphenylacetylamino)-7-nitro-2H-1-benzopyran-3-ol), a benzopyran compound that terminates experimental atrial arrhythmia, was examined. In isolated guinea-pig atrial tissue, NIP-142 reversed the shortening of action potential duration induced by either carbachol or adenosine. These effects were mimicked by tertiapin, but not by E-4031. NIP-142 concentration-dependently blocked the human G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel current (GIRK1/4 channel current) expressed in HEK-293 cells with an EC50 value of 0.64 microM. At higher concentrations, NIP-142 blocked the human ether a go-go related gene (HERG) channel current with an EC50 value of 44 microM. In isolated guinea-pig papillary muscles, NIP-142 had no effect on the negative inotropic effect of carbachol under beta-adrenergic stimulation, indicating lack of effect on the muscarinic receptor and Gi protein. These results suggest that NIP-142 directly inhibits the acetylcholine-activated potassium current.

Reduction by SEA0400 of myocardial ischemia-induced cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload.

The cardioprotective effects of SEA0400, a novel Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger inhibitor, were examined in isolated guinea pig myocardial tissue and ventricular myocytes. In a coronary-perfused right ventricular tissue preparation, SEA0400 had no cardiosuppressive effect during normoxia and experimental ischemia, but enhanced the recovery of contractile force during reperfusion. SEA0400 had no effect on tissue ATP content during normoxia, but attenuated its decrease during ischemia. Treatment of ventricular myocytes with an ischemia mimetic solution (high K(+), glucose free, pH 6.0, gassed with N(2)) resulted in the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Ca(2+) concentration, which had a similar time course. SEA0400 significantly delayed these changes. These results suggest that SEA0400 maintains mitochondrial function and tissue ATP content during ischemia through the inhibition of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload.

Kv channels contribute to nitric oxide- and atrial natriuretic peptide-induced relaxation of a rat conduit artery.

The role of K(+) channels in nitric oxide (NO)-induced vasorelaxation has been largely investigated in resistance vessels where iberiotoxin-sensitive MaxiK channels play a predominant role. However, the nature of the K(+) channel(s) involved in the relaxation triggered by NO-releasing compounds [nitroglycerin, NTG; NOR 3 [(+/-)-(E)-4-ethyl-2-[(E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-3-hexenamide]] or atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the conduit vessel aorta has remained elusive. We now demonstrate that, in rat aorta, the relaxation due to these vasorelaxants is not affected by the MaxiK channel blocker iberiotoxin (10(-7)-10(-6) M) as was the control vascular bed used (mesenteric artery). The inability of iberiotoxin to prevent NO/ANP-induced aortic relaxations was not due to lower expression of MaxiK in aorta or due to the predominance of iberiotoxin-resistant channels in this conduit vessel. Aortic relaxations were strongly diminished by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) (> or =5 x 10(-3) M) or by tetraethylammonium (>2 x 10(-3) M) at concentrations known to inhibit voltage-dependent K(+) (K(v)) 2-type channels but not by other K(+) channel inhibitors, glibenclamide, apamin, charybdotoxin, tertiapin, or E-4031 N-[4-[[1-[2-(6-methyl-2-pyridinyl)ethyl]-4-piperidinyl-]carbonyl]phenyl]methanesulfonamide dihydrochloride). Consistent with a role of K(v)2-type channels, K(v) currents in A7r5 aortic myocytes were stimulated by NTG and inhibited by > or =5 x 10(-3) M 4-AP. Furthermore, immunocytochemistry, immunoblot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed the presence of K(v)2.1 channels in aorta. K(v)2.1 transcripts were approximately 100-fold more abundant than K(v)2.2. Our results support low-affinity 4-AP-sensitive K(v) channels, assembled at least partially by K(v)2.1 subunit, as downstream effectors of NO/ANP-signaling cascade regulating aortic vasorelaxation and further demonstrate vessel-specific K(+) channel involvement in NO/ANP-induced relaxation.

Pathophysiological significance of T-type Ca2+ channels: T-type Ca2+ channels and drug development.

T-type Ca(2+) channels are present in cardiovascular, neuronal, and endocrine systems; and they are now receiving attention as novel therapeutic targets. Many drugs and compounds non-specificaly block T-type Ca(2+) channels. Certain dihydropyridine compounds, such as efonidipine, have blocking activity on both L-type and T-type Ca(2+) channels which possibly underlies their excellent clinical profiles such as minimum reflex tachycardia and renal protection. Selective inhibitors of T-type Ca(2+) channels, such as non-hydrolyzable mibefradil and R(-)-efonidipine, are powerful pharmacological tools for further studies and may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Comparison of the inhibitory effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on U46619- and phenylephrine-induced contractions in guinea-pig aorta.

Inhibitory effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the muscle contractions induced by U46619, a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) mimetic, and phenylephrine were compared in guinea-pig aorta. In de-endothelialized guinea-pig aortic ring preparations, DHA at 10 microM strongly inhibited a sustained contraction produced by U46619 (3-100 nM) whereas it did not exhibit an appreciable effect on phenylephrine (3-10 microM)-induced contraction. The present findings indicate that DHA inhibits more selectively TXA2 receptor (TP receptor)-mediated vascular contraction than alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated response. Selective inhibition by DHA of TP receptor-mediated contraction of blood vessels seems underlie in part the mechanisms by which this polyunsaturated fatty acid exerts its circulatory-protective effects.